Question
Create a concept map outlining the theories and evidence that support the wave-particle theory of light. Where applicable, include (in brackets) the name of the scientist responsible for the discovery
Answers
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Wave-Particle Theory of Light
- Electromagnetic Waves (James Clerk Maxwell)
- Consist of oscillating electric and magnetic fields
- Can travel through a vacuum
- Photoelectric Effect (Albert Einstein)
- Particles of light (photons) have energy and momentum
- When photons hit a metal surface, they can knock electrons off
- Quantization of Energy (Max Planck)
- Energy is not continuous, but is carried in discrete packets (quanta)
- Electromagnetic radiation exhibits quantization of energy
- Interference (Thomas Young)
- Two waves can interact with each other to produce interference patterns
- Light behaves like a wave in terms of interference
- Diffraction (Augustin-Jean Fresnel)
- Waves can bend around obstacles and spread out when passing through small openings
- Light demonstrates diffraction when passing through small apertures
- Double-Slit Experiment (Thomas Young)
- Light behaves like a wave when passing through two slits, producing an interference pattern
- Light behaves like a particle when a detector is added to measure which slit the light passes through
- Complementary Nature of Light (Niels Bohr)
- Light can exhibit both wave and particle properties, depending on how it is measured
- The wave-particle duality of light is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics
- Electromagnetic Waves (James Clerk Maxwell)
- Consist of oscillating electric and magnetic fields
- Can travel through a vacuum
- Photoelectric Effect (Albert Einstein)
- Particles of light (photons) have energy and momentum
- When photons hit a metal surface, they can knock electrons off
- Quantization of Energy (Max Planck)
- Energy is not continuous, but is carried in discrete packets (quanta)
- Electromagnetic radiation exhibits quantization of energy
- Interference (Thomas Young)
- Two waves can interact with each other to produce interference patterns
- Light behaves like a wave in terms of interference
- Diffraction (Augustin-Jean Fresnel)
- Waves can bend around obstacles and spread out when passing through small openings
- Light demonstrates diffraction when passing through small apertures
- Double-Slit Experiment (Thomas Young)
- Light behaves like a wave when passing through two slits, producing an interference pattern
- Light behaves like a particle when a detector is added to measure which slit the light passes through
- Complementary Nature of Light (Niels Bohr)
- Light can exhibit both wave and particle properties, depending on how it is measured
- The wave-particle duality of light is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics