In three to four sentences, explain how the photoelectric effect supports particle model of electromagnetic radiation and evaluate the idea that radiation frequency and intensity highlights how the wave model is inadequate to explain the photoelectric effect

The photoelectric effect supports the particle model of electromagnetic radiation because it demonstrates that light behaves like particles, known as photons, when interacting with matter. The emission of electrons from a surface when light of a certain frequency is shone on it shows that light energy is transferred in discrete packets. This supports the idea that light has both wave-like and particle-like properties, as described by the wave-particle duality principle.

The fact that only certain frequencies of light can cause the photoelectric effect, regardless of the intensity of the light, highlights a limitation of the wave model in explaining this phenomenon. According to the wave model, increasing the intensity of light should increase the energy transferred to the electrons, regardless of the frequency. However, the photoelectric effect shows that frequency is the determining factor in causing electrons to be emitted, regardless of the intensity of light. This discrepancy between the predictions of the wave model and the observed behavior in the photoelectric effect emphasizes the need for a particle model to fully explain this phenomenon.