Quantum physics Flashcards
What is a gold leaf electroscope?
A device with a metallic stem and a gold leaf that can be used to identify and measure electric current
What is a photon?
A quantum of electromagnetic energy
What is the photoelectric effect?
The emission of photoelectrons from the surface of a metal when em radiation above the threshold frequency is incident on the metal
What is the threshold frequency?
The minimum frequency of em radiation that will cause the emission of an electron from the surface of a particular metal
What were the three key observations from the photoelectric effect?
Photoelectrons were only emitted if the incident radiation was above the threshold frequency for each metal no matter how intense the incident radiation was
If the incident radiation was above the threshold frequency the emission of photoelectrons was instaneous
If incident radiation is above the threshold frequency then increasing the intensity increased the number of electrons emitted
