Light as Waves and Particles
Grade 11th Grade · Science · 45 min
What's Included
Learning Objective
I can describe the evidence supporting the wave-particle duality of light.
Warm-Up Video
Professor Dave Explains · 3:56
Wave-Particle Duality and the Photoelectric Effect
Guided Notes
3 key concepts
- 1
Light exhibits wave-particle duality, behaving as both an electromagnetic wave and a stream of particles called photons.
- 2
The photoelectric effect demonstrates that electrons are ejected from a metal when struck by a photon with sufficient energy, dependent on the light's frequency rather than its intensity.
- 3
Einstein explained the photoelectric effect by proposing that light is made of quanta called photons, each with an energy (E) equal to Planck's constant (h) times its frequency (ν), represented by the equation E = hν.
Practice Questions
11 questions · Multiple choice & Short answer
Exit Ticket
Quick comprehension check
“Describe the evidence from the photoelectric effect that supports the particle nature of light.”
Teacher Guide
Get the complete package:
- Answer keys for all questions
- Differentiation strategies
- Extension activities
- Printable student handouts
