A) In three to four sentences, explain how the photoelectric effect supports a particle model of electromagnetic radiation. As part of your response, evaluate the idea that radiation frequency and intensity highlight now the wave model is inadequate to explain the photoelectric effect (4 points)

Answer 1

The photoelectric effect supports a particle model of electromagnetic radiation by demonstrating that light behaves as discrete packets of energy called photons, rather than a continuous wave. This is evidenced by the fact that only light above a certain frequency (threshold frequency) is able to dislodge electrons from a metal surface, regardless of the intensity of the light. This shows that the energy of the photons is directly related to their frequency, supporting the particle nature of light. The wave model fails to adequately explain this phenomenon as it would predict that any intensity of light, regardless of frequency, should be able to dislodge electrons from a metal surface.