Briefly describe two phenomena associated with the photoelectric effect that cannot be explained using a wave theory of light.
Understand the Problem
The question is asking to describe two phenomena related to the photoelectric effect that cannot be explained by the wave theory of light. This involves understanding the principles behind the photoelectric effect and the limitations of the wave theory.
Answer
Instantaneous electron ejection and electron energy independent of light intensity.
The first phenomenon is the absence of a time lag between light hitting a metal surface and the ejection of electrons, which suggests that the energy transfer is instantaneous. The second phenomenon is that the maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electrons is independent of the light intensity and instead depends on the frequency of the light.
Answer for screen readers
The first phenomenon is the absence of a time lag between light hitting a metal surface and the ejection of electrons, which suggests that the energy transfer is instantaneous. The second phenomenon is that the maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electrons is independent of the light intensity and instead depends on the frequency of the light.
More Information
In the photoelectric effect, electrons are ejected without any delay when light strikes a metal surface, contrary to what wave theory would predict. Additionally, increasing the light's intensity doesn't increase the energy of the electrons, revealing that energy is related to frequency, not intensity.
Tips
A common mistake is assuming the light's intensity influences the electrons' energy, which contrasts with observations in the photoelectric effect.
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