# 6.1 Electromagnetic energy  (Page 7/27)

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$E=nh\nu ,\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}n=1,\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}2,\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}3,\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}. . .$

The quantity h is a constant now known as Planck's constant, in his honor. Although Planck was pleased he had resolved the blackbody radiation paradox, he was disturbed that to do so, he needed to assume the vibrating atoms required quantized energies, which he was unable to explain. The value of Planck's constant is very small, 6.626 $×$ 10 −34 joule seconds (J s), which helps explain why energy quantization had not been observed previously in macroscopic phenomena.

## The photoelectric effect

The next paradox in the classical theory to be resolved concerned the photoelectric effect ( [link] ). It had been observed that electrons could be ejected from the clean surface of a metal when light having a frequency greater than some threshold frequency was shone on it. Surprisingly, the kinetic energy of the ejected electrons did not depend on the brightness of the light, but increased with increasing frequency of the light. Since the electrons in the metal had a certain amount of binding energy keeping them there, the incident light needed to have more energy to free the electrons. According to classical wave theory, a wave's energy depends on its intensity (which depends on its amplitude), not its frequency. One part of these observations was that the number of electrons ejected within in a given time period was seen to increase as the brightness increased. In 1905, Albert Einstein was able to resolve the paradox by incorporating Planck's quantization findings into the discredited particle view of light (Einstein actually won his Nobel prize for this work, and not for his theories of relativity for which he is most famous).

Einstein argued that the quantized energies that Planck had postulated in his treatment of blackbody radiation could be applied to the light in the photoelectric effect so that the light striking the metal surface should not be viewed as a wave, but instead as a stream of particles (later called photons ) whose energy depended on their frequency, according to Planck's formula, E = (or, in terms of wavelength using c = νλ , $E=\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\frac{hc}{\lambda }$ ). Electrons were ejected when hit by photons having sufficient energy (a frequency greater than the threshold). The greater the frequency, the greater the kinetic energy imparted to the escaping electrons by the collisions. Einstein also argued that the light intensity did not depend on the amplitude of the incoming wave, but instead corresponded to the number of photons striking the surface within a given time period. This explains why the number of ejected electrons increased with increasing brightness, since the greater the number of incoming photons, the greater the likelihood that they would collide with some of the electrons.

With Einstein's findings, the nature of light took on a new air of mystery. Although many light phenomena could be explained either in terms of waves or particles, certain phenomena, such as the interference patterns obtained when light passed through a double slit, were completely contrary to a particle view of light, while other phenomena, such as the photoelectric effect, were completely contrary to a wave view of light. Somehow, at a deep fundamental level still not fully understood, light is both wavelike and particle-like. This is known as wave-particle duality    .

#### Questions & Answers

what is the meaning of intermolecular force
is the force of attraction that exist between two or more molecules
Johnson
What is a primary standard solution ?
Duval
a known solution
Fiko
Characteristic of a primary standard solution
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pauli's exclusion is based on what?
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Types of electrolytes
Strong, weak and non-electrolytes
Grace
welcome
Alieu
thanks what's this platform all about
Nnamdi
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combination of acid and base
that salt
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calculate the mass in gram of NaOH present in 250cm3 of 0.1mol/dm3 of its solution
The mass is 1.0grams. First you multiply the molecular weight and molarity which is 39.997g/mol x 0.1mol/dm3= 3.9997g/dm3. Then you convert dm3 to cm3. 1dm3 =1000cm3. In this case you would divide 3.9997 by 1000 which would give you 3.9997*10^-3 g/cm3. To get the mass you multiply 3.9997*10^-3 and
Kokana
250cm3 and get the mass as .999925, with significant figures the answer is 1.0 grams
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nitrogen, phosphorus, arsenic, antimony and Bismuth
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Can I know d electronic configuration of for group 5 elements
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2:5, 2:8:5, 2:8:8:5,...
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Thanks
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Pls what are d names of elements found in group 5
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define define. define
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total heat contents of the system is called enthalpy, it is state function.
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background of chemistry
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sp2 hybridization
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HYDROGEN
Liklai
Element that has positive charge and its non metal Name the element
Liklai
helium
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sulphur
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hydrogen
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account for the properties of organic compounds
properties of organic compounds
mercy