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Delve into the world of light with this comprehensive guide covering the physics and quantum mechanics behind its properties, from wave-particle duality to the electromagnetic spectrum and atomic spectra.
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Light • By 1900 enough experimental evidence to convince scientists that light consists of waves
Wavelength (λ, Greek symbol Lambda) • Measured in m or nm • Frequency (ν, Greek symbol nu) • # waves per unit of time • Measured in cycles per second • SI unit = hertz (Hz) • Reciprocal second, s-1 • Amplitude = height from zero to crest
C = νλ • Frequency and wavelength are inversely proportional to each other • All electromagnetic waves travel in a vacuum at a speed of c = 3.00 x 108 m/s
Electromagnetic Spectrum • Wave model light is made up of electromagnetic waves • Visible light ranges from red (low energy, 700 nm) to violet (high energy, 380 nm)
Atomic Spectra • Atoms absorb energy, e- move to higher energy levels. • e- lose energy by giving off light as they return to lower energy levels • Light emitted by atoms is a mixture of specific frequencies, each frequency corresponds to a certain color • Emission spectrum
Emission spectrum of an element is like a fingerprint, no two elements have the same • Used to identify elements
Lowest possible energy of electron is its Ground State • Absorbs energy and moves to excited state • Quantum of energy (light) emitted when electron drops back to lower energy level • Emission takes place in an abrupt step called electronic transition
Energy and Frequency • Photon - A quantum of light (packet of energy) • The light emitted has a frequency directly proportional to energy change of electron • > frequency >Energy • Energy per photon E = hν • h = 6.626 x 10-34 J ∙ s/photon (h = Planck’s constant)
Lyman series- transition to n = 1 (ultraviolet) • Balmer series- transition to n = 2 (visible) • Paschen series- transition to n = 3 (infrared)
Quantum Mechanics • De Broglie predicted that all moving objects have wavelike behavior • Classical mechanics describes the motions of bodies much larger than atoms • Quantum mechanics describes the motions of subatomic particles and atoms as waves
Heisenberg uncertainty principle-it is impossible to know exactly both the velocity and the position of a particle at the same time