Lesson 1

Light and Quantized Energy

 Focus Question

What is light made of?

 New Vocabulary

electromagnetic radiation quantum

wavelength Planck’s constant
frequency photoelectric effect
amplitude photon
electromagnetic spectrum atomic emission spectrum
 Review Vocabulary

radiation: the rays and particles— alpha particles,

beta particles, and gamma rays—that are emitted by
radioactive material
 The Atom and Unanswered Questions
• Rutherford’s model proposed that an atom’s
mass is concentrated in the nucleus and that
electrons move around it.
• It didn’t explain how electrons are arranged
around the nucleus or why electrons aren’t
pulled into the positively charged nucleus.
• In the early 1900s, scientists observed certain
elements emitted visible light when heated in a
flame.
• Analysis of the light revealed that an element’s
chemical behavior is related to the arrangement
of the electrons in its atoms.
 The Wave Nature of Light

• Visible light is a type of electromagnetic

radiation—a form of energy that exhibits
wavelike behavior as it travels through space.
• It can be modeled as a wave of changing
electric and magnetic fields.
• Examples of electromagnetic radiation include
microwaves, X rays, and television and radio
waves.
 The Wave Nature of Light

Characteristics of Waves
• The wavelength (λ) is the shortest distance
between equivalent points on a continuous
wave.
• The frequency (ν) is the number of waves that
pass a given point per second.
• The amplitude is the wave’s height from the
origin to a crest.
• A wavelength is illustrated on the next slide.
The Wave Nature of Light
 The Wave Nature of Light

• The speed of light (3.00 × 108 m/s) is the product

of its wavelength and frequency (c = λν).
• Wavelength and frequency are inversely related.
 The Wave Nature of Light

• The electromagnetic spectrum includes all

forms of electromagnetic radiation.
CALCULATING WAVELENGTH OF AN
ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE KNOWN UNKNOWN
ν = 3.44 × 109 Hz λ=?m
Use with Example Problem 1.
c = 3.00 × 108 m/s
Problem
Microwaves are used to cook food and SOLVE FOR THE UNKNOWN
transmit information. What is the
Solve the equation relating the speed,
wavelength of a microwave that has a
frequency, and wavelength of an
frequency of 3.44 × 109 Hz?
electromagnetic wave for wavelength (λ).
Response • State the electromagnetic wave
relationship. Solve for λ.
ANALYZE THE PROBLEM
c = λν
You are given the frequency of a microwave. You
λ = c/ν
also know that because microwaves are part of
the electromagnetic spectrum, their speeds, • Substitute c = 3.00 × 108 m/s and
frequencies, and wavelengths are related by the ν = 3.44 × 109 Hz.
formula c = λν. The value of c is a known 3.00  108
m/s
constant. First, solve the equation for wavelength, λ
3.44 10 Hz
9

then substitute the known values and solve.

Note that hertz is equivalent to 1/s or s-1.
CALCULATING WAVELENGTH OF AN
ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE
EVALUATE THE ANSWER
SOLVE FOR THE UNKNOWN The answer is correctly expressed in a unit of
wavelength (m). Both of the known values in
• Divide numbers and units.
the problem are expressed with three
significant figures, so the answer should have
λ 3.00 10 m/s
8

3.44 109 s- 1 three significant figures, which it does. The

value for the wavelength is within the
λ = 8.72 × 10-2 m wavelength range for microwaves.
 The Particle Nature of Light

• The wave model of light cannot explain all of

light’s characteristics.
• It cannot explain why heated objects emit
only certain frequencies of light at a given
temperature.
• It cannot explain why some metals emit
electrons when light of a specific frequency
shines on them.
 The Particle Nature of Light

The Quantum Concept

• Matter can gain or lose energy only in small,
specific amounts called quanta.
• A quantum is the minimum amount of energy
that can be gained or lost by an atom.
 The Particle Nature of Light

The Quantum Concept

• Max Planck (1858–1947) showed that there is a
direct relationship between the energy of a
quantum and the frequency of emitted
radiation.

• Planck’s constant, h, has a value of

6.626 × 10–34 J ∙ s, where J is the symbol for
joule, the SI unit of energy. The energy of
radiation increases as the frequency increases.
 The Particle Nature of Light

• In the photoelectric effect, electrons (called

photoelectrons) are emitted from a metal’s
surface when light at or above a certain
frequency shines on the surface.
 The Particle Nature of Light

Light’s dual nature

• Albert Einstein proposed that light has a dual
nature.
• A beam of light has both wavelike and
particle-like properties.
• A photon is a massless particle that carries a
quantum of energy.
CALCULATE THE ENERGY OF A PHOTON

Use with Example Problem 2. SOLVE FOR THE UNKNOWN

Problem • State the equation for the energy of a
Every object gets its color by reflecting a photon.
certain portion of incident light. The color is Ephoton = hν
determined by the wavelength of the
reflected photons, thus by their energy. • Substitute h = 6.626 × 10-34 J ∙ s and
What is the energy of a photon from the ν = 7.230 × 1014 s-1.
violet portion of the Sun’s light if it has a Ephoton = (6.626 × 10-34 J•s)(7.230 × 1014 s-1)
frequency of 7.230 × 1014 s-1? • Multiply and divide numbers and units.

Response Ephoton = 4.791 × 10-19 J

ANALYZE THE PROBLEM EVALUATE THE ANSWER
KNOWN UNKNOWN As expected, the energy of a single photon of
ν = 7.230 × 1014 s-1 Ephoton = ? J light is extremely small. The unit is joules, an
energy unit, and there are four significant
h = 6.626 × 10-34 J ∙ s figures.
 Atomic Emission Spectra

• The atomic emission spectrum of an element

is the set of frequencies of electromagnetic
waves emitted by atoms of the element.
 Quiz

1. Which term refers to a form of energy that

exhibits wavelike behavior as it travels through
space?

A photoelectric effect

B frequency

C electromagnetic radiation CORRECT

D electromagnetic spectrum
 Quiz
2. What happens to the frequency of an electromagnetic
wave when the wavelength decreases?

A It decreases.

B It increases. CORRECT

C It stays the same.

D It stops.
 Quiz

3. Which of the following is true?

A Amplitude is the wave’s height from CORRECT

the origin to a crest.
B Amplitude is inversely related to
frequency.
C Amplitude is inversely related to
wavelength.
D Amplitude is the shortest distance between
equivalent points on a continuous wave.
 Quiz

4. What is a quantum?

A a massless particle
B a wave’s height from origin to trough
C the minimum amount of energy that can be CORRECT
gained or lost by an atom
D a form of energy that exhibits wavelike
behavior as it travels through space
 Quiz

5. What is the term for what occurs when electrons

are emitted from a metal’s surface when light at or
above a certain frequency shines on the surface?

A atomic emission C electromagnetic wave

spectrum relationship

B quantum concept D photoelectric effect

CORRECT