Physics

# Key Terms

PhysicsKey Terms

blackbody
object that absorbs all radiated energy that strikes it and also emits energy across all wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum
Compton effect
phenomenon whereby X-rays scattered from materials have decreased energy
electric eye
group of devices that use the photoelectric effect for detection
particle-wave duality
property of behaving like either a particle or a wave; the term for the phenomenon that all particles have wave-like characteristics and waves have particle-like characteristics
photoelectric effect
phenomenon whereby some materials eject electrons when exposed to light
photoelectron
electron that has been ejected from a material by a photon of light
photon
a quantum, or particle, of electromagnetic radiation
photon momentum
amount of momentum of a photon, calculated by $p= h λ p= h λ$
quantized
the fact that certain physical entities exist only with particular discrete values and not every conceivable value
quantum
discrete packet or bundle of a physical entity such as energy
ultraviolet catastrophe
misconception that blackbodies would radiate high frequency energy at a much higher rate than energy radiated at lower frequencies
Order a print copy

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Want to cite, share, or modify this book? This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution License and you must attribute Texas Education Agency (TEA). The original material is available at: https://www.texasgateway.org/book/tea-physics . Changes were made to the original material, including updates to art, structure, and other content updates.

• If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a print format, then you must include on every physical page the following attribution:
• If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a digital format, then you must include on every digital page view the following attribution: