Planck's Constant
Definition
Planck's constant (symbolized as h) is a fundamental constant in quantum mechanics that relates the energy of a photon to its frequency. It is used to calculate the energy levels and behavior of particles at the atomic and subatomic scale.
Analogy
Imagine you have a vending machine that dispenses different types of snacks. Planck's constant is like the conversion factor between the number of coins you insert into the machine and the type of snack you receive. It determines how much energy (coins) is needed for each specific snack (frequency).
Related terms
Photon: A fundamental particle of light that carries energy in discrete packets.
Energy Level: The specific allowed energies an electron can have in an atom or molecule.
Quantum Mechanics: The branch of physics that describes the behavior of matter and energy at extremely small scales, incorporating principles such as wave-particle duality and quantization.
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