2. Planck's Constant


Max Planck, a German Physicist, is best known as the originator of the quantum theory of energy for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1918. His work contributed significantly to the understanding of atomic and subatomic processes.

Planck postulated that the energy of light is proportional to the frequency of that radiation and the Planck's Constant, symbolized as 'h', relates the energy in one quantum (photon) of electromagnetic radiation to the frequency of that radiation. In the International System of Units (SI), the constant is equal to approximately 6.626176 x 10-34 Joule seconds.

The significance of Plank's Constant in this context is that radiation, such as light, is emitted, transmitted or absorbed in discrete energy packets or quanta determined by the frequency of the radiation and the value of Planck's Constant. His work led to Albert Einstein determining that light exists in discrete quanta of energy or photons.

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