Quantum Mechanics Flashcards
To revise quantum mechanics
Define a photon
a packet (quanta) of energy
State the order of the electromagnetic spectrum, in terms of increasing frequency
Radiowaves
Microwaves
Infrared
Visible
Ultraviolet
X-rays
Gamma rays
What do all electromagnetic waves have in common?
- They all travel at the speed of light in a vacuum
- They are transverse waves.
How are electromagnetic waves emitted?
From a charged particle when it loses energy, this can happen when:
An electrom moves from a higher to a lower energy state
A fast moving electron is stopped e.g. x-rays
What is the relationship between photon energy and frequency?
Directly proportional
What is the relationship between photon energy and wavelength?
inversely proportional
Define an eV
1 eV is the energy gained by an electron passing through a potential difference of 1 V
Describe the photoelectric effect experiment?
- An insulating rod is given a negative charge.
- The negative charge is passed onto a zinc plate.
- The charge moves down onto the gold leaf
- The gold leaf repels and deflects away from the center
- Various light source are shone onto the zinc plate
Describe the observations of the photoelectric experiment
- When UV light (high frequency) light is shown on the zinc plate the leaf falls immediately so electrons are being lost from the plate
- If a filament lamp (lower frequency) is used the electroscope doesn’t discharge (gold leaf doesn’t move)
- When very intense visible light is used, no electrons are emitted (gold leaf doesn’t move)
- If very low intensity UV light is used the discharge starts immediately
Describe the conclusions of the photoelectric experiment
- There is a threshold frequency (minimum frequency) below which no photoelectrons are released
- The light is not interacting as a wave as enough energy would be eventually be transferred and photoelectrons would be released
- light is interacting as single photons** with the **surface electrons in an one to one interaction
- If the photons have enough energy/frequency (E=hf) then a photoelectron is released.
- If the frequency of the wave is to small it won’t have enough energy to release a photoelectron with a one to one interaction
Define threshold frequency
Threshold frequency – minimum frequency of radiation needed to release photoelectrons
Define work function
Work function – energy an electron must gain to be released from the metal
Define intensity
The amount of energy arriving per second per m2
In the photoelectric effect what is the affect of increasing the intensity of visible light?
No effect, the frequency will be below the threshold frequency so no electrons will be released
In the photoelectric effect , if UV radiation is used with a constant frequency but the intensity is increased, what is the effect?
More photoelectrons are released each second - If intensity is increasing but each photon has a constant energy (E = hf) then more photons must be arrving and interacting with electrons per second.
Each photoelectron will have a constant kinetic energy as the energy of the incoming photons is constant (E=hf)
Describe the stopping potential experiment
- Photoelectrons are emitted from a metal surface.
- They then have to travel towards the negative terminal of a battery.
- This means they have to do work against the potential difference.
- The stopping potential is the p.d. needed to stop the fastest electrons with the maximum kinetic energy.
- The work done by the p.d. is equal to the initial energy of the electrons.
- W = VQ
From a graph of kinetic energy against frequency what can be found out?
Gradient = h
x intercept = threshold frequency
y intercept = - work function
Describe excitation
An electron can move up an energy level by gaining energy (e.g. via heating or collisions with other particles). This is called excitation.
Describe relaxation
An electron can move down to a lower energy level by losing energy. This is done by releasing a photon. This is called relaxation.
Explain how fluorescent tubes work
- Fluorescent tubes contain mercury vapour across which a high p.d. is applied.
- The high voltage accelerates free electrons and ionise some mercury atoms
- The free electrons collide with electrons in the mercury atoms the electrons are excited to a higher energy level.
- When these electrons relax they lose high energy photons in the UV range.
- A phosphorous coating on the inside of the tube absorbs these photons, which excites the electrons to a higher energy level.
- These electrons then relax and release lower energy photons of visible light
How is a line emission spectrum produced?
Given out by gas atoms which have been excited through discharge of electricity or by heating to high temps.
Seen as discrete lines as they contains only specific energies, frequencies and wavelengths The electrons in the atom can only orbit at certain distances (shells/levels) from the nucleus, i.e. the radius of the orbit is “quantized” An excited electrons will jump down (relax) to a lower energy level. In jumping down the electrons emit a photon of energy equal to the difference in the energy between the two levels. (E= hf)
Explain why line spectra are seen as discrete lines
Line spectra are seen as discrete lines as they contains only specific energies, frequencies and wavelengths.
The electrons in the atom can only orbit at certain distances (shells/levels) from the nucleus, i.e. the radius of the orbit is “quantized”
An excited electrons will jump down (relax) to a lower energy level.
In jumping down the electrons emit a photon of energy equal to the difference in the energy between the two levels. (E= hf)
What is a continuous spectrum?
A continuous spectrum is a spectrum in which all wavelengths/frequencies are present between certain limits.
It is given out by hot glowing objects. All wavelengths are present because the electrons are not bound to atoms and are free so they are not confined to specific energy levels.
What is an absorption spectrum?
Caused by atoms of hot gas absorbing particular frequencies or wavelength as white light passes through. seen as continuous spectra with dark bands
Describe an experiment that showed electrons to behave like a wave
Electron diffraction through graphite - Electrons fired from a cathode so they pass through a graphite target. A series of bright rings can be seen on a phosphorescent screen.
