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How Einstein believed the photoe
The Photoelectric Effect
By: Robert Figliozzi, Lisa Hill, Justin Jachowski, and Kyle Reddick
The emission of high energy electrons by metals caused by the absorption of light of appropriate wavelengths.
Classical explanation and its
flaws:
An introduction to Albert Einstein:
Albert Einstien's quantum
explanation of the
photoelectric effect:
Birth: March 14, 1879 in Ulm, Wurttemberg
Death: April 18, 1955 in Princeton, New Jersey
Family:
Derivation of the typical
• Mother: Pauline Einstein
photoelectric effect equation
• Father: Hermann Einstein
and the conservation of
• The Einstein family had been living in that part of Europe for over two hundred years. Both sides of his
energy:
family were Jewish. During that time period it was hard to be Jewish. Einstein’s father ran an electrical
engineering company in Munich and later in Milan. Pauline Einstein was a musician and gave her love of
An introduction to Albert
music to her son.
Einstein:
Service during the War:
• At this time Albert Einstein was a Swiss citizen working for a paten office in Britain. As such he did serve
Evidence identifying the
in any capacity during the First World War. During the Second World War he was a professor at the
quantum explanation as more
Berlin academy of science and had to escape. He then moved to America and became a professor at
superior:
Princeton and helped with the Manhattan project.
(Above: Albert Einstien in 1921 in Vienna. Source, Public Domain)
Advancement of quantum
theory:
Education:
Working with the
Home schooled until age 5
photoelectric effect Solutions
October 1, 1885 attended catholic elementary school as a second grader
to Atkins, end of chapter
October 1, 1888 attended Luitpold Gymnasium (high school).
exercise 8.13 b.):
He did not graduate from the Gymnasium, Einstein was released for the medical reason of neurasthenic exhaustion with a certificate saying
he was proficient in math
References:
Failed his first entrance exam for polytechnic in Zurich, he was lacking in language skill.
Then attended Cantonal school in Aarau in October 1896.
On his second attempt he gained admittance to polytechnic in Zurich and graduated in 1900.
Quantum approach:
• Einstein was 26 years old when he wrote his papers on the quantum hypothesis in 1905 arguing for the notion of light quanta.
Embraced Ideas:
• In 1907 applied quantum hypothesis to the model of a solid as a lattice of atoms harmonically bound to their equilibrium
positions.
• 1911 Nernst reported confirmation of the quantum hypothesis outside of the field of radiation.
Nobel Prize:
• Contrary to common assumption Einstein did not receive his Nobel prize for his work on the theory of relativity. In 1922 Albert
Einstein won the Nobel Prize for the photoelectric effect.
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