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Physics - Particles and Waves
Physics - Particles and Waves
AP Learning Objectives
ATOMIC AND NUCLEAR PHYSICS
Atomic physics and quantum effects
Photons, the photoelectric effect, Compton
scattering, x-rays
Students should know the properties of photons,
so they can:
Relate the energy of a photon in joules or
electron-volts to its wavelength or frequency.
Relate the linear momentum of a photon to its
energy or wavelength, and apply linear
momentum conservation to simple processes
involving the emission, absorption, or
reflection of photons.
Calculate the number of photons per second
emitted by a monochromatic source of
specific wavelength and power.
AP Learning Objectives
ATOMIC AND NUCLEAR PHYSICS
Atomic physics and quantum effects
Photons, the photoelectric effect, Compton scattering, xrays
Students should understand the photoelectric effect, so they
can:
Describe a typical photoelectric-effect experiment, and
explain what experimental observations provide evidence for
the photon nature of light.
Describe qualitatively how the number of photoelectrons and
their maximum kinetic energy depend on the wavelength
and intensity of the light striking the surface, and account
for this dependence in terms of a photon model of light.
Determine the maximum kinetic energy of photoelectrons
ejected by photons of one energy or wavelength, when
given the maximum kinetic energy of photoelectrons for a
different photon energy or wavelength.
Sketch or identify a graph of stopping potential versus
frequency for a photoelectric-effect experiment, determine
from such a graph the threshold frequency and work
function, and calculate an approximate value of h/e.
AP Learning Objectives
ATOMIC AND NUCLEAR PHYSICS
Atomic physics and quantum effects
Photons, the photoelectric effect, Compton
scattering, x-rays
Students should understand Compton scattering,
so they can:
Describe Comptons experiment, and state
what results were observed and by what sort of
analysis these results may be explained.
Account qualitatively for the increase of photon
wavelength that is observed, and explain the
significance of the Compton wavelength.
Students should understand the nature and
production of x-rays, so they can calculate the
shortest wavelength of x-rays that may be
produced by electrons accelerated through a
specified voltage.
AP Learning Objectives
ATOMIC AND NUCLEAR PHYSICS
Atomic physics and quantum effects
Wave-particle duality
Students should understand the concept of de
Broglie wavelength, so they can:
Calculate the wavelength of a particle as a
function of its momentum.
Describe the Davisson-Germer experiment,
and explain how it provides evidence for
the wave nature of electrons.
Table of Contents
1. The Wave-Particle Duality
2. Blackbody Radiation and Plancks Constant
3. Photons and the Photoelectric Effect
4. The Momentum of a Photon and the Compton Effect
5. The De Broglie Wavelength and the Wave Nature of
Matter
6. The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle
Chapter 29:
Particles and Waves
Section 1:
The Wave-Particle Duality
Wave-Particle Duality
When a beam of
electrons is used in a
Youngs double slit
experiment, a fringe
pattern occurs, indicating
interference effects.
Waves can exhibit
particle-like
characteristics
Particles can exhibit
wave-like
characteristics.
Chapter 29:
Particles and Waves
Section 2:
Blackbody Radiation
&
Plancks Constant
Blackbody Radiation
All bodies, no matter how hot or cold,
continuously radiate electromagnetic
waves.
Electromagnetic energy is
quantized.
frequency
E n f
n 0,1, 2, 3,
Plancks
constant
6.626 10 34 J s
29.2.3. Two quantum oscillator energy levels are 7.572 1019 J and
1.136 1018 J. Determine the frequency of the photon that is
emitted from this atom when a transition is made between these
two levels and determine n for the lower energy level.
a) 2.571 1014 Hz
b) 2.478 1014 Hz
c) 3.381 1014 Hz
d) 3.422 1014 Hz
e) 4.369 1014 Hz
Chapter 29:
Particles and Waves
Section 3:
Photons &
the Photoelectric Effect
Photons
Electromagnetic waves are composed of particle-like
entities called photons.
E f
Photoelectric Effect
Experimental evidence
that light consists of
photons comes from a
phenomenon called the
photoelectric effect.
The Magic Brick Wall
Photoelectric Effect
When light shines on a metal, a photon can give up
its energy to an electron in that metal. The
minimum energy required to remove the least
strongly held electrons is called the work function.
hf
Photon
energy
KE max
Maximum
kinetic energy
of ejected electron
Wo
Minimum
work needed to
eject electron
KE max
Maximum
kinetic energy
of ejected electron
hf
Photon
energy
Wo
Minimum
work needed to
eject electron
hf o KE max Wo
0 J
Wo 4.73 eV 1.60 10 19 J eV
15
fo
1
.
14
10
Hz
34
h
6.626 10 J s
29.3.2. Why can we not see individual photons, but rather light appears to us
to be continuous?
a) A light beam contains a multitude of photons, each with a very small
amount of energy.
b) The wave part of a photon superposes with the wave part of other photons
in the beam, making the beam appear to be continuous.
c) The wave part of the photon extends over a spatial region that is larger
than our eyes can detect.
d) The particle properties of photons do not interact with our eyes.
e) Each photon carries information from the whole electromagnetic
spectrum; and our eyes cannot interpret this information.
29.3.3. Consider the photoelectric effect experiment from the point of view
of classical (or Newtonian) physics. Which one of the following is not
one of the effects you would predict from a classical point of view?
a) There should be a measurable time delay between the time that light first
strikes the metal surface and the time when electrons are first emitted
from the surface of the metal.
b) The kinetic energy of the emitted electrons should vary linearly with the
frequency of light shining on the metal.
c) Light of any frequency shining on the metal surface should cause
electrons to be emitted.
d) The kinetic energy of the emitted electrons should increase
proportionately to the intensity of the light.
29.3.4. A special camera has been designed that opens and closes its
shutter for a very short time. A picture of an illuminated object is
taken with this camera. When the film is developed, only tiny, bright
dots appear randomly distributed on the picture. What does this
experiment tell us about the nature of light?
a) The dots are an interference pattern, which proves the wave nature of
light.
b) The small number of dots indicates that light waves were cut off by
the shutter as it closed.
c) The camera lens could not focus the light waves at a point on the film
with such a short time.
d) The random distribution of dots shows the particle nature of light.
29.3.7. If light only had wave-like properties, you would not expect
there to be a cutoff frequency. Why is this true?
a) Only particles can eject electrons from a surface.
b) The energy of a wave does not depend on its frequency.
c) Light waves of lower frequency would still be able to eject
electrons.
d) An electromagnetic wave would be able to eject an electron from a
surface. It would just take longer.
e) None of the above answers are correct.
Chapter 29:
Particles and Waves
Section 4:
The Momentum of a Photon &
the Compton Effect
Momentum of Light?
Arthur Compton directed
Xrays at a sample of
graphite, and found that
the frequency of the
scattered light was a
different frequency
The scattered photon
and the recoil electron
depart the collision in
different directions.
Due to conservation of
energy, the scattered
photon must have a
smaller frequency.
This is called the
Compton effect.
Energy is
conserved in the collision.
E p , o f o
Energy of
incident
photon
Initial
Energy of
electron
Energy of
scattered
photon
E p f
Ee
f o me c f
pe c
Ee ,o me c
Kinetic Energy
of recoil
electron
pe c
E
e
me c
p c f o me c f
2
2 2
me c
me2 c 4
2 2
Momentum is
conserved in the collision.
pe p p , o p p
Momentum
of incident
photon
p e p p ,o p p
2
c f
f
f
pc
pp
Momentum
of scattered
photon
p
e
Momentum
of recoil
electron
p 2e p p ,o p p p p ,o p p
p 2e p 2p ,o p 2p 2 p p ,o p p cos
p 2e c 2 p 2p ,o c 2 p 2p c 2 2 p p ,o p p c 2 cos
p 2e c 2 2 f o2 2 f 2 2 2 f o f cos
p c f o me c f
2 2
e
me2 c 4 2 f o2 2 f 2 2 2 f o f cos
A B C 2 A2 B 2 C 2 2 AB 2 AC 2 BC
f o
me c
2 2
2f o me c 2 2 2 f o f 2fme c 2 me2 c 4
2 f o2 2 f 2 2 2 f o f cos
2f o me c 2 2fme c 2 2 2 f o f 2 2 f o f cos
2f o me c 2 2fme c 2 2 2 f o f 2 2 f o f cos
Divide both sides by 2hfofmec
c c
1 cos
f f o me c
h
1 cos
o
me c
Chapter 29:
Particles and Waves
Section 5:
The De Broglie Wavelength &
the Wave Nature of Matter
6.63 10 J s
p
9.110 kg 6.0 10
h p
34
31
6.63 10
m s
1.2 10 10 m
J s
3.3 10 34 m
0.15 kg 13 m s
34
Chapter 29:
Particles and Waves
Section 6:
The Heisenberg Uncertainty
Principle
p y y
4
Uncertainty in y component
of the particles momentum
Uncertainty in particles
position along the y direction
E t
4
29.6.1. Which one of the following statements provides the best description
of the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle?
a) If a particle is confined to a region x, then its momentum is within some
range p.
b) If the error in measuring the position is x, then we can determine the
error in measuring the momentum p.
c) If one measures the position of a particle, then the value of the
momentum will change.
d) It is not possible to be certain of any measurement.
e) Depending on the degree of certainty in measuring the position of a
particle, the degree of certainty in measuring the momentum is affected.