photons and quanta

[Funmi Baruwa]

In the first lecture this week, Dr. Lavelle said light is absorbed/emitted in discrete units, quanta or photons.

So my question is, what is the difference between quanta and photons?

[manisha_joseph_1H]

Quanta is used to describe any substance that holds a discrete quantity of energy proportional in magnitude to the frequency of the radiation it represents. Therefore, the word "quanta" is used to describe photons because they are packets of discrete energy. Essentially, quanta is a broad term that can be applied to photons based on their characteristics and behavior. Hope this helps!

[Rachel Jiang 3H]

Hi! A quantum is the smallest particle of any substance at the subatomic level. A photon is, more specifically, the smallest discrete amount of electromagnetic radiation, or quantum of light. Hope this helps!

[Funmi Baruwa]

thanks so much!

[Alessia Renna 1D]

A quanta is the smallest particle of something, that something in this case is light, of which a photon is the smallest possible particle.

[gabbi_r2C]

Agreed with above. Quantum is a general term for the smallest particle of something, while photons refer specifically to light and can be said to hold specific quanta of energy.

[Katie Le 3K]

quanta is used to describe small units that are discrete so photon is quanta

[AnjikaFriedman-Jha2D]

Quanta is a discrete unit of something, such as energy. In this case, photons possess a discrete, or quantized, amount of energy.