http://www.ck12.org Chapter 23. Quantum Physics
FIGURE 23.5
A simplified view of the photoelectric ef-
fect experiment setup.FIGURE 23.6
A photocell completes an electrical cir-
cuit.There are also two things that can be measured in the effect:
- The current, as measured in the ammeter, shows the number of electrons released.
- By varying the voltage in the circuit, a rough measure of the kinetic energy(KE)of the electrons can be
obtained. Less voltage means that the electrons need moreKEin order to jump the gap.
Classical Prediction
According to the classical theory, the intensity of a wave is directly proportional to the square of the amplitude of
the wave. A higher amplitude will shake the electron to a greater degree. As the electrons are shaken, they will gain
energy and eventually be pushed out of their orbit around the nucleus. We take these key predictions from that: