Photons Flashcards
What is a photon?
A photon is the fundamental quantum of electromagnetic radiation, representing a discrete packet of energy.
How do you calculate the energy of a photon?
The energy of a photon is given by E = hf, where h is Planck’s constant and f is the frequency of the light.
What phenomenon demonstrates the particle nature of light?
The photoelectric effect shows that light can eject electrons from a metal surface, supporting its particle-like properties.
What is the work function in the context of the photoelectric effect?
It is the minimum energy required to eject an electron from the surface of a metal.
How does light frequency affect the photoelectric effect?
Only photons with a frequency above a certain threshold can eject electrons, and higher frequency photons impart greater kinetic energy to the electrons.
What is the role of light intensity in the photoelectric effect?
Increasing the intensity increases the number of photons (and hence ejected electrons) but does not affect the kinetic energy of individual electrons.
What is Planck’s constant and why is it important?
Planck’s constant (approximately 6.626×10^-34 Js) is a fundamental constant that relates the energy of a photon to its frequency.
“What evidence supports the quantization of light energy?”
Observations from the photoelectric effect and experiments like the Compton effect indicate that light energy is absorbed and emitted in discrete packets.
Describe the dual nature of light.
Light exhibits both wave-like and particle-like properties, a concept central to quantum mechanics.
How do single-photon interference experiments contribute to our understanding of light?
They show that even when photons are sent one at a time, an interference pattern builds up, highlighting the wave-particle duality of light.
Why is the photon model essential in modern physics?
It provides the basis for understanding interactions between light and matter that cannot be explained by classical wave theory alone.
How do photons interact with matter?
Photons can be absorbed, reflected, or transmitted, depending on the properties of the material and the energy of the photons.
