Question

Light from the Sun in outer space is composed of about 50% infrared light, 40% visible light, and 10% ultraviolet light. How is the energy of infrared light, visible light, and ultraviolet light different?
Responses
A They have the same energy.They have the same energy.
B They have come from different areas of the Sun.They have come from different areas of the Sun.
C They produce the same image to the human eye.They produce the same image to the human eye.
D They have different wavelengths.

Answer 1

D — They have different wavelengths. Energy per photon depends on frequency (E = h·f) or inversely on wavelength (E = hc/λ), so ultraviolet photons (shorter wavelength) carry more energy than visible photons, which carry more than infrared photons.