The relationship between wavelength and energy is inverse: as the wavelength of a wave increases, its energy decreases. This relationship is described by the equation:
E = hc/λ
where: E is the energy of the wave, h is Planck's constant (a fundamental constant in quantum physics), c is the speed of light, and λ is the wavelength of the wave.
According to this equation, the energy (E) of a wave is directly proportional to the frequency (f) of the wave, and inversely proportional to the wavelength (λ) of the wave. Since frequency and wavelength are inversely related (f = c/λ), increasing the wavelength of a wave corresponds to decreasing its frequency and energy.
This relationship holds true for various forms of electromagnetic radiation, including visible light. In the visible light spectrum, shorter wavelengths correspond to higher energy photons, while longer wavelengths correspond to lower energy photons. For example, blue light has a shorter wavelength and higher energy compared to red light, which has a longer wavelength and lower energy.
The width of a wave, often referred to as its amplitude, does not directly affect the energy of the wave. The amplitude represents the maximum displacement of the wave from its equilibrium position. While amplitude is related to the intensity or brightness of certain waves, it does not influence their energy content. In the context of electromagnetic waves, changing the amplitude affects the wave's intensity or brightness, but not its energy or wavelength.