The Photoelectric Effect and Black Body Radiation

The reconceptualisation of the model of light led to an understanding of the photoelectric effect and black body radiation

Students learn to:

• describe Hertz’s observation of the effect of a radio wave on a receiver and the photoelectric effect he produced but failed to investigate
• outline qualitatively Hertz’s experiments in measuring the speed of radio waves and how they relate to light waves
• identify Planck’s hypothesis that radiation emitted and absorbed by the walls of a black body cavity is quantised
• identify Einstein’s contribution to quantum theory and its relation to black body radiation
• explain the particle model of light in terms of photons with particular energy and frequency
• identify the relationships between photon energy, frequency, speed of light and wavelength:

Students:

• perform an investigation to demonstrate the production and reception of radio waves
• identify data sources, gather, process and analyse information and use available evidence to assess Einstein’s contribution to quantum theory and its relation to black body radiation
• identify data sources, gather, process and present information to summarise the use of the photoelectric effect in photocells
• solve problems and analyse information using:
• process information to discuss Einstein’s and Planck’s differing views about whether science research is removed from social and political forces