Which of the following best determines the amount of energy of a single photon of light?

• A. The frequency of the light
• B. The amplitude of the light wave
• C. The intensity of the light
• D. The speed of the light

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the energy of a single photon is directly related to the frequency of the light, not its amplitude, intensity, or speed.
2. Recall the fundamental equation that relates the energy of a photon to its frequency: \(E = h \times f\), where \(E\) is the energy, \(h\) is Planck's constant, and \(f\) is the frequency of the light.
3. Recognize that amplitude relates to the brightness or intensity of light but does not affect the energy of individual photons.
4. Note that intensity is related to the number of photons (or the power of the light source) but not the energy per photon.
5. Remember that the speed of light in a vacuum is constant and does not influence the energy of a photon.