The energy of a quantum of radiation is directly proportional to its

  • A. wavelength
  • B. frequency
  • C. speed
  • D. amplitude

Explanation

Energy equals Planck's constant multiplied by frequency, so higher frequency means more energetic quanta, and since frequency and wavelength are inversely related, energy falls as wavelength rises. This is why ultraviolet is damaging and infrared is not. Amplitude governs the number of photons, that is the intensity, rather than the energy of each.

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