- #1
John15
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This follows some questions/points made in my light and sight thread.
I have been trying to work out the relationship/difference between photons and waves.
I now think that a photon is a discrete particle like amount of energy needed to jump an electron from one orbit to another, perhaps call it the particle side of light. If this is the case then only certain wavelengths could be described as photons as once beyond a certain length they cannot have enough energy to react directly with an electron.
I have been given E=hf for the energy of a photon where h = Plancks constant and f= frequency. Frequency is obviously time dependant.
If we start with a wavelength/frequency of 1 light second then we get E=h or energy transfer equal to h per second. Inverse law - wave 1/2 light second will transfer energy twice as fast giving appearance of twice energy + 2 waves per second = energy transfer 4x single wave.
So is energy transfer via EM waves also time dependant, what I mean by this is that all waves carry the same energy but waves act like crumple zones causing that energy to be transferred over a longer period of time.
Classical example take a rope with a breaking strain of 1 ton if you lift 1 ton slowly (long wave) the rope will lift the weight, if you jerk the rope (short wave) it will break.
Another take a compressed spring (short wave) place one end against an object, say a ball, hit the other end virtually all the energy will be transferred immediately through the spring, now take an uncompressed spring (long wave) and do the same, less or the same energy(not sure how much energy the spring will absorb) will be transferred over a longer time, the longer the spring the greater the effect until eventually the spring will be long enough that the energy transfer will be virtually zero same as EM waves. This also would explain the photoelectric effect, shorter waves cause electrons to be emitted faster not because there is more energy per wave but there is more energy per second being transfered.
Has anyone tried using Planck length for wavelength in E=hc/λ.
How do long waves interact with matter as they don't have enough energy to react directly with electrons.
Regarding electrons, energy makes them jump orbits, do energy levels for each orbit vary for different elements, i e is the energy for orbit 1 in hydrogen the same as orbit 1 for say gold?
What is the maximum number of orbits allowed?
Take hydrogen for example the electron presumably sits in orbit 1 normally, how many orbits can it be made to jump.
I have been trying to work out the relationship/difference between photons and waves.
I now think that a photon is a discrete particle like amount of energy needed to jump an electron from one orbit to another, perhaps call it the particle side of light. If this is the case then only certain wavelengths could be described as photons as once beyond a certain length they cannot have enough energy to react directly with an electron.
I have been given E=hf for the energy of a photon where h = Plancks constant and f= frequency. Frequency is obviously time dependant.
If we start with a wavelength/frequency of 1 light second then we get E=h or energy transfer equal to h per second. Inverse law - wave 1/2 light second will transfer energy twice as fast giving appearance of twice energy + 2 waves per second = energy transfer 4x single wave.
So is energy transfer via EM waves also time dependant, what I mean by this is that all waves carry the same energy but waves act like crumple zones causing that energy to be transferred over a longer period of time.
Classical example take a rope with a breaking strain of 1 ton if you lift 1 ton slowly (long wave) the rope will lift the weight, if you jerk the rope (short wave) it will break.
Another take a compressed spring (short wave) place one end against an object, say a ball, hit the other end virtually all the energy will be transferred immediately through the spring, now take an uncompressed spring (long wave) and do the same, less or the same energy(not sure how much energy the spring will absorb) will be transferred over a longer time, the longer the spring the greater the effect until eventually the spring will be long enough that the energy transfer will be virtually zero same as EM waves. This also would explain the photoelectric effect, shorter waves cause electrons to be emitted faster not because there is more energy per wave but there is more energy per second being transfered.
Has anyone tried using Planck length for wavelength in E=hc/λ.
How do long waves interact with matter as they don't have enough energy to react directly with electrons.
Regarding electrons, energy makes them jump orbits, do energy levels for each orbit vary for different elements, i e is the energy for orbit 1 in hydrogen the same as orbit 1 for say gold?
What is the maximum number of orbits allowed?
Take hydrogen for example the electron presumably sits in orbit 1 normally, how many orbits can it be made to jump.