Physics › Section U · Quantum and atomic physics › Topic U.1
Quantization and the photoelectric effect
Around 1900, light and heat refused to behave as classical physics said they should. Two puzzles, the glow of hot objects and the electrons that light knocks out of metals, were solved by one radical idea: energy comes in separate packets.
In this topic
- A glowing puzzle
- Planck's quantum
- Why we never notice the steps
- Line spectra point the same way
- The photoelectric effect
- Results that waves cannot explain
- Einstein's photons
- Work functions and the energy graph
- Worked example: potassium under violet light
- Worked example: identifying a metal
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Key takeaways
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