1. GOAL

To discover the ways in which light behaves as a particle.

2. ACCESS PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Consider the folllowing ideas. 

• What do you think light is made of?
• Does it move?
• If so, how?
• Does light change?
• Can we accurately measure light? 
• Are there different types of light?

3. NEW INFORMATION

Watch the following videos:

Use the FarLab Interactive The Photoelectric Effect Experiment (see NOTE, below) to investigate the particle-like behaviour of light and the impact of this on the development of quantum mechanics.

NOTE: Prior to the lesson your teacher must make a booking with FarLabs and ensure that computer/mobile devices are able to run the program. 

5. GOAL REVISITED

As a class discuss your experiment results and summarise the evidence that demonstrates the particle-like nature of light.

Watch the following video:

• Photoelectric effect wave particle duality (6 min)

5. HOMEWORK TASK

Use the PhET Interactive Program 'Photoelectric Effect' to complete the worksheet (see below) modelling the particle-like behaviour of light. This applet is designed for students to observe how light can knock electrons off a metal target and recreate the experiment that spawned the field of quantum mechanics.

You can access the following links for additional help:

• Photoelectric effect problem solving      (5 min)
• The Photoelectric Effect (video)
• The Photoelectric Effect (website)

PhET ACTIVITY PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT

(PDF 870Kb)

THE PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT EXPERIMENT

(PDF 700Kb)