Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 6: Problem 20

It is possible to convert radiant energy into electrical energy using photovoltaic cells. Assuming equal efficiency of conversion, would infrared or ultraviolet radiation yield more electrical energy on a per-photon basis?

Short Answer

Expert verified
On a per-photon basis, ultraviolet radiation would yield more electrical energy compared to infrared radiation, assuming equal efficiency of conversion in photovoltaic cells. This is because the energy of a photon is directly proportional to its frequency and the frequency of ultraviolet radiation is higher than that of infrared radiation.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding electromagnetic spectrum and radiant energy

The electromagnetic spectrum contains various types of waves, including infrared and ultraviolet radiation. Radiant energy is the energy carried by electromagnetic waves. The radiant energy carried by a wave is directly proportional to its frequency.
02

Recall the energy of a photon formula

To determine the energy of a photon, we use the following formula: \(E = h\nu\) where \(E\) represents the energy of a photon, \(h\) is the Planck's constant (\(6.63 \times 10^{-34} Js\)), and \(\nu\) is the frequency of the electromagnetic wave.
03

Understanding the position of infrared and ultraviolet radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum

In the electromagnetic spectrum, infrared radiation has a lower frequency compared to visible light, while ultraviolet radiation has a higher frequency compared to visible light. This means that the frequency of ultraviolet radiation is higher than the frequency of infrared radiation.
04

Comparing the energy of infrared and ultraviolet photons

Since the energy of a photon is directly proportional to its frequency and the frequency of ultraviolet radiation is higher compared to infrared radiation, it follows that the energy per photon of ultraviolet radiation is greater than the energy per photon of infrared radiation.
05

Conclusion

On a per-photon basis, ultraviolet radiation would yield more electrical energy compared to infrared radiation, assuming equal efficiency of conversion in photovoltaic cells.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Neutron diffraction is an important technique for determining the structures of molecules. Calculate the velocity of a neutron needed to achieve a wavelength of \(0.955 \AA .\) (Refer to the inside cover for the mass of the neutron).

For a given value of the principal quantum number, \(n\), how do the energies of the \(s, p, d,\) and \(f\) subshells vary for (a) hydrogen, (b) a many-electron atom?

(a) What is the relationship between the wavelength and the frequency of radiant energy? (b) Ozone in the upper atmosphere absorbs energy in the \(210-230-\mathrm{nm}\) range of the spectrum. In what region of the electromagnetic spectrum does this radiation occur?

For each element, indicate the number of valence electrons, core electrons, and unpaired electrons in the ground state: (a) carbon, (b) phosphorus, (c) neon.

List the following types of electromagnetic radiation in order of increasing wavelength: (a) the gamma rays produced by a radioactive nuclide used in medical imaging; (b) radiation from an FM radio station at \(93.1 \mathrm{MHz}\) on the dial; \((\mathrm{c})\) a radio signal from an AM radio station at \(680 \mathrm{kHz}\) on the dial; (d) the yellow light from sodium vapor streetlights; (e) the red light of a light-emitting diode, such as in a calculator display.
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Chemistry Textbooks

Inorganic Chemistry

Read Explanation

Nuclear Chemistry

Read Explanation

Chemistry Branches

Read Explanation

Making Measurements

Read Explanation

Kinetics

Read Explanation

The Earths Atmosphere

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free