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I need to calculate the kinetics energy of a photon and I'm trying to deduce a correct expression for calculating it.

So we have that

$K= \frac{1}{2} m_fv_f^2$

So $v_f= c$

For De Broglie equation we have that $m_f = \frac{h}{\lambda c}$

And then

$K = \frac{hc}{2 \lambda}$

But apparently the correct expression is:

$K = \frac{hc}{\lambda}$

Can someone help me figure out what I'm doing wrong? Thanks!

Granger Obliviate
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1 Answers1

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A photon has no mass and moves at relativistic speeds, therefore you can't use the usual expression for the kinetic energy.

The energy of a photon is given by (as you already stated) $$ E = \frac{hc}{\lambda} $$ where $h$ is Planck's constant, $c$ the speed of light and $\lambda$ the wavelength of the photon.

You can derive it from the relativistic energy $$ E^2 = p^2c^2 + m^2c^4 $$ with $m =0$ and using the fact that for a photon $$ p = \hbar k = \frac{h\nu}{c} = \frac{h}{\lambda}. $$