Question:
Which of the following electromagnetic waves has photons of largest momentum?
Which of the following electromagnetic waves has photons of largest momentum?
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The momentum of a photon is directly proportional to its frequency. Since X-rays have the highest frequency, their photons carry the largest momentum.
Updated On: Jan 13, 2026
- X-rays
- AM radio waves
- Microwaves
- TV waves
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The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
The momentum of a photon is determined by its wavelength. The relationship between the momentum (p) of a photon and its wavelength (λ) is given by the equation:
p = \(\frac{h}{λ}\)
where h is Planck's constant. From this equation, it is evident that momentum is inversely proportional to wavelength. This implies that, the shorter the wavelength, the greater the momentum of the photon.
Electromagnetic waves, in order of increasing wavelength, are:
- X-rays
- TV waves
- Microwaves
- AM radio waves
Thus, the electromagnetic waves with photons of the largest momentum are X-rays.
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