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9702 · 22.3

Wave-particle duality

Dive into **wave-particle duality**, a fascinating concept where everything, from light to tiny electrons, can behave as both a **wave** and a **particle**. This quantum idea explains mysteries like why shining light on metal can eject electrons, and why electrons in atoms stick to specific, quantised energy levels. Get ready to challenge your classical physics intuition! This pilot aligns with **Senpai Corner** A Level notes (2025–2027) for topic **22.3**.

Need to know

What you need to know

  • Light consists of discrete energy packets called photons.
  • The energy of a photon is directly proportional to its frequency: E = hf.
  • The photoelectric effect provides key evidence for the particle nature of light.
  • A photon's energy must be greater than the metal's work function (Φ) to eject an electron.
  • The maximum KE of a photoelectron depends on frequency, not intensity.

Explanation

Wave-particle duality

  1. Light consists of discrete energy packets called photons.
  2. The energy of a photon is directly proportional to its frequency: E = hf.
  3. The photoelectric effect provides key evidence for the particle nature of light.
  4. A photon's energy must be greater than the metal's work function (Φ) to eject an electron.
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