Who among the following has explained the phenomenon of photoelectric ...
Albert Einstein explained the phenomenon of photoelectric effect.
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Who among the following has explained the phenomenon of photoelectric ...
Albert Einstein has explained the phenomenon of the photoelectric effect.
The photoelectric effect refers to the emission of electrons from a material when it is exposed to light or other electromagnetic radiation. This phenomenon was first observed by Heinrich Hertz in 1887, but it was Einstein who provided a theoretical explanation for it in 1905, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921.
Einstein's Explanation:
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Einstein proposed that light can be thought of as a stream of particles called photons, each carrying a discrete amount of energy. According to his theory, when photons strike the surface of a material, they transfer their energy to the electrons in the material. For an electron to be emitted from the material, it must absorb enough energy from a single photon to overcome the binding energy holding it in the material.
Key Points:
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1. Light consists of particles called photons, each carrying a discrete amount of energy.
2. When photons strike the surface of a material, they transfer their energy to the electrons in the material.
3. For an electron to be emitted from the material, it must absorb enough energy from a single photon to overcome the binding energy holding it in the material.
Einstein's Equation:
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Einstein derived an equation that relates the energy of a photon to its frequency, known as the photoelectric equation:
E = hf
where E is the energy of the photon, h is Planck's constant, and f is the frequency of the light. According to this equation, the energy of a photon is directly proportional to its frequency.
Key Points:
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1. Einstein derived the photoelectric equation: E = hf.
2. E represents the energy of the photon, h is Planck's constant, and f is the frequency of the light.
3. The energy of a photon is directly proportional to its frequency.
Experimental Observations:
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Einstein's explanation of the photoelectric effect was supported by experimental observations. It was found that regardless of the intensity of the incident light, no electrons would be emitted if the frequency of the light was below a certain threshold. However, even low-intensity light with a frequency above the threshold would cause electrons to be emitted.
Key Points:
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1. Experimental observations supported Einstein's explanation of the photoelectric effect.
2. Regardless of the intensity of the incident light, no electrons would be emitted if the frequency of the light was below a certain threshold.
3. Low-intensity light with a frequency above the threshold would cause electrons to be emitted.
Conclusion:
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Albert Einstein's explanation of the photoelectric effect revolutionized our understanding of the nature of light and provided strong evidence for the existence of photons. His work laid the foundation for the development of quantum mechanics, which has since become a fundamental theory in modern physics.