Planck's constant

Planck's constant   (plängks)    n.   Symbol h The constant of proportionality relating the energy of a photon to the frequency of that photon. Its value is approximately 6.626 × 10-34 joule-seconds. [After Max Karl Ernst Ludwig Planck.]

Planck's constant

A universal constant, first discovered by Max Planck, that states the mathematical relationship between the frequency of an electromagnetic wave and the energy in that wave. Planck's discovery unifies the seemingly contradictory observations that energy sometimes acts like a wave and at other times acts as if it is made up of particles.

Note: Knowing Planck's constant sets the scale of energy for events in which the atom and subatomic particles take part.

Main Entry: Planck's constant
Pronunciation: 'pla[ng](k)s-, 'plä[ng](k)s-
Function: noun
: a constant that gives the unvarying ratio of the energy of aquantum of radiation to its frequency and that has an approximate value of 6.626 × 10⁻³⁴ joule second —symbol h
Planck /'plä[ng]k,/ Max Karl Ernst Ludwig (1858–1947), German physicist. Planck is credited with originating the quantum theory in physics. Throughout his career he taughttheoretical physics at a succession of German universities. In 1900 he introduced Planck's constant as a part of his accurate formulation of the distribution of the radiation emitted by a blackbody,which is a perfect absorber of radiant energy. His discoveries established the field of quantum physics. Planck is also remembered for his work relating to thermodynamics and mechanics and toelectrical and optical problems associated with radiation of heat and with the quantum theory. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1918.

Planck's constant (plängks)
n.

Symbol h The constant of proportionality relating the energy of a photon to the frequency of that photon. Its value is approximately 6.626 × 10-³⁴ joule-second.

Planck's constant

(symbol h), fundamental physical constant characteristic of the mathematical formulations of quantum mechanics, which describes the behaviour of particles and waves on the atomic scale, including the particle aspect of light. The German physicist Max Planck introduced the constant in 1900 in his accurate formulation of the distribution of the radiation emitted by a blackbody, or perfect absorber of radiant energy (see Planck's radiation law). The significance of Planck's constant in this context is that radiation, such as light, is emitted, transmitted, and absorbed in discrete energy packets, or quanta, determined by the frequency of the radiation and the value of Planck's constant. The energy E of each quantum, or each photon, equals Planck's constant h times the radiation frequency symbolized by the Greek letter nu, nu, or simply E=hnu. A modified form of Planck's constant called h-bar (), or Dirac h, frequently appears in the formulations of quantum mechanics, in which equals h divided by 2pi.

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