What is the relationship between wavelength and energy of light?

The relationship between wavelength and energy of light is governed by the principles of quantum mechanics, specifically the equation that defines the energy of a photon. Energy and wavelength are inversely related; as the wavelength of light decreases, its energy increases. This relationship can be expressed with the formula (E = \frac{hc}{\lambda}), where (E) is the energy, (h) is Planck's constant, (c) is the speed of light, and (\lambda) is the wavelength.

When the wavelength is shorter, the value of (\lambda) in the denominator gets smaller, leading to a higher energy value for the photon. Conversely, longer wavelengths mean lower energy. Therefore, higher energy light, such as ultraviolet light, has shorter wavelengths compared to lower energy light, like infrared light. Understanding this relationship is crucial for grasping concepts in atomic theory and the behavior of electromagnetic radiation.