Exam-style question
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Which observation supports the idea that light behaves as a particle in the photoelectric effect?.
- A.The emission of electrons occurs only at specific frequencies
- B.Light can be diffracted through a narrow slit
- C.Light intensity affects the color of emitted light
- D.Electrons are emitted regardless of the light frequency
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- The emission of electrons occurs only at specific frequencies
Explanation
Why this works
The cause is that the photoelectric effect shows that electrons are emitted only when light of a certain frequency is used. This mechanism indicates that light consists of discrete packets of energy (photons), leading to the effect that only specific frequencies can cause electron emission, which is a key consequence of the particle nature of light.
Common mistake
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