MCQ Detailed View

Max Planck, a German physicist, is considered the father of quantum theory. He is famous for introducing the concept of energy quanta, which fundamentally changed our understanding of physics. In 1900, Planck proposed that energy is not emitted or absorbed continuously, but in discrete packets called quanta. This was a revolutionary idea because classical physics assumed energy could vary smoothly.

Planck introduced the formula E = hν, where E is the energy of a quantum, ν is the frequency of the radiation, and h is Planck’s constant. This concept helped explain blackbody radiation, which classical physics could not accurately describe. Before Planck’s work, the ultraviolet catastrophe was a major unsolved problem in physics, predicting infinite energy emission at short wavelengths. Planck’s quantization solved this problem and laid the foundation for modern quantum mechanics.

Although the photon is a related concept introduced later by Albert Einstein in 1905 to explain the photoelectric effect, Planck himself formulated the energy quanta idea first. Thus, the correct answer is Energy quanta.

Understanding Planck’s discovery is crucial in physics because it explains how energy interacts at the atomic and subatomic level. It is the basis for quantum theory, which governs phenomena like atomic spectra, lasers, and semiconductors. Planck’s work also paved the way for other revolutionary developments in physics, including the Schrödinger equation, Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, and quantum field theory.

Planck’s discovery shows that energy is quantized, meaning it exists in small, discrete amounts rather than a continuous flow. This principle is fundamental to physics and helps explain the behavior of light, matter, and energy at microscopic scales, making it a key concept in everyday science and advanced physics studies.