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Topic 3 - Photons

The document discusses the behavior of light and matter, focusing on photons and the photoelectric effect. It explains how low-intensity light builds up interference patterns and how photons, as discrete energy packets, interact with electrons in metals. Additionally, it covers the production of X-rays and their properties, including intensity and quality, as well as the relationship between photon energy and electron emission.

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Ailie Sofyiana Serasa
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11 views38 pages

Topic 3 - Photons

The document discusses the behavior of light and matter, focusing on photons and the photoelectric effect. It explains how low-intensity light builds up interference patterns and how photons, as discrete energy packets, interact with electrons in metals. Additionally, it covers the production of X-rays and their properties, including intensity and quality, as well as the relationship between photon energy and electron emission.

Uploaded by

Ailie Sofyiana Serasa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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STAGE TWO

PHYSICS
Light and Matter
Topic 3 - Photons

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zqt3btS1FwE
LOW INTENSITY LIGHT AND IMAGE BUILD
UP
Consider the two slit interference pattern

As we increase the intensity of light the image


on the screen becomes brighter
LOW INTENSITY LIGHT AND IMAGE BUILD
UP
If very low levels of light are used the
image changes to a few dots of light.

If we do this a number of times the


image builds up to the two slit
interference pattern.

The build up is due to localised bundles


of energy reaching the screen.
LOW INTENSITY LIGHT AND IMAGE BUILD
UP
LOW INTENSITY LIGHT AND IMAGE BUILD
UP
LOW INTENSITY LIGHT AND IMAGE BUILD
UP
PHOTONS
The bundles have a minimum unit, or
quantum of energy.
They are known as photons.
The energy of a photon is given by:

E = hf
where f is the frequency,
E is the energy
h is Planck’s constant, h = 6.63 x 10-34 Js
PHOTONS
The momentum of a photon is given
by the following derivation:
THE PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qKrOF-gJZ4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcSYV8bJox8
THE PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT
A metal has weakly bound outer
electrons

These electrons can be removed when


they absorb a small amount of energy

Thermoelectric effect - heating

Photoelectric effect - irradiating (expose)


with e/m radiation
EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE
Minimum frequency (threshold
frequency) below which no emission
occurs.

Above the threshold frequency, electron


emission is instantaneous.

The intensity of light affects the number,


but not the energy, of the
photoelectrons.

Electrons are given off with a range of


energies, from zero to a maximum.
RELATIONSHI
P BETWEEN
KMAX AND F
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN KMAX AND F
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN KMAX AND F

At this point we have the


electrons with a maximum KE.
The energy that the electron
needs to overcome this p.d. is
given by:
E = e∆V
This p.d. is called the stopping
voltage, so Kmax = eVs
WORK FUNCTION

The work function of a metal is


the minimum amount of
energy that is required to free
the most weakly bound
electron.
As they are bound electrons
they have negative energies.
WORK FUNCTION
EINSTEIN’S EXPLANATION OF THE
PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT
When light is emitted it is not emitted
as a continuous wave but in discrete
bundles of energy called photons.
The intensity of the radiation is
proportional to the number of
photons.
On collision a photon may give its
energy to an electron. This transfer is
instantaneous. If the transfer occurs
the photon gives all of its energy to
the electron (all or nothing).
EINSTEIN’S PHOTOELECTRIC EQUATION
A metal of work function W is
irradiated with light of frequency
f.
When a photon collides with an
electron its energy (hf) is
transferred.
The electron will use up W joules
to raise it to zero energy level
and the additional energy is taken
by the electron on release.
EINSTEIN’S PHOTOELECTRIC EQUATION
The electrons will be emitted with a
range of energies up to a maximum
as given by:

Kmax = hf - W
If we were to measure Kmax for
different frequencies and plot the
results, we achieve a straight line
graph
EINSTEIN’S PHOTOELECTRIC EQUATION
X-RAYS
https://www.khanacademy.org/partner-content/
nasa/measuringuniverse/spectroscopy/v/x-rays

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH0nXAlpgc8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc0eOjWkxpU

X-rays are produced when electrons


are accelerated by a large potential
difference and directed toward a
metal target (usually tungsten).
Incident high energy electrons
produce high frequency e/m radiation
(x-rays) as opposed to incident light
releasing electrons.
X-RAY TUBE
Filament F - produces a
current to heat the wire
and emit electrons

Hood H - used to focus the


electrons

Cathode (negative) -
electrons accelerated away
from the filament

Target T - the target on which


the electrons impinge
Internet - http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationR
esources/CommunityCollege/Radiography/P
hysics/xrays.htm
X-RAYS AND PHOTONS
The accelerating potential gives the
electrons an energy of qV (W = qV).
A few electrons penetrate the atom and
interact with the electric field and are thus
slowed down.
X-ray production is about 1% efficient,
about 99% of the energy lost as heat to
the target. The target is cooled by a
cooling liquid such as silicon oil.
This change in energy is released as an x-
ray photon.
Due to different interactions with the
atom a range of energies will be produced.
THE CONTINUUM (OR
BREHMSTRAHLUNG)
Continuous range of frequencies - up to
a maximum cut off frequency.

The closer an electron passes to the


nucleus, the stronger the interaction,
and hence the greater the energy of
the x-ray photon emitted.

As a continuous range of distances


from the nucleus are possible, a
continuous range of x-ray energies (or
frequencies) occur.

If an electron makes a direct collision


with the nucleus (has a very small
probability of occurring), it loses all its
KE in the interaction resulting in the
emission of an x-ray photon of
maximum energy (i.e. fmax on spectrum)
INTENSITY CURVE
CHARACTERISTIC PEAKS
These peaks characterise each particular
target material. They result through the
interaction of the bombarding electrons and
the bound inner electrons orbiting the nuclei
of the target atoms.

Assuming the bombarding e’s have high


enough KE they can eject electrons from the
inner shells (e.g. n=1 shell). The atom
reverts to its stable state by electrons
making transitions from outer shells to fill
these inner vacancies, with the emission of
x-ray photons of discrete energy
E = hf.
DERIVATION OF FMAX
DERIVATION OF FMAX
X-RAY QUALITY
Increasing the tube voltage increases
the accelerating potential and thus
the electrons have more energy.
Maximum energy is higher.
X-ray photons with a higher frequency
have a greater penetrating power -
they are said to be ‘hard’ x-rays.
X-RAY QUANTITY

If the filament current is increased, more


electrons are released.
The intensity of the x-ray photons is
increased (ie) more of them.

Note: there will be no increase in energy of


individual photons so no increase of f max.

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