What part of the photoelectric effect experiment can be explained using classical modes and which require the?

Question

"photon" model?

Answer 1

The photoelectric effect itself is entirely only explainable using the photon model. Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize for his work on the Photoelectric effect, which was the first experiment to view light as particles instead of waves. It was previously thought that Light was a wave, much like sound waves or water waves.

The classical models could not explain the photoelectric effect where it appeared that each electron in the electric conductor was affected by one particle from the light source. The particles of light were named Photons. The photoelectric effect was proved by showing that no matter how much you increase the intensity of the light, as long as the energy is below a certain level, the photons cannot move the electrons from the diode surface. A wave would eventually be able to move the electrons if the intensity is high enough.

So, answering your question, the photoelectric effect is entirely expalined only with the photon model and cannot be explained using classical models.

On the contrary, the double slit experiment proves that light is a wave and not a particle. This is what led to the developement of the wave/particle duality nature of light, and later the understanding that all things (including solid objects) have a wave/particle duality nature.

Hope this helps...

Answer 2

The knocking out of the electrons in discrete steps and the inability of light below some frequency to excite the electron emission lends support to the particulate theory but the quantisation is needed (photon) to explain the dualistic nature of light.

Answer 3

Increase in total photocurrent with increase in light intensitiy can be explained through classical theory. What cannot be explained is the energy (velocity) of released electrons that depends only on light frequency, not intensity.