Planck's Energy Constant

Planck's proportionality constant ``h'' is \underline {\textit{not}} an action constant. Re-examination of Planck's work has revealed the numerical value for his famous constant ``h'' is actually an \textit{energy }constant.* Planck's \textit{energy }constant is the mean energy of a single oscillation of electromagnetic energy, namely 6.626 X 10$^{-34}$ J/osc. The misinterpretation of Planck's constant resulted from an inadvertent mathematical procedure in his 1901 black-body derivation. Planck's energy constant is found in his original (1897) quantum relationship: E $\approx $ a $\nu $ t$_{m}$ where energy (``E'') is proportional to the product of a constant (``a'', energy per oscillation), the frequency (``$\nu $''), and the measurement time (``t$_{m}$''). Planck's inadvertence fixed the measurement time variable ``t$_{m}$'' at a value of one second, and multiplied it by his constant ``a'', resulting in the product ``h'' which Planck proposed as the ``\textit{quantum of action}''. Planck's black-body derivation and condensed quantum formula \textit{E = h$\nu $ }were never knowingly premised on one second time intervals, however. Subsequent development of quantum mechanics thus took place against the back drop of a hidden assumption. Numerous paradoxes, problems and a lack of reality resulted. Recognition of Planck's \textit{energy} constant provides a richer and more realistic interpretation of quantum mechanics. *Brooks, JHJ, ``Hidden Variables: The Elementary Quantum of Light'', The Nature of Light: What are Photons? III, Proc. of SPIE Vol. 7421, 74210T-3, 2009.