Chapter 14, Problem 18TE

To determine

The beam with greater number of photons between red light and blue light.

Answer to Problem 18TE

The red light beam will possess a greater number of photons.

Explanation of Solution

The energy of the photon varies linearly with the frequency of the light. That is, the higher the frequency, the more energy that the photon possesses. A beam of light consists of an enormous number of photons. The blue light has a greater frequency than that of red light. And hence the energy of the photons from blue light will be more than that of a red light beam.

Consider when the energy of the two beams is the same. Then the red light would be more intense so as to equate with the blue light energy level. That means the number of photons will be greater in the red light beam.

Conclusion:

Therefore, the red light beam will posses greater number of photons.