Why do high energy waves have small wavelength or Why is energy inversely proportional to wavelength?

Answer 1

A quick way to understand why is to consider the origin of the wave energy. Usually high energy objects are vibrating, moving much faster, they are changing from one state to another in a very short time interval. If they are changing so quickly then they need to produce lots of waves within a short space.

Answer 2

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Why do high energy waves have small wavelength or Why is energy inversely proportional to wavelength?

Answer 3

I think the complementary nature of light or any electromagnetic radiation has been well established. Optical phenomena like Interference, Diffraction and Polarisation can only be interpreted by the wave concept. On the other hand Photoelectric effect or Compton effect can only be interpreted on the basis of the particle or photon concept. Einstein had extended Planck's hypothesis of energy quantisation to the photoelectric effect by postulating that each quanta of light (namely photon) has an energy proportional to the frequency of light and successfully derived the Planck's constant from the photoelectric equation. A photon is emitted whenever there is a transiton of an electron from a higher energy level to a lower enrgy level. The photon energy being equal to the difference between the two energy levels. Some of your premises sound strange indeed when there is ample experimental evidence about the true nature of light. Light is an electromagnetic wave unlike sound which is a mechanical disturbance. Hence it does not require a physical medium at all for propagation and travels always with the same speed in vacuum.

Answer 4

Think of it this way. What would hurt more, being punched in the face over and over slowly, or punched over and over rapidly?

Each incoming wave is like a "punch" of energy. The closer together they are, the higher the total energy. And closer together means ... shorter wavelength!

Answer 5

The speed of electro-magnetic wave is a constant in vacuum and is equal to 3x10^8m/s.

Consider a point source of E.M. It is emitting energy in all directions.

Consider a sphere of volume whose radius is equal to one lambda. Lambda = c /n.

The surface area of the sphere is 4 pi (lambda) ^2.

In 1/n second the energy is transmitted to the surface of area 4 pi (lambda) ^2.

The energy per unit area is E/ 4 pi (lambda) ^2; where E is the total energy on the whole area.


Replacing lambda by C/ n,

The energy per unit area is (E n^2) / (4 pi c^2);

(4 pi c^2) is a constant.

This shows that the energy per unit area is greater; greater the frequency.



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Answer 6

Because :

E= hf , f is frequency
f = c / wavelength , c is light speed
E = h.c / wavelength

so the energy depends on the frequency of the wave and the frequency depends on the wavelength .