What is the momentum of a 600. nm photon?
A) 2.07 eV/c
B) 2.07 MeV/c
C) 2.07 KeV/c
D) 2.07 N-s
E) 2.07 kN-m

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The momentum $p$ of a photon can be calculated using the formula $p = \frac{E}{c}$, where $E$ is the energy of the photon and $c$ is the speed of light. The energy $E$ of a photon can also be calculated using $E = \frac{hc}{\lambda}$, where $h$ is Planck's constant, $c$ is the speed of light, and $\lambda$ is the wavelength of the photon. For a 600 nm photon, converting nm to meters (600 nm = $600 \times 10^{-9}$ m), and using the values for $h$ (Planck's constant) and $c$ (speed of light), the energy $E$ comes out in joules. However, to convert this energy into electron volts (eV), we use the conversion factor $1 eV = 1.602 \times 10^{-19}$ joules. The momentum of a photon is directly related to its energy but expressed in units of eV/c when considering the photon's relativistic properties. The correct calculation will yield a value in the order of eV/c, making option A the correct choice.

What Is the Momentum of a 600