Upon which one of the following parameters does the energy of a photon depend?

• A. Frequency of the light
• B. Speed of the photon
• C. Amplitude of the light wave
• D. Phase of the light wave

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall the fundamental relationship between the energy of a photon and its frequency, given by the equation \(E = h \times f\), where \(E\) is the energy, \(h\) is Planck's constant, and \(f\) is the frequency of the light.
2. Understand that the speed of a photon in a vacuum is constant (the speed of light, \(c\)), and does not affect the energy of the photon.
3. Recognize that the amplitude of a light wave relates to its intensity or brightness, but not to the energy of individual photons.
4. Note that the phase of a light wave describes the position of the wave in its cycle at a given point in time and does not influence the energy of photons.
5. Conclude that since energy depends directly on frequency and not on speed, amplitude, or phase, the energy of a photon depends on the frequency of the light.