Quantum Phenomena

• Conclusion 1 of the gold leaf experiment:

  • Wave theory predicted any frequency of light should cause the photoelectric effect
  • In reality, only photons above a certain frequency were emitted
  • It was concluded that energy must be delivered in packets and must be proportional to the frequency of the wave and also electrons cant store energy
• Conclusion 2 of the gold leaf experiment

  • Wave theory predicted increasing intensity should increase energy of electrond emitted
  • In reality, as long as you're above the threshold frequency increasing intensity increases amount of electrons but their individual energy stayed the same
  • It was concluded that there's a one to one interaction between a photon and wn electron, greater the intensity the more photons produced therefore more electron emitted
• Conclusion 3 of the gold leaf experiment

  • Wave theory predicted it should take longer for electrons to be emitted when using low intensity light compared to high intensity light
  • In reality, electrons were emitted instantly regardless of light intensity
  • It was concluded that energy must be delivered in packets in one go rather then continuously
• E = hf

  E = energy of a photon

  F = frequency

  H = Planck's constant
• E = hc/lamda

  E is the energy of a photon

  h is Plancks constant

  c is the speed of light

  lamda is wavelength
• Threshold freq = work function/h
• Hf = work function + max kinetic energy