Exam-style question
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Define diffraction and the photoelectric effect in the context of light. What is the key difference between the two phenomena?.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- Diffraction is the bending of light waves around obstacles or through openings, demonstrating the wave nature of light.
- The photoelectric effect is the emission of electrons from a material when it absorbs light, supporting the particle theory of light.
- The key difference is that diffraction illustrates wave behavior, while the photoelectric effect illustrates particle behavior.
Explanation
Why this works
This question tests the understanding of two fundamental concepts in wave-particle duality. By defining both and identifying their key difference, students demonstrate their grasp of how light can exhibit both wave-like and particle-like properties depending on the phenomenon observed.
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