Photon Model & Quantum Phenomena Explained | Chapter 38 of University Physics
Photon Model & Quantum Phenomena Explained | Chapter 38 of University Physics Chapter 38 unveils light’s particle nature, introducing photons and key quantum effects that classical physics cannot explain. You’ll learn how photons eject electrons in the photoelectric effect, scatter off particles in Compton collisions, create matter–antimatter pairs, and obey fundamental uncertainty limits. Watch the full video summary for visual demonstrations and deeper insights. Photoelectric Effect & the Photon Model Classical waves couldn’t explain why below a threshold frequency no electrons are emitted. Einstein proposed light travels in quanta— photons —with energy E = hf = hc/λ . When a photon of energy hf exceeds a material’s work function φ , it ejects an electron with maximum kinetic energy: K max = hf – φ = eV₀ Light intensity controls the number of photons (and thus electrons), not their individual energy. X-Ray Production & Bremsstrahlung In X-ray tubes, ...