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11th grade Light as a wave and as a particle worksheet

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Light as a wave and as a particle

Grade 11 Science Worksheet

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Circle the best answer, or write your answer on the line.

  1. Light of 7.5 × 10¹⁴ Hz falls on cesium (work function 2.1 eV). With h = 4.135667696 × 10⁻¹⁵ eV·s, what is the electrons' greatest kinetic energy, to 0.01 eV, Ari?

  2. Light of 10 × 10¹⁴ Hz falls on potassium (work function 2.3 eV). With h = 4.135667696 × 10⁻¹⁵ eV·s, what is the electrons' greatest kinetic energy, to 0.01 eV, Bo?

  3. Light of 15 × 10¹⁴ Hz falls on zinc (work function 4.3 eV). With h = 4.135667696 × 10⁻¹⁵ eV·s, what is the electrons' greatest kinetic energy, to 0.01 eV, Esme?

  4. Read this first

    Work functions of some metals (HyperPhysics, from the CRC Handbook)

    MetalWork function (eV)
    cesium2.1
    sodium2.28
    potassium2.3
    calcium2.9
    zinc4.3
    copper4.7
  5. Using the table, which metal gives up electrons to the lowest-energy photons, Jun?

    • Cesium
    • Copper
    • Zinc
  6. Using the table, 2.48 eV green photons shine on each metal. How many metals give up electrons, Kira?

    • 1
    • 6
    • 3
  7. Using the table, why does visible light free no electrons from copper, Luz?

    • Its photons carry less than 4.7 eV
    • Visible light is too bright
    • Copper reflects the light back
  8. Very bright red light shines on zinc, but no electrons come out. Why, Milo?

    • The light needs to be even brighter
    • Each red photon has too little energy
    • Zinc has no electrons
  9. In the photon diagram, the n = 3 to n = 2 photon carries 1.89 eV. About what wavelength is it, Ren?

    • About 656 nm, red
    • About 2343 nm, infrared
    • About 122 nm, ultraviolet
  10. In the photon diagram, what energy would a photon from a drop straight from n = 3 to n = 1 carry, Tala?

    Use the picture in question 8.

    • 12.09 eV
    • 15.11 eV
    • 1.89 eV
  11. In the photon diagram, can hydrogen at n = 1 absorb a 5 eV photon, Zee?

    Use the picture in question 8.

    • No: 5 eV matches no gap
    • Yes: it moves halfway to n = 2
    • Yes: any photon can be absorbed
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11th grade Light as a wave and as a particle worksheet – printable
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About this worksheet

Light as a wave and as a particle. Every version has 10 questions, and the answer key prints on the second page.

What your child will learn

  • I can find a photon's energy from E = hc ÷ λ, with hc = 1239.84 eV·nm, and say that shorter waves carry more energy per photon.
  • I can use the photoelectric equation: greatest KE = hf − work function. Brighter light frees more electrons, not faster ones; below the threshold no electrons leave.
  • I can find a metal's threshold wavelength, λ = hc ÷ work function.
  • I can say which evidence supports each model: double-slit interference (wave) and the photoelectric effect (photon). Light shows both.

Standard: HS-PS4-3

Words to know

photon: One packet (quantum) of light energy

electronvolt (eV): A tiny energy unit: 1.602 176 634 × 10⁻¹⁹ J

work function: The least energy needed to free an electron from a metal

threshold: The lowest frequency (longest wavelength) that still frees electrons

interference: Waves adding to make bright bands or cancelling to make dark ones

Common mistakes

Your child divided the wrong way. A photon's energy is hc ÷ λ: shorter waves carry more energy.

Your child added the work function. Some of the photon's energy is used to free the electron, so subtract it.

Your child multiplied. The longest wavelength that still frees electrons is hc ÷ work function.

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with light as a wave and as a particle?

Your child divided the wrong way. A photon's energy is hc ÷ λ: shorter waves carry more energy.

Are these 11th grade science worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions at each level are free to print, with the answer key, and no account is needed.

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