MODERN PHYSICS

Physics from 1900 to the present

 BLACKBODY RADIATION
A blackbody is an ideal object that absorbs all
the radiation incident on it, and then
reradiates energy.
All objects emit electromagnetic radiation,
some freqs. can be seen, others can not.
Classical theory did not match experimental
data.
Max Planck (1858-1947) theory of quantized
energy
 Brightness vs.
Wavelength

Ultraviolet Infrared
 Wien’s Displacement Law
The peak of the distribution curve can be
found by the following relationship:

2
max T  0.2898x10 m  K
Our Sun 5800 K
Betalgeuse 2900 K
Humans 300 K
Campfire 1500 K
 E = nhf
Planck’s equation describes the
energy associated with the
frequency of an electromagnetic
wave.
Energy only found in discrete units
or bundles called “photons.”
h = 6.63 x 10 -34 J•s is called
Planck’s constant. And n is an
integer
MAX PLANCK
 THE ELECTRON VOLT

An electron volt is a unit of energy equal

to the kinetic energy that one electron
obtains when accelerated through a
potential difference of 1 volt.
1 eV = 1.6 x 10 -19 J
Planck’s constant in terms of electron
volts h = 4.14 x 10 -15 eV•s
 PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT

The emission of electrons from the

surface of certain metals due to incident
radiation (Discovered by Hertz).
Emitted electrons are called
“photoelectrons.”
Experimented on by Ernest Rutherford.
Theory explained by Einstein in 1905;
he then won the Nobel Prize in Physics
for the predictions.
 Photoelectric Effect
Observations
Electrons were emitted immediately.
Increased light intensity only increased
number of photoelectrons emitted not
their Kinetic energy.
Increased frequencies only increased
photoelectron’s kinetic energy not the
number of them.
 PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT
Analysis of Data
Electrons are emitted only when the
frequency of the light is above a
threshold level.
The maximum kinetic energy of the
emitted electrons depends only on the
frequency of the incident light.
The number of electrons depends only
on the intensity of the light.
 PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT

Conclusions and connections:

– Light behaves like a particle
– Einstein prediction that max. energy should
be hf + energy lost pulling electron loose
– Connection to Planck’s quantum theory of
quantum bundles of energy
– Slope of graph of Energy vs. frequency is h,
Planck’s Constant
 PHOTOELECTRIC
EQUATION

KE max  hf  
The frequency Work
of the incident function of
light the metal
 WORK FUNCTIONS OF
COMMON METALS
Sodium (Na) 2.46 eV
Aluminum (Al) 4.08 eV
Copper (Cu) 4.70 eV
Silver (Ag) 4.73 eV
Platinum (Pt) 6.35 eV
 t)
n
ts a
on
s c
k ’
n c
la
(P
h
e =
op
Sl
 STOPPING VOLTAGE
Reverse the polarity of
the plates, and there is a
voltage that will cause
the photoelectrons to not
be emitted. This voltage
+ -
is called the stopping
voltage.

KEmax = eVs
AL EINSTEIN
 COMPTON EFFECT
Arthur H. Compton (1922) showed that
photons of x-rays collide with electrons
and carom like in a particle collision.
After collision the x-ray frequency is
decreased, i.e. wavelength increased.
Concluded that electromagnetic waves
have momentum.
E hf h
  
c c 
 MATTER WAVES

Louis de Broglie (1924) theorized that

matter in motion has wave-like
properties.
Particle in motion must exhibit a
wavelength. h h
 
 mv
Waves behave like particles-particles
behave like waves…this is called
wave-particle duality
LOUIS De BROGLIE
Light Microscope Images vs.
Electron Microscope Images
 HEISENBERG
UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE
One measuring the location and/or the
momentum (motion) of a particle can
never know with complete certainty
both.
The measurer by merely measuring
affects the location and/or the
momentum of the particle.
h
x 
4
 Black Box

Definition: A device, system, object,

idea, etc. that can only be viewed from
it’s inputs and outputs.
 MODELS OF THE ATOM

Greek Democritus (460 BC) suggested

that matter was composed of individual
particles called atoms.
Joseph J. Thomson (1856-1940) view
of atom was similar to “plum-pudding.”
Positive charge formed a “paste” in
which electrons were suspended within.
PLUM PUDDING MODEL
J.J. THOMPSON
 GOLD-FOIL EXPERIMENT

Ernest Rutherford (1911) bombarded

gold-foil with alpha particles.
Positively charged nucleus containing
most of atom’s mass.
Electrons moving around nucleus like
the planets around the Sun.
Atom is mostly empty space.
ERNEST RUTHERFORD
PLANETARY MODEL
 BOHR MODEL

Based upon spectroscopy of gases.

Filament of light bulb emits continuous
range of wavelengths.
Individual atoms emit only certain
specific wavelengths.
Emission spectrum of element like a
fingerprint for that atom.
 BOHR MODEL

Bohr Postulates:
– Electrons orbit the nucleus at certain
discrete radii.
– They do not lose energy if they remain in
the same orbit.
– They emit a photon of energy if they drop
to a lower orbit.
– They absorb the same energy if raised
back to original orbit.
 BOHR MODEL
HYDROGEN

n=5
0.00 eV
-0.54 eV
n=4 -0.85 eV
n=3 -1.51 eV

n=2 -3.40 eV

n=1 -13.60 eV
 Bohr Model

E  Ei  E f
NYS Reference Table
 Schrodinger’s Equation

 h 2 
   V r  E 
 2m 


 STANDARD MODEL

Most recent model of the atom

developed over decades.
Classification of all sub-atomic
particles which are naturally
occurring and man-made.
Matter is composed of these
particles which interact by
exchanging force particles.
 STANDARD MODEL

4 known forces:
– Gravitational-
– Electromagnetic*
– Weak nuclear*
– Strong nuclear
*In the mid-1960’s the electromagnetic
force and the weak force were unified
into one force called the electroweak
force.
STANDARD MODEL
NYS Reference Table
FERMILAB
Hottest Topic- String Theory
 String Theory
Answer to Unification?
 Brian
Greene
 CERN: French for European
Laboratory for Particle Physics;
SUPER KAMIOKANDE
neutrino trap
 NUCLEAR PHYSICS

The nucleus consists of 2 main

particles, protons and neutrons
The atomic number (Z) equals the
number of protons in the nucleus
The neutron number (N) equals the
number of neutrons
The mass number (A) equals Z+N, or
the number of nucleons
 NUCLEAR SYMBOLS
Mass #
A
Z X Chemical
Symbol
Atomic #

AZ  N
 NUCLEAR REACTIONS

12 12 0
5 B C e
6 1
Beta Decay
 NUCLER REACTIONS

226 222 4
88 Ra Rn He
86 2
Alpha Decay
 NUCLEAR REACTIONS

12 12
6 C C  
6
Gamma Decay
 ENERGY AND MASS

Unified mass number (u) is based

upon the carbon-12 nucleus
1 u = 1.67 x 10-27 kg
The rest energy of u can be found
by E=mc2
1 u has the energy of 931 MeV
FISSION
REACTION
 FISSION REACTION

1 235 141 92 1
0 n U Ba Kr 3 n
92 56 36 0
 FUSION REACTION

2 3 4 1
1 H H He n
1 2 0
 Models of the Atom Quiz

Question 1
– Describe what a blackbody is, and explain
why one star may be yellow in color while
another may be red.
 Models of the Atom Quiz

Question 2
– In the equation E=hf, what is the name and
value of h.
 Models of the Atom Quiz

Question 3
– What is a photon?
 Models of the Atom Quiz

Question 4
– Explain in exactly one sentence
Wave/particle Duality.
 Models of the Atom Quiz

Question 5
– Draw the Rutherford planetary model of the
atom.
 Models of the Atom Quiz

Question 6
– Using the Bohr model of the hydrogen
atom, determine the energy emitted from a
n=6 to n=2 transition.
 Models of the Atom Quiz

Question 7
– Calculate the wavelength and frequency of
the photon emitted from question 6.
 Models of the Atom Quiz

Question 8
– What type of photon is the photon from
question 7?
 Models of the Atom Quiz

Question 9
– A mercury atom is ionized from the g level,
determine the frequency of the absorbed
photon.
 Models of the Atom Quiz

Question 10
– Determine the charge of a ddt quark
combination.
 Models of the Atom Quiz

Bonus question
– What are the four known forces, and why
should you have answered only three?
 Question 1 Answer

A blackbody is a theoretical object that

radiates the maximum amount of
energy at a given temperature, and
absorbs all the energy incident upon it.
 Question 2 Answer

h is Planck’s Constant. It’s value is

6.63 x 10-34 Js
 Question 3 Answer

A photon is an individual packet of

electromagnetic energy that makes up
electromagnetic radiation.
 Question 4 Answer

Wave/particle Duality is the

characteristic of matter to behave like
waves and waves to behave like matter
in certain experiments.
 Question 5 Answer

The Rutherford-planetary Model

 Question 6 Answer

n=6 is at -0.38eV and n=2 is at -3.40eV

-0.38eV-(-3.40eV)=3.02eV
3.02eV=4.83 x 10-19 J
 Question 7 Answer
E
 f
h
4.83x10 19 J 14
34
 7.3 x10 Hz
6.63x10 J  s
c

f
8 m
3 x10
s  4.1x10 7 m
14
7.3 x10 Hz
 Question 8 Answer

The photon is violet in color.

 Question 9 Answer

5.98x1014Hz
 Question 10 Answer

0
 Bonus Answer

Gravitational
Electromagnetic
Strong nuclear
Weak nuclear
The electromagnetic force and the weak
nuclear force were unified in the 1960’s