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photoelectric effect

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dan.kl:
im so confused about this so id really appreciate it if someone can help me :)

okay so i get the general idea of it - electromagnetic radiation of a certain frequency has to be shone on the metal (usually uv light), and photons interact with the metal releasing electrons.
i get all that stuff
but how does this give evidence for the particulate nature of light?
like why cant a wave do this?

and also i get about the wave-particle duality, that particles exhibit wave like properties and vice versa. but if the photoelectric effect is evidence that light is a particle, then how can E=hf where f is the frequency? cause frequency is concerned with waves. so if thats the case then surely it gives evidence that light is a wave!? :S

someone please tell meeeeee :)

~ A.F ~:
http://www.s-cool.co.uk/alevel/physics.html

the ultimate site for this topic :)

7ooD:
Is it a wave or is it a particle??!!

The answer is - it is both! You have to treat it like a wave to explain what happens to it as it travels (propagates) and treat it like a particle to explain what happens when it arrives (impinges) at a surface.

:P

thx af

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