Question
For each of the following experiments, or cases, identify whether the particle or wave nature of light would be observed (a) light is incident on a metal giving rise to free electrons The particle behavior would be observed. The wave nature would be observed. (b) light is incident on a single slit giving rise to an interference pattern on a screen The particle behavior would be observed. The wave nature would be observed. (c) light Is incident on a pair of closely spaced slits giving rise to an Interference pattern on a screen The particle behavior would be observed. The wave nature would be observed. (d) x-rays are scattered elastically by free electrons The particle behavior would be observed. The wave nature would be observed.
Explanation / Answer
(a) The atoms in the metal absorb the photons and release free electrons. So, particle nature of light would be observed.
(b) Interference pattern is a wave phenoma. So, wave nature of light is observed.
(c) Interference pattern is a wave phenoma. So, wave nature of light is observed.
(d) X-ray photons collide elastically with free electrons and scatter. So, particle nature of light is observed.