Does Photoelectric Effect Explain Wave Theory of Light?
No, Photoelectric effect cannot explained by wave theory of light. It is explains the particle nature of light given below:
Photoelectric Effect and Particle Nature
The key properties of the photoelectric effect that support the particle nature of light are:
Threshold Frequency: The photoelectric effect occurs only when the frequency of the incident light is above a certain threshold value (the threshold frequency).
Energy Conservation: According to Einstein’s theory, the energy of a photon is directly proportional to its frequency (E = hf, where E is energy, h is Planck’s constant, and f is frequency). When a photon is absorbed by an electron, its energy is completely transferred to the electron, causing it to be emitted with a kinetic energy equal to the difference between the energy of the photon and the binding energy of the electron.
Instantaneous Emission: The emission of photoelectrons occurs instantaneously, with no time delay between the absorption of a photon and the emission of an electron. This suggests that light behaves as discrete particles (photons) rather than continuous waves.
Photoelectric Effect and Wave Theory of Light
When light shines on a metal, electrons can be ejected from the surface of the metal in a phenomenon known as the photoelectric effect. This process is also often referred to as photoemission, and the electrons that are ejected from the metal are called photoelectrons. The wave theory of light states that light travels in the form of waves.
In this article, we will learn about the photoelectric effect, the wave theory of light and will try to answer whether they are related to each other or not.
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