• Electromagnetic waves are comprised of photons (particles representing a quantum of electromagnetic radiation).
• When EMR hits a metal, there is a one-to-one interaction between the photons and the surface electrons: a single photon exchanges energy with a single electron. During this interaction, energy is conserved.
• An electron is instantaneously removed from the surface of the metal if: the incident photon’s energy is greater than, or equal to, the work function of the metal; the incident radiation’s frequency is greater than, or equal to, the threshold frequency of the metal.
• Increasing the intensity of the incident radiation does not change whether or not electrons are released, as this depends on whether or not the work function and threshold frequency are met. Intensity is proportional to the rate at which photons hit the metal.
I'm trying to summarize it so it's easier to remember for my A-level Physics exam.
Thanks.
:)
• When EMR hits a metal, there is a one-to-one interaction between the photons and the surface electrons: a single photon exchanges energy with a single electron. During this interaction, energy is conserved.
• An electron is instantaneously removed from the surface of the metal if: the incident photon’s energy is greater than, or equal to, the work function of the metal; the incident radiation’s frequency is greater than, or equal to, the threshold frequency of the metal.
• Increasing the intensity of the incident radiation does not change whether or not electrons are released, as this depends on whether or not the work function and threshold frequency are met. Intensity is proportional to the rate at which photons hit the metal.
I'm trying to summarize it so it's easier to remember for my A-level Physics exam.
Thanks.
:)
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Looks like a decent summary, but I was confused at one part.
Point 2: 'a single photon exchanges energy with a single electron'
Is it not more like a electron absorbs a photon? I've studied the effect and what we were told is that an electron absorbs a photon. Since a photon is basically a glob of energy, if it were to give an electron its energy, it would cease to exist, and since the energy is going into an electron anyway, absorption of a photon would be a more appropriate term, IMO.
I might be nitpicking, but just think about it. If you're pretty sure you're correct, you could very well be.
Point 2: 'a single photon exchanges energy with a single electron'
Is it not more like a electron absorbs a photon? I've studied the effect and what we were told is that an electron absorbs a photon. Since a photon is basically a glob of energy, if it were to give an electron its energy, it would cease to exist, and since the energy is going into an electron anyway, absorption of a photon would be a more appropriate term, IMO.
I might be nitpicking, but just think about it. If you're pretty sure you're correct, you could very well be.
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The wave nature of electromagnetic radiation is NOT supported by the Photoelectric Effect. So I would change the first sentence to " Light is composed of photons. ......."
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Looks good. You might want a few equations in there, E=hv