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Quantum Physics
Energy of a Photon The Photoelectric Effect

The photon is a quantum of electromagnetic Experimental results and explanations
hc
(EM) radiation. E = hf = , where h = 6.63x10-34
λ Result 3: Increasing the intensity of light
Js (given) increases the photoelectric current.
P np hf
Intensity I = = x A , where intensity is
The electronvolt (eV) is the KE gained by a single A t
unbound electron when it passes through a p.d. proportional to no. of photons, while current is
of 1V in a vacuum. 1 eV = 1.60x10-19 J proportional to no. of electrons.

The Photoelectric Effect Energy Levels in Atoms

Key ideas of Bohr Model of the atom

- Electrons can only exist in orbits that
have discrete quantized energy.
- Minimum energy required to remove
electrons from outermost energy level is
the ionisation energy.
- All energy levels are negative since E∞ =
0 and ground state E1 is most stable.


n En
The photoelectric effect is when photoelectrons
∞ 0
are emitted from a metal surface when EM 7 -0.28 eV
6 -0.38 eV
radiation of sufficient frequency falls on it. 5 -0.55 eV
4 -0.85 eV

Experimental results and explanations 3 -1.51 eV

2 -3.39 eV
Result 1: For a given metal, no photoelectrons
are emitted when illuminated by light below a
1 -13.6 eV
minimum threshold frequency f0, regardless of

intensity. Methods of excitation/de-excitation
Explanation: The work function φ of a metal is
the minimum energy required to liberate a - Absorption/Emission of a photon with
delocalized electron from the surface of the energy exactly equivalent to the
metal. One electron only interacts with one difference in energy levels
photon at a time. Since all the energy of each - Absorption/Transfer of energy from/to
photon is given to an electron, other atoms or electrons
Φ = Emin of photon = hf0 Absorption Emission
E2 E2
Result 2: For incident light of frequency > f0, VS hf hf
increases with f but is independent of intensity. E1 E1
Ephoton = φ + KEmax.

© Dawn Teo. 2018. Consultant: Raymond Cai @jcphysics.com



X-ray Spectra

Line Spectra The typical x-ray spectrum consists of:

Emission Line Spectra - The hump, or continuous spectrum,
which is generated by ‘braking’
An emission line spectrum consists of a series of (bremsstrahlung) radiation, is due to
separate bright coloured lines on a dark photons emitted by electrons as they
background, and is formed when hydrogen gas is undergo different degrees of scattering
heated and the light given off is passed through and lose KE upon hitting target atoms
a prism. - The lowest, or cut-off wavelength λ0
corresponding to the highest energy of
Atoms are excited to higher excited states via the x-ray emission, and is due to the
thermal agitation or electric field. When the fastest electrons having all their KE
atoms de-excite spontaneously, photons converted to photons. Given that an
corresponding energy level differences are electron is accelerated through a p.d. V,
emitted. hc hc
KEmax = eV = à λ0 =
λ0 eV
Absorption Line Spectra - The several spikes depending on the
target metal used. Electrons may have
An absorption line spectrum is a continuous sufficient energy to knock out inner-shell
spectrum crossed by dark lines, produced when electrons of target atom, leaving
white light is passed through a cool vapour or vacancies.
gas. Photons corresponding to the difference in - Outer-shell electrons can de-excite,
energy levels of the gas atoms are absorbed, producing x-ray photons with energies
while those not absorbed form the continuous equivalent to energy level differences.
spectrum background in the forward direction.
Wave-particle Duality
The excited atoms then de-excite, re-emitting
photons of similar energies to those absorbed, In 1923, Louis de Broglie suggested that all
but in random directions, hence intensity in the matter has a wave-like nature, with wavelength
forward direction is reduced, forming discrete h h
dark lines. λ given by λ = = , which was confirmed
p mv
through electron diffraction.
X-ray Spectra


Photon momentum
In an X-ray tube, emitted electrons are
accelerated towards a metal anode. Photons are Photons, while massless, have momentum given
produced when the fast moving electrons h 1 p2
interact with the anode atoms. by p = . Since KE = mv2, KE = .
λ 2 2m

The Uncertainty Principle

Position-momentum uncertainty

∆x∆px ≥ h, i.e. the more precise a particle’s
position, the less precise its momentum.

© Dawn Teo. 2018. Consultant: Raymond Cai @jcphysics.com