How does the energy of a photon relate to its wavelength in terms of magnitude?

The relationship between the energy of a photon and its wavelength is described by the equation:

[ E = \frac{hc}{\lambda} ]

In this equation, ( E ) represents the energy of the photon, ( h ) is Planck’s constant, ( c ) is the speed of light, and ( \lambda ) is the wavelength of the photon. According to this equation, the energy of a photon is inversely proportional to its wavelength; this means that as the wavelength increases, the energy decreases, and conversely, as the wavelength decreases, the energy increases.

Thus, the correct choice emphasizes this inverse relationship, meaning that photons with shorter wavelengths (like ultraviolet light) carry more energy than those with longer wavelengths (like infrared light). This principle is foundational in understanding various physical phenomena, such as the behavior of light and its interaction with matter.

In this context, the other options do not align with the established relationship dictated by the equation. For instance, stating that energy is maximized at longest wavelengths contradicts the inverse correlation between energy and wavelength.