What is the relationship between wavelength and energy in electromagnetic radiation?

• A. Energy is directly proportional to wavelength
• B. Energy is inversely proportional to wavelength
• C. Energy is unaffected by wavelength
• D. Energy increases with wavelength

Answer: (B)

In electromagnetic radiation, the relationship between wavelength and energy is described by the equation:

[ E = \frac{hc}{\lambda} ]

where ( E ) represents energy, ( h ) is Planck's constant, ( c ) is the speed of light, and ( \lambda ) is the wavelength. This equation shows that energy is inversely proportional to wavelength. As the wavelength increases, the energy decreases, and vice versa.

This relationship implies that shorter wavelengths, such as those found in gamma rays or X-rays, correspond to higher energy levels, while longer wavelengths, such as those of radio waves, correspond to lower energy levels. The inverse proportionality indicates that a higher wavelength means lower energy, affirming that as you move to shorter wavelengths, you experience an increase in energy. This foundational concept is critical in understanding the behavior of photons and the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with matter.