Article
Article
Planck's constant
Article By:
Park, David A. Department of Physics, Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts.
Last reviewed:August 2020
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.521400
A quantity, designated by the letter h, which occurs repeatedly in those fundamental formulas of physics that describe the microworld, the world of atoms and nuclei and elementary particles. Historically, h occurred first in 1900 in work of Max Planck on the theory of blackbody radiation, but its physical significance was at first not clear. Some physicists would claim that it is still not clear. See also: Heat radiation
The content above is only an excerpt.
About AccessScience
AccessScience provides the most accurate and trustworthy scientific information available.
Recognized as an award-winning gateway to scientific knowledge, AccessScience is an amazing online resource that contains high-quality reference material written specifically for students. Contributors include more than 10,000 highly qualified scientists and 46 Nobel Prize winners.
MORE THAN 8700 articles covering all major scientific disciplines and encompassing the McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology and McGraw-Hill Yearbook of Science & Technology
115,000-PLUS definitions from the McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms
3000 biographies of notable scientific figures
MORE THAN 19,000 downloadable images and animations illustrating key topics
ENGAGING VIDEOS highlighting the life and work of award-winning scientists
SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY and additional readings to guide students to deeper understanding and research
LINKS TO CITABLE LITERATURE help students expand their knowledge using primary sources of information
