What is the Planck's Quantum Hypothesis?
Planck's quantum hypothesis states that energy is exchanged in discrete units called quanta, challenging the idea of continuous energy. Energy comes in specific, indivisible amounts.
ANSWER : Planck's Quantum Hypothesis, proposed by the German physicist Max Planck in 1900, revolutionized our understanding of the microscopic world and laid the foundation for quantum mechanics. The hypothesis states that energy is quantized, meaning it can only exist in discrete, indivisible units called "quanta."The key formula associated with Planck's Quantum Hypothesis is:
E = hf
In this formula:
- E represents the energy of a quantum (a discrete amount of energy).
- h is Planck's constant, a fundamental constant in nature (approximately 6.626 x 10-34 joule-seconds).
- f denotes the frequency of the electromagnetic radiation associated with the quantum.
The hypothesis implies that energy is not continuous but comes in tiny "packets" or quanta. It challenged the classical notion of energy being continuously variable. According to Planck, energy is only absorbed or emitted in integer multiples of the quantum of energy.
Planck's quantum hypothesis was initially introduced to explain the puzzling behavior of blackbody radiation, which classical physics failed to explain. It later formed the basis for the development of quantum mechanics, where the wave-particle duality of matter and the probabilistic nature of quantum phenomena are central concepts.
In summary, Planck's quantum hypothesis states that energy is quantized into discrete units, introducing the concept of quanta and revolutionizing our understanding of the microscopic world.
Also Read : Write the Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics.
No comments: