All Flashcards
Define a photon.
A discrete packet of energy of electromagnetic radiation (light).
What is Planck's constant?
The constant (h) that relates the energy of a photon to its frequency, approximately .
Define the de Broglie wavelength.
The wavelength associated with a moving particle, illustrating its wave-like properties.
What is meant by 'quantization' in physics?
The concept that energy and other physical quantities can only exist in discrete, specific values, not continuously.
Define wave-particle duality.
The concept that all matter exhibits both wave-like and particle-like properties.
What are bound systems?
Systems in which particles are confined to a specific region of space, such as electrons in an atom.
How do you calculate the energy of a photon given its frequency?
Use the formula , where E is energy, h is Planck's constant, and f is frequency.
How do you calculate the de Broglie wavelength of a particle?
Use the formula , where λ is the de Broglie wavelength, h is Planck's constant, and p is the momentum of the particle.
Describe how a photon's speed changes when it enters a medium.
The photon's speed decreases. The amount of decrease is inversely proportional to the medium's index of refraction.
What is the effect of decreasing a particle's momentum on its de Broglie wavelength?
The de Broglie wavelength increases.
What is the effect of increasing the frequency of a photon on its energy?
The energy of the photon increases.
What causes the quantization of energy levels in bound systems?
The confinement of particles, restricting them to specific energy states.