A shorter wavelength photon is associated with

A shorter wavelength photon is associated with

• A. Higher frequency, higher energy, and increased ionizing potential.
• B. Lower frequency, higher energy, and increased ionizing potential.
• C. Higher frequency, lower energy, and increased ionizing potential.
• D. Lower frequency, lower energy, and decreased ionizing potential.

Answer: (A)

Shorter wavelength means higher frequency and higher energy for a photon, and that higher energy corresponds to a greater ability to ionize atoms. A photon’s energy is proportional to its frequency (E = hf) and also inversely proportional to wavelength (E = hc/λ). So when the wavelength gets shorter, the frequency increases and so does the energy, which raises the ionizing potential available from that photon. That makes the description of higher frequency, higher energy, and increased ionizing potential the correct one. The other options conflict with the fundamental relationship E ∝ f and f ∝ 1/λ, so they describe impossible combinations for a shorter wavelength.

Shorter wavelength means higher frequency and higher energy for a photon, and that higher energy corresponds to a greater ability to ionize atoms. A photon’s energy is proportional to its frequency (E = hf) and also inversely proportional to wavelength (E = hc/λ). So when the wavelength gets shorter, the frequency increases and so does the energy, which raises the ionizing potential available from that photon. That makes the description of higher frequency, higher energy, and increased ionizing potential the correct one. The other options conflict with the fundamental relationship E ∝ f and f ∝ 1/λ, so they describe impossible combinations for a shorter wavelength.