What is Planck Constant?

Planck’s constant, symbolized as ℎ, is a fundamental universal constant that defines the quantum nature of energy and relates the energy of a photon to its frequency, now known as the Planck-Einstein relation:

E = ℎf

Where,

• E represents the energy of the light,
• f is the frequency of the light, and
• ℎ is referred to as the Planck constant.

Planck Constant tells us that energy exchanged at the quantum level occurs in some specific amount, known as quanta. The Planck’s constant says how much of that energy is in these quanta. One quanta is defined by the value of the Planck’s Constant value (we will learn about this value later in this article.)

Discovery of Planck Constant

German physicist Max Planck introduced the constant in 1900 when he was working on a formula to describe the distribution of radiation emitted by a blackbody, also known as blackbody radiation. This constant, now known as Planck’s constant, was crucial in resolving a problem known as the ultraviolet catastrophe, a point where classical physics failed to explain the observed physics.

Who is Max Planck?

Max Planck was a German physicist who pioneered the field of quantum theory. Planck’s most famous contribution was quantization of energy packets, which gave birth to the revolutionary idea that energy is not emitted or absorbed continuously but in discrete quantities. This constant came to be known as Planck’s constant and is now denoted by the symbol ‘ℎ’.

Planck’s Constant is one of the smallest constants used in physics. It is a fundamental constant in quantum mechanics which relates the energy of a photon to its frequency. Planck constant stands as one of the most elegant and pivotal values in the realm of physics, where constants shape the very essence of this physical world.

Further in this article, we will learn about its definition, who Max Planck was, explore methods for calculating its value in various units, its formula, dimension, and unit. We will look into what’s a Reduced Planck Constant and discuss the application of Planck’s constant across various scientific disciplines.