Science calculator

Photon energy.

Enter a photon's vacuum wavelength or frequency to find its energy in joules and electronvolts, together with the corresponding wave quantity.

Photon energy Eper photon
E = hf = hc/λ
Energy in joules
Energy in electronvolts
Frequency
Vacuum wavelength
E=hf=hcλ

Assumptions

  • Energy is for one photon.
  • λ is vacuum wavelength; frequency is unchanged when light enters a medium.
  • Uses exact SI values h = 6.62607015 × 10⁻³⁴ J·s, c = 299792458 m/s and e = 1.602176634 × 10⁻¹⁹ C.
  • Relativistic photon relation; no material band structure or interaction energy is included.

How it works

Photon energy is proportional to frequency. Higher-frequency radiation carries more energy per photon.

In vacuum, frequency and wavelength satisfy c = fλ, giving the equivalent hc/λ form. Electronvolts are energy units, not electrical potential.

Choose whichever wave quantity you know. Both energy units and the corresponding frequency or wavelength are calculated from the same full-precision result.