Particles and Waves Flashcards
Bohr model of the atom – Ionisation level
The energy level an electron is in when it has zero potential energy and can escape from the atom.
Fraunhofer lines
Absorption lines in the spectrum of sunlight. These give evidence for the composition of the suns outer atmosphere
Absolute refractive index
The ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to to the speed of light in a medium
Irradiance
Power per unit area I=P/A
Bosons
These are the force mediating particles. Photons (electromagnetic force), W and Z bosons (weak nuclear force), gluons (strong nuclear force) & Higgs boson
Snell’s Law
n = sinθ1/sinθ2 = λ1/λ2 = v1/v2
Emission spectrum
Range of frequencies emitted when electrons fall to lower energy levels. Each element has a unique emission spectrum.
Point source of light
A source of light coming from a single point and giving off light in all directions e.g. small light bulb or a distant star.
I = k/d2 for a point source. I1 d1^2= I2 d2^2
Absorption spectrum
Range of frequencies absorbed when electrons rise to higher energy levels. Each element has a unique absorption spectrum.
Interference
This is evidence for the wave model of light
Baryons
Hadrons consisting of 3 quarks
Orders of magnitude
1x103 is 3 orders of magnitude smaller than 2.4x106
Photoelectric effect
This is evidence for the particle model of light. Photons of a sufficient energy can eject electrons from the surface of a material (photoemission).
What does E = mc2 represent?
In nuclear fission and fusion reactions mass is lost. This lost mass is converted into energy
Mesons
Hadrons consisting of quark - anti-quark pairs
Nuclear Fusion reactors
Require charged particles at very high temperature (plasma) which have to be contained by magnetic fields
Coherent Waves
Waves that have the same frequency and constant phase difference
Fermions
These are the matter particles. Consisting of quarks (Six types: up, down, charm, strange, top, bottom) and leptons (electron, muon and tau, together with their neutrinos).
Define electric field
A region where a charged particle experiences a force
Threshold Frequency
Minimum frequency of a photon required for photon emission
Beta decay
This was the first evidence for the neutrino
Define voltage (potential difference)
V=W/Q
Work don per coulomb of charge
Hadron
Composite particle consisting of quarks.
Relationship between refractive index and critical angle
sin θc = 1 / n