The energy of visible light is directly proportional to its frequency. This means that as the frequency of light increases, its energy also increases.
Visible light is part of the electromagnetic spectrum, and like all electromagnetic waves, it carries energy. The amount of energy (E) carried by a light wave depends on its frequency (f) and is given by the formula:
E = h × f
Where:
- E = energy of the photon (in joules)
- h = Planck’s constant (approximately 6.626 × 10⁻³⁴ Js)
- f = frequency of the light (in hertz)
In the visible spectrum:
- Violet light has the highest frequency and thus highest energy.
- Red light has the lowest frequency and thus lowest energy.
So, the higher the frequency, the more energetic the light wave. This is why ultraviolet light (which has an even higher frequency than violet) can cause sunburns, while red light cannot.