4.5 - Quantum Flashcards
When EM radiation interacts with matter, what does it interact as?
Photons
What are photons?
Discrete energy quanta (packets)
Why do we use electronvolts?
Because the energy of a photon is very small when measured joules, so electronvolts are more appropriate.
Define 1eV
The energy transferred when an electron travels through a potential difference of 1 volt.
How many joules in 1 eV?
1.60x10^-19
using W=VQ
How can we use LEDs to determine the Planck constant?
Vary the PD across an LED to determine the threshold PD required to turn it on. LED produces light of a specific colour so we know wavelength.
Each photon is emitted when a single electron loses energy. By equating energy of an individual electron in the LED with an individual photon produced, we can use eV = hc/λ
How can we improve the accuracy of the LED experiment?
Repeat the experiment with a variety of different coloured LEDs, each emitting different wavelengths of light.
What graph can be drawn after the LED experiment?
Draw V against 1/λ. The gradient will be equal to hc/e. c and e are known constants so we can calculate h from this.
Define the photoelectric effect.
The emission of electrons from the surface of a metal when EM waves, of greater frequency than the threshold frequency, are incident on the metal.
What is a gold leaf electroscope?
A negative zinc plate on top of a stem, with a negative piece of gold leaf attached to the stem.
What happens when UV light is shone onto the zinc plate of a gold leaf electroscope?
(Initially, the gold leaf and stem have the same charge so they repel)
Free electrons are released from the surface of the plate, and the negative charge is slowly lost so the leaf gradually falls back to the stem.
What happens if we shine visible light onto the zinc plate of a gold electroscope?
Electrons don’t get removed from the plate, regardless of the intensity.
Can the wave model of EM explain gold leaf electroscope observations?
No.
What does each electron on the surface of a metal require to escape?
A certain amount of energy.
What happens to the energy of a photon when it is incident on a metal surface?
It transfers its exact energy to one electron, with any excess energy transferred into kinetic energy.