The photoelectric effect is the phenomenon where electrons are emitted from a material when it is exposed to light. This occurs because the energy from the light is absorbed by the electrons in the material, giving them enough energy to break free from the surface of the material.
449nm light refers to the wavelength of the light being used in the experiment. This specific wavelength is important because it falls within the range of visible light and has enough energy to eject electrons from silver, which is the material being studied.
Silver is the material being used in this experiment because it is a good conductor of electricity and has a low work function, meaning it requires less energy for its electrons to be ejected. This makes it an ideal material to study the photoelectric effect.
The intensity of light refers to the brightness or amount of light being shone on the material. As the intensity of light increases, the number of ejected electrons also increases. This is because more photons are hitting the material, providing more energy to the electrons and allowing more to be ejected.
No, the photoelectric effect cannot be explained by classical physics. Classical physics predicts that the energy of a light wave is dependent on its intensity, not its frequency. However, the photoelectric effect shows that the energy of a light wave is actually dependent on its frequency, which supports the principles of quantum mechanics.