The kinetic energy of electromagnetic waves, such as visible light and X-rays, is typically described in terms of their energy rather than kinetic energy, as electromagnetic waves do not have mass. The energy of these waves can be quantified using the equation:
\[ E = h \nu \]
or
\[ E = \frac{hc}{\lambda} \]
where:
- \( E \) is the energy of the photon,
- \( h \) is Planck's constant (approximately \( 6.626 \times 10^{-34} , \text{J s} \)),
- \( \nu \) is the frequency of the wave,
- \( c \) is the speed of light in a vacuum (approximately \( 3.00 \times 10^8 , \text{m/s} \)),
- \( \lambda \) is the wavelength of the wave.
Thus, the energy associated with electromagnetic waves is often referred to as photon energy. In the context of physics and electromagnetic theory, you may also encounter the term radiant energy.
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