PARTICLE

NATURE OF
LIGHT
 1. BLACKBODY RADIATION
Is a surface or object that is capable of absorbing all
incoming radiation falling on it and reflects no radiation,
thus appears black at room temperature. However, when
exposed to certain amount of temperature, the blackbody
radiates certain amount of energy with associated
wavelength.
In order to explain blackbody radiation, Planck came up with an
equation to explain the distribution of wavelengths that are
emitted from a heated black body. It is given as E= hf

Where E is the energy of radiation;

h is the Planck constant (6.626×10 -³⁴ Js)
f Isa the frequency ( in Hertz)

Planck also proposed the quantum theory which states that

energy is radiated or absorbed in the form of packets or bundles,
called quanta ( singular, quantum) and each quantum is equal to
hf.
2. PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT
Albert Einstein used the quantized energy idea of Planck to come up
with the photon theory which proposes that light is composed of
photons. According to this theory, photon has the following
characteristics:
A. It has velocity of light in free space.The velocity of light ( c ) is equal
to 3×10⁸ m/ s.
B. It has rest energy
C. It has zero mass
D. It can carry energy and momentum
E. When radiation is emitted or absorbed, it can be created or destroyed.
F. It can interact with other particles like electrons.
3. ATOMIC SPECTRA
Is the Spectrum of frequencies of
electromagnetic radiation emitted due
to an electron making a transition from
a high energy State to the lower energy
State. The Photo. Energy of the emitted
Photon is equal to the energy
Difference between the two states.
 RELATIONSHIP OF
WAVELENGTH AND ENERGY
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
OF PHOTON THEORY
We use the knowledge we derived from the
relationship between energy and wavelength to
answer the following questions:
A. Why is red light commonly used in dark room?
B. Why do people get easily sunburned by
ultraviolet (UV) light but not by visible light?
C. How do human eyes perceive colors ?