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How to Convert Hertz to Electrical Wattage

Electromagnetic wave frequency such as light and radio waves are measured in hertz. Although the wavelength may change from passing light or sound through different mediums, the frequency ultimately stays the same. Due to German physicist Max Plank's discovery on the relationship between wave frequency and amount of energy, you can determine the overall electrical wattage from the wave frequency of a light or radio source.

Things You'll Need

Scientific calculator

Instructions

- 1
  Find the energy carried by each photon by multiplying the wave frequency by the Planck's constant (6.626 x 10^-35 Joules). For example, if the wave frequency is 5.0 x 10^13 Hertz, the energy of each photon would be 3.313 x 10^-21 Joules.
  
  (5.0 x 10^13) x (6.626 x 10^-35) = 3.313 x 10^-21 joules
- 2
  Find the total amount of energy carried by all the electrons combined. Multiply the energy of each photon by the number of total photons. For example, if the energy of each photon is 3.313 x 10^-21 Joules and there are 8 x 10^23 number of photons, the total amount of energy would be 2650.4 joules.
  
  (3.313 x 10^-21) x (8 x 10^23) = 2650.4 joules.
- 3
  Find the wattage, which is equal to the amount of energy emitted over a one-second period. Divide the answer found in Step 2 by the duration of time it takes all the photons to be emitted. For example, if it takes 15 seconds for all the photons to emit 2650.4 joules of energy, the wave would have approximately 176.69 watts.
  
  2650.4 / 20 = 176.69

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