Pearson Physics 12 Queensland

Chapter 11 Quantum physics

The answers to questions that involve calculations are given to the least number of significant figures as given in the
question. See page e26 in Chapter 1 for more details.

11.1 Light as a wave

11.1 KEY QUESTIONS

1 A pattern of alternating bright and dark lines was observed.

2 Laser light is monochromatic (of only one colour and therefore only one wavelength) and therefore the bright and
dark fringes are equally spaced and seen more clearly. Light of many wavelengths, as emanating from a torch, will
have fringes that overlap, making them much harder to differentiate.
3 By showing diffraction fringes, the experiment demonstrated that light behaves like other waves, such as waves in
water.
4

light
source screen
double slit

The particle model of light would predict that two straight lines of light would be projected onto the screen,
corresponding to particles of light that have travelled through the two slits.
5 A light wave is a continual motion of an oscillating electric and magnetic field, i.e. successive crest – trough – crest –
trough, with the spacing between crests and troughs equal. Since the crest and trough spacings are equal and
continuous, there will be an equal spacing of bright – dark – bright – dark fringes seen on a screen.
6 Fringes are not just formed when a crest meets a crest or a crest meets a trough. The whole wave will interfere with
another wave which may slightly be out of phase, i.e. a crest meets part of a wave that is not at the crest, but between
a crest and a trough. When this happens the intensity of the resulting addition of waves is not quite maximum.
7 The distance that two interfering waves have to travel from the slits to the screen is increasing. Since the intensity of
a wave decreases as the distance from its source increases, the intensity of fringes further away from the central axis
must decrease.
8 At the time, Newton’s particle (corpuscle) model of light was the dominant view of scientists. Scientists accepted
that light was a stream of particles. However, Young’s experiment—proving that light behaved like a wave—required
scientists to rethink their view (replacing it with one that they believed had already been disproved).

Copyright © Pearson Australia 2019 (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) ISBN 978 1 4886 1958 8
 Pearson Physics 12 Queensland

11.2 Black-body radiation

Try yourself 11.2.1
THE TEMPERATURE AT A STAR’S SURFACE

A newly discovered star is observed to have a peak emitted radiation wavelength of approximately 90 nm. Estimate the
surface temperature of this star, based on this wavelength.

Thinking Working

Express the peak wavelength in metres. λmax = 90 nm = 9.0 × 10−8 m

Rearrange Wien’s law to express it in terms of T. λmaxT = 2.898 × 10–3 m K
2.898 × 10−3
T=
λmax

Substitute the value for λmax and solve for T. T= 2.898 × 10−3
9.0 × 10−8

  = 30 000 K

Try yourself 11.2.2

RE-RADIATED ENERGY FROM THE EARTH

The average surface temperature at the equator is 300.0 K. Calculate the peak wavelength of the re-radiated
electromagnetic radiation from this part of Earth.

Thinking Working

State Wien’s law. λmaxT = 2.898 × 10–3 m K

Rearrange Wien’s law to express it in terms of λmax. λmax = 2.898 × 10−3
T

Substitute the value for T and solve for λmax. λmax = 2.898 × 10−3
300

  = 9.66 × 10–6 m = 9.66 μm

11.2 KEY QUESTIONS

1 Wien’s law states that

λmaxT = 2.898 × 10–3 m K
where λmax is the peak wavelength of the emitted radiation in metres (m) and T is the surface temperature of the
object in kelvin (K).
2 the infrared region
3 λmaxT = 2.898 × 10−3 m K
2.898 × 10−3
T= = 3623 K
800 × 10−9
4 λmaxT = 2.898 × 10−3 m K
2.898 × 10−3
T= = 4140 K
700 × 10−9
5 λmaxT = 2.898 × 10−3 m K
2.898 × 10−3
λmax =
T

2.898 × 10−3
=
9320

= 3.11 × 10−7 m = 311 nm

Copyright © Pearson Australia 2019 (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) ISBN 978 1 4886 1958 8
 Pearson Physics 12 Queensland

11.3 Quantisation of energy

Try yourself 11.3.1
USING PLANCK’S EQUATION

Calculate the energy of a quantum of infrared radiation that has a frequency of 3.6 × 1014 Hz.
Give the answer in joules and electron-volts.

Thinking Working

Recall Planck’s equation. E = hf

Substitute in the appropriate values to solve. E = 6.626 × 10–34 × 3.6 × 1014

 = 2.4 × 10–19 J

Convert the energy to electron-volts. −19

= 2.4 × 10−19 J −1
  1.60 × 10 JeV
 = 1.5 eV

11.3 KEY QUESTIONS

1 The energy of a single photon is very small and the joule is too large a unit to be convenient for measuring it.
2 A photon is a single quantum of light or any other electromagnetic radiation.
3 The Planck equation explains the energy of a single photon, an individual quantum of energy. The energy is found by
multiplying the frequency of the electromagnetic energy by Planck’s constant.
4 E = hf = 6.626 × 10−34 × 2.42 × 1027 = 1.60 × 10−6 J
hc
5 a E=
λ
6.626 × 10−34 × 3 × 108
=
523 × 10−9
−19
   = 3.80 × 10  J
3.80 × 10−19
E=
b = 2.38 eV
1.60 × 10−19

6
Colour Wavelength (nm) Energy (J)

a red 656
E= hc
=
(6.626 × 10 ) (3 × 10 )
−34 8

λ 656 × 10−9
−19
= 3.03 × 10  J

b yellow 589
E= hc
=
(6.626 × 10 ) ( 3 × 10 )
−34 8

λ 589 × 10−9
−19
= 3.37 × 10  J

c blue 486
E= hc
=
(6.626 × 10 ) (3 × 10 )
−34 8

λ 486 × 10−9
−19
= 4.09 × 10  J

d violet 397
E= hc
=
(6.626 × 10 ) (3 × 10 )
−34 8

λ 397 × 10−9
−19
= 5.01 × 10  J

Copyright © Pearson Australia 2019 (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) ISBN 978 1 4886 1958 8
 Pearson Physics 12 Queensland

11.4 The photoelectric effect

Try yourself 11.4.1
CALCULATING THE WORK FUNCTION OF A METAL

Calculate the work function (in J and eV) for gold, which has a threshold frequency of 1.20 × 1015 Hz.

Thinking Working

Recall the formula for work function. W = hf0

Substitute the threshold frequency of the metal into this W = 6.626 × 10–34 × 1.2 × 1015
equation.  = 7.95 × 10–19 J

Convert this energy from J to eV. W= 7.95 × 10−19

1.60 × 10−19

= 4.97 eV

Try yourself 11.4.2

CALCULATING THE KINETIC ENERGY OF PHOTOELECTRONS

Calculate the maximum possible kinetic energy (in eV) of the photoelectrons emitted from lead by ultraviolet light with
a frequency of 1.5 × 1015 Hz. The work function of lead is 4.25 eV.
Use h = 4.14 × 10−15 eV s.

Thinking Working

Recall Einstein’s photoelectric equation. Ek max = hf − W

Substitute values into this equation. Ek max = 4.14 × 10–15 × 1.5 × 1015 − 4.25
 = 6.21 − 4.25
 = 2.0 eV

11.4 KEY QUESTIONS

1 The statement is false. The photoelectric effect occurs when a beam of photons of light is fired at a metal surface and
electrons are ejected from the surface.
2 electron volt (or joule)
3 The photoelectric effect leads to the ejection of negatively charged electrons from the initially neutral metal, leaving
the metal with a net positive charge.
4 a False. When the intensity of light shining on the surface of the metal increases, the photocurrent increases, provided
that the frequency of the incident light is above the threshold frequency of the metal.
b
False. When light of the same intensity but of different frequencies are used, the higher-frequency light has a higher
stopping voltage. However, it produces the same maximum current as the lower-frequency light.
5 a True
b
False. The stopping voltage is reached when the applied potential is equal to the energy of the most energetic
photoelectrons divided by the charge on the photoelectrons.
c
True
d
True
6 The work function is given by the negative value of the y-intercept of the Ek-versus-frequency graph. Approximate
values are:
Rb = 2.1 eV, Sr = 2.5 eV, Mg = 3.4 eV, W = 4.5 eV.

Copyright © Pearson Australia 2019 (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) ISBN 978 1 4886 1958 8
 Pearson Physics 12 Queensland
7
Metal Threshold frequency Work function (eV)
(× 1015 Hz)

a lead 1.0 W = hf0

= 6.626 × 10−34 × 1.0 × 1015
= 6.626 × 10−19 J
= 4.1 eV

b iron 1.1 7.29 × 10−19 J = 4.6 eV

c platinum 1.5 9.94 × 10−19 J = 6.2 eV

8 The lowest-frequency incident light to still produce photoelectrons is one that is just matching the work function.
E = hf
f=E = 3.66
h 4.14 × 10−15

= 8.84 × 1014 Hz
9 Use Ek max = hf − W, remembering to use the value for Planck’s constant in eV.
Ek max = hf − W
 = 4.14 × 10−15 × 9.0 × 1014 − 3.66
 = 3.726 − 3.66
 = 0.066 eV
10 Use Ek max = hf − W
hc
  = − W λ
4.14 × 10−15 × 3.00 × 108
  = − 2.36
475 × 10−9

  = 2.614 − 2.36 = 0.255 eV

11 Ek max = qeVs, where qe is the charge on an electron = 1 eV.
hc
Ek max = − W, remembering to use the value for Planck’s constant in eV.
λ
hc
qeVs = −W
λ
hc
W= λ
− qeVs
4.14 × 10−15 × 3.00 × 108
  = − 1 × 0.800
500.0 × 10−9

  = 2.48 − 0.800 = 1.68 eV

12 a
0.54
0.51
0.48
0.45
0.42
0.39
0.36
0.33
Kmax (eV)

0.30
0.27
0.24
0.21
0.18
0.15
0.12
0.09
0.06
0.03
5.12 5.20 5.28 5.36 5.44 5.52 5.60 5.68 5.76 5.84 5.92 6.00 6.08 6.16 6.24
Frequency × 1014 (Hz)

rise
gradient = h =
b run
0.494 − 0.080
= 6.20 × 1014 − 5.20 × 1014
0.414
= 1.00 × 1014
−15
= 4.1 × 10  eV s
The x-intercept on the graph will give an approximate value of 5.0 × 1014 Hz.
c

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 Pearson Physics 12 Queensland
d
No. The frequency of red light is below the threshold frequency for rubidium.
Frequency of the red light:
c
f= λ
3 × 108
 = 680 × 10−9

 = 4.41 × 1014 Hz
This is less than the threshold frequency of 5.0 × 1014 Hz, so no photoelectrons will be emitted.

Copyright © Pearson Australia 2019 (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) ISBN 978 1 4886 1958 8