The Wave Nature of Light Wave: a vibrating disturbance by which energy is transmitted Wavelength (λ): distance between two successive peaks Frequency (ν): number of complete cycles (wavelengths) that pass a given point in a second Amplitude: vertical distance from the midline of a wave to the peak Velocity (v): how fast the wave travels Light is considered a wave (electromagnetic radiation) We consider light to be a wave and it is called radiant energy. All types of electromagnetic radiation move through a vacuum at speed of light (3.0 x 108 m/s) and have wavelike characteristics. Electromagnetic radiation has both an electric field component and a magnetic field component, which is emission of energy in the form of electromagnetic waves
Fig. 7.1, Tro et al., 1st Canadian ed.
Calculating wavelength It is possible to determine the wavelength: ◦ c= λν with c = 3.0 x 108 m/s
ν= frequency in hertz (Hz) but we like to use cycles per second (s-1)
Exercice 1 : What is the frequency (in s-1) of an X-ray that has as wavelength of 8.21 nm Ans: 3.65 x 1016 s-1 The Electromagnetic Spectrum
Figure 7.5, Tro et al., 2nd Canadian ed.
Exercice 2 A) What is the wavelength (nm) of a LASER with a frequency of 2.25 x 1015 s-1
B) Can humans see this LASER beam? If not, is it UV or IR?
Wave and particules
Figure 7.6, Tro et al., 2nd Canadian ed.
Interference
Figure 7.7, Tro et al., 2nd Canadian ed.
A problem with classical physics In classical physics : ◦ Matter = particules ◦ Energy in form of light = waves (electromagnetic radiation)
All objects that are above 0 K emit radiation (electric stove at max power) Classic physics predicted that a human body at 310 K would emit X-rays! Max Planck to the rescue Plank assumed that atoms would only emit (or absorb) radiation in discrete quantities. The quantities were called quanta. A quantum is the smallest quantity of energy that can be emitted (or absorbed) in the form of an electromagnetic radiation. He proposed that the energy (E) of an emitted single quantum of energy is proportional to the frequency of the radiation. The proportionality constant for the relationship is called Planck’s constant, symbolized as h, and has a value of 6.626x10-34J· s. Therefore: E = hv According to Planck’s quantum theory, energy is always emitted in multiples of hv. That is, allowed energies are quantized; restricted to certain quantities. The implications: a system that can transfer energy only in whole quanta suggests that the energy (light) may behave like a particle. The Photoelectric Effect
Metal can emit electrons (current)
when light shines upon them. Classical physics said : ◦ the speed of the emission of electrons would vary with wavelengths and intensity. ◦ Lag time between tuning on the light and the current
Experiment : ◦ Minimum frequency needed to get current, regardless of intensity ◦ No lag time Figure 7.8, Tro et al., 2nd Canadian ed. Einstein theory Enstien explained that a beam of light should not be thought as a wavelike but rather as a stream of particles called photons Using plan’s quantum theory, Einstein deduced that : ◦ e- must absorb one photon of enough energy to jump. A minimum frequency is needed. ◦ e- makes jump as soon as it absorbs photon.
hc Energy of a photon : E= 𝝀 Atomic spectroscopy When a atom absorbs energy (heat, light, electricity) it will often re-emit this energy as light. Unlike a cathode ray, there is no vacum and only one gas. The atoms gain electrical energy and emit light as energy to ‘lose’ the gained energy.
Figure 7.10 in Tro et al., 2nd Canadian ed.
Line spectra
Line spectra vs. continuous spectrum. Figure 7.11, Tro et al., 2nd Canadian ed. Line spectra Hydrogen has the simplest emission spectrum (fewest lines).
In 1888 Rydberg found a general equation that applied to all of the lines on the hydrogen line spectrum. 1 1 1 Rydberg equation: = 𝑅H − λ 𝑛12 𝑛22
RH is the Rydberg constant (1.097 x 107 m-1) and n1 and n2 are positive integers greater than 0. For the visible spectrum n1= 2 n2= 3,4,5…. Bohr’s model of Hydrogen line spectrum 1)
2)
3) Bohr’s Model and Emission Spectra
Figure 7.12 in Tro et al.,2nd
Canadian ed.
Energy of any level
1 E= -2.18 x 10-18 J (𝑛2) Bohr’s Model and Emission Spectra 1 1 Emission: nf < ni, ΔE < 0 ∆𝐸 = −2.18 × 10−18 J − 𝑛𝑓2 𝑛𝑖2 Absorption: nf > ni, ΔE > 0 ΔE: change in e- energy Ephoton = |ΔE| Hydrogen spectrum
Figure 7.17 in Tro et al.,2nd Canadian ed.
Bohr’s model for other elements More general formula 𝑍2 𝑍2 ∆𝐸 = −2.18 × 10−18 J 2 − 𝑛𝑓 𝑛𝑖2
Still works if
Does not work for anything else.
Examples What is the energy for an electron on the second state (n=2) of a hydrogen atom? 1 E= −2.18 × 10−18 J ( 2 ) = 5.45 x 10-19 J 2 What about on the 500th state ?
What is the wavelength that is produced by an electron that is emitted from the second state (n=2) to the ground state (1)? 1 1 ∆𝐸 = −2.18 × 10−18 J − 12 = 121.58 nm 22
