Exam-style question
Try this first
Explain why the photoelectric effect cannot be explained by wave theory.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- Wave theory cannot account for the photoelectric effect because it predicts that light of any frequency should cause electron emission.
- However, only light above a certain threshold frequency can emit electrons, indicating that light behaves as particles (photons) with quantized energy.
Explanation
Why this works
This question tests understanding of the limitations of wave theory in explaining the photoelectric effect. It requires linking the cause (wave theory's predictions) to the effect (observations of the photoelectric effect) and the consequence (the need for a particle model).
Common mistake
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