Can Photons Completely Transfer Energy and Momentum to Free Electrons?

Thread starter asdf1
Start date Oct 10, 2005
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Electrons Energy Photon

In summary, photons are fundamental units of light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation that carry energy and have no mass. Energy and photons are directly related, with the energy of a photon determined by its wavelength. While photons cannot be created or destroyed, they can be converted into other forms of energy. Photons and electrons are both fundamental particles with different properties, but they can interact with each other and are used in various technologies such as lasers, fiber optics, and electronic devices.

Oct 10, 2005

asdf1

how do you prove that it is impossible for a photon to give up all its energy and momentum to a free electron?

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Oct 10, 2005

jtbell

Staff Emeritus

Science Advisor

Homework Helper

Set up the equations for conservation of energy and momentum and try to solve them for the energy and momentum of the electron after the absorption. For simplicity assume that the electron is initially stationary.

Oct 10, 2005

asdf1

ok, thanks! ill try that~

1. What is a photon?

A photon is a fundamental unit of light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation. It is a particle that carries energy and has no mass. Photons are responsible for all visible light and are also found in other forms of radiation such as X-rays and radio waves.

2. How is energy related to photons?

Energy and photons are directly related. Photons are packets of energy that have a specific amount of energy based on their wavelength. The shorter the wavelength, the higher the energy of the photon. This relationship is described by the equation E=hc/λ, where E is energy, h is Planck's constant, c is the speed of light, and λ is the wavelength of the photon.

3. Can photons be created or destroyed?

Photons cannot be created or destroyed, but they can be converted into different forms of energy. For example, when a photon is absorbed by an atom, it can cause an electron to jump to a higher energy level. When the electron falls back to its original energy level, it releases a new photon with the same energy as the one that was absorbed.

4. What is the relationship between photons and electrons?

Photons and electrons are both fundamental particles, but they have different properties. Photons have no mass and travel at the speed of light, while electrons have mass and can be accelerated to high speeds. Photons can also interact with electrons, causing them to gain or lose energy.

5. How are photons and electrons used in technology?

Photons and electrons play important roles in many technologies. Photons are used in lasers, fiber optic communication, solar panels, and imaging technologies such as MRI machines. Electrons are used in electronic devices such as computers and smartphones, as well as in power generation and transmission systems.