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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

A photon has momentum p=E/c even though it has zero rest mass

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.

ConceptA-Level CAIE Physics A2