Photon Momentum

p = \frac{h}{λ} = \frac{E}{c}

Photons carry momentum despite having no rest mass. This is key to understanding radiation pressure and Compton scattering.

Variables

p

Photon momentum

kg·m/s

h

Planck constant

J·s

\lambda

Wavelength

m

E

Photon energy

J

c

Speed of light

m/s

Derivation

From E = pc for massless particles and E = hc/λ for photons.

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