22.1.5—A photon has momentum and that the momentum is given by p = E / c
- Syllabus
- 9702–2028–2029
- Objective
- 22.1.5
- Level
- A2
For a photon, momentum magnitude p=E/c=h/λ. Photons carry momentum despite having zero rest mass.
Use photon energy from frequency or wavelength, then divide by c; momentum direction follows propagation direction.
Shorter-wavelength photons have greater momentum because p=h/λ.
Zero rest mass does not mean zero momentum or zero pressure when photons are absorbed or reflected.