Energy and Momentum of a Photon
 

Energy and Momentum of a Photon problem 34


  • A beam of light is incident normally on a metal surface, as illustrated in the figure below.




    The beam of light has cross-sectional area and power . The light has wavelength . The light energy is absorbed by the metal and no light is reflected.


    • Show that a photon of this light has an energy of .


    • Calculate, for a time of ,


      • the number of photons incident on the surface,


      • the change in momentum of the photons.


  • Use your answer in (a)(ii) to calculate the pressure that the light exerts on the metal surface.


 

main author and content editor: Ebenezer Famadewa