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Photoelectric Effect - Frequency of Incoming Light

If light is a wave... If light is a particle...
Incoming Wave Incoming Particle
  • The amount of energy transferred to the metal would depend upon the amount of time the light was shining on the metal.
  • Any frequency of light would cause photoelectrons to be emitted, it would just take longer for lower frequencies.
  • There would be a delay between when the light strikes the surface and when photoelectrons are ejected.
  • The amount of energy transferred to the metal would depend only on the energy of each particle. 
  • Light with too low a frequency (energy) would not ever cause photoelectrons to be emitted.
  • Light having the right frequency would cause photoelectrons to be emitted without a delay.
  Observations show this behavior