In the Visible Spectrum Blue Photons Have More Energy Than Green Photons
Have you ever wondered when there are zillions of subatomic particles in the universe, how will you differentiate them from other subatomic particles? If not, then do you have any idea, how many types of particles are there and how do you detect them from others?
We all know that nothing can beat the speed of light. That is why scientists still use the speed of light as a universal constant or a vacuum constant to measure the distance between various astronomical objects in space. Because only light can travel so fast, as it has traveled from the sun's surface to the earth.
To know whether all photons have the same energy or wavelength or speed, you need to know what a photon is and how is it different from other fundamental particles.
Without Further ado, Let's dive in
What is a Photon?
A Photon is the fundamental particle of light. Photon is generally called as the discrete packets of energy present in the light. Light is electromagnetic radiation that emerges from the Sun. Photons are part of the electromagnetic spectrum of light.
Photons are the massless particles that carry the energy and follow strict geometric rules. For instance, when you place a beam of light (e.g.: a flashlight) on a mirror, you will notice that light reflects on touching the surface. And the reflection is always in a straight line. This just shows that the light follows geometric rules. Photons are absorbed in the dark surfaces and reflected upon by the shiny surfaces.
Do all Photons Have Same Energy?
How do you differentiate subatomic particles? We know that some subatomic particles are identical to one another, for example, electrons are similar to that of other electrons, the same way photons are similar to photons. But can we say the same thing for photons?
That is not the case, isn't it? Photons are basically massless, which means, have the same mass, so we cannot differ photons using mass. Even the spin, i.e., the angular momentum of the photon is always 1 and is the same for all the photons.
Consider a bag full of the same colored balls, and you have the exact same color of the ball in your hand. Then you place the ball you have in the bag, now will you be able to pick the same ball that was placed in your hand? That will be quite difficult, it is exactly how difficult to differentiate one electron from another and one photon from another.
However, we are able to distinguish one photon from another photon.
All Photons do not have the same energy That is right, we can identify one photon with another with the help of the energy they are carrying. The energy equates with the color of the light. The energy differs from blue colored light to red-colored light.
The light is basically distinguished by the difference in its frequency and wavelength, which in turn, causes the energy difference between different waves of light.
Radio waves have less energy compared to ultraviolet rays.
And according to their wavelengths, radio waves have the least energy and gamma rays have the most energy in the whole spectrum. And the energy of the photons can be determined by the photoelectric effect.
When the light sets its start from the sun, all the photons would have the same energy but when they hit some other object along the way or upon reaching any surface, the initial energy will be depleted, and the photons are reflected with a different energy.
Related: Can Light Carry information?
Do all Photons Have the Same Wavelength?
If photons had the same wavelength then the whole concept of light being electromagnetic radiation will be unacceptable. The whole electromagnetic spectrum is broadly divided according to its wavelengths, from radio waves to gamma rays.
If any wave has less frequency, then it would be undeniable that the wave will have a longer wavelength. Similarly, for a high-frequency wave, you will notice the wavelength to be shorter.
The approximate wavelengths of the various electromagnetic waves of the spectrum are given below:
- Radio Wave is between 103m to 109m
- MicroWave is between 10 0 m to 10-3m
- Infrared is between 10-3m to 10-6m
- Visible light is between 4*10-7m to 7*10-7m
- Ultraviolet is between 4*10-7m to 10-8m
- X-ray is between 10-8m to 10-11m
- Gamma-ray is between 10-11m to 10-14m
This just proves that all photons do not have the same wavelength, radio wave photons have different wavelengths than gamma-ray photons.
Related: Can Light Carry information?
Do all Photons Travel At The Same Speed?
Have you never noticed when putting the acrylic paint in a glass jar, and place the jar on top of the stand with wire gauze. Place a light source at the top of the jar, can you see the light reaching the bottom of the surface?
Maybe when you switch on your flashlight on a road or in your home, you can easily spot the light. Even though the speed of the light remains the same, why does it takes time to travel through acrylic medium and why is it easy to travel in an empty space.
The speed of light (photons) is the same in a vacuum. Even in space, as space is mostly vacuum, light has no issues to travel long distances. Any substance or material that is transparent to light will help the photons pass through it.
But in some of the materials like acrylic, the electrons and other charged particles come in contact with photons, they would, in turn, make the photon slower. Since the photon is a wave while traveling through a medium oscillates in both electric and magnetic fields and this makes it interact with other charged particles that come in the way.
These movements slow down the photons and they waiver from traveling at the speed of light. As long as they are in a substantial or material medium they cannot travel at the speed of light.
Not all frequencies of light travel at the same speed when going through a medium. Various photons have varied energy, and they interact with electrons in a different manner. Since they oscillate at different rates. Though in a vacuum all kinds of light travel at the same speed but in different mediums, different light travels at a variable speed.
The Photon has similar properties to that of an electron like the same mass, same speed, and same spin, however, the energy and the wavelength differ from each wave. Violet light has more energy of the visible photon than red light. Infrared, Microwave, radio photons have less visible energy, meanwhile, ultraviolet, X-ray, and Gamma-ray photons have exceptional energy.
So, now the question is whether the light regains its speed after coming out of that medium? What happens when you remove the light from the assorted medium?
Does Light regain speed after passing through a medium?
When you place the light in the medium, it may slow down the speed of the light that travels through it. Nevertheless, when removed out of the medium into the vacuum, light regains its speed right away. It will start traveling at the speed of light. All the types of lights will travel at the same speed in the vacuum.
Related: is Light Matter?
Conclusion
Finally, we can say that photon is the fundamental particle of light and light is electromagnetic radiation with an electromagnetic spectrum. Photons are massless and have basically the same angular momentum.
However, Photons have different wavelengths and different frequencies that give us a wide variety of the spectrum. Photons have a different energy, according to their wavelengths. For example, Gamma rays have higher energy when compared to other lights.
Light travels at the same speed in a vacuum. In different mediums, different types of light travel at different rates. However, once it has escaped the medium and into a vacuum, all light travels at the same speed.
Related: is Light Matter?
Source: https://solarhideout.com/do-all-photons-have-the-same-energy-wavelength-and-speed/
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