Work in Progress: Resources to added and grouped.
| Topic | Resources |
|---|---|
| Blackbody Radiation | |
| Photoelectric Effect | Yes ( , ) |
| Wave-particle duality of light and matter | |
| Energy levels and atomic spectra |
In-Depth Resources that cover several topics.
Beyond Bohr: The Quantum Approach to the Atom. From Perimeter Institute
This inquiry-based educational resource equips high school physics and chemistry teachers with activities that take students beyond the Bohr model to a deeper quantum description. The resource leads students through the development of the quantum model of the atom with activities that explore wave-particle duality, discrete energy levels, orbital shapes, electron spin, and IR spectroscopy.
Throughout the resource, students are challenged to examine the limitations of the Bohr model of the atom and to construct a more robust model. The resource is designed to excite learning in STEM, with an emphasis on critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration, and communication.
Free download is available here. There is also a poster that compares the Bohr model and the quantum model. It can be downloaded from here
Quantum Physics Physlets from AAPT
They are Physics Applets that simulate a situation and require the student or teacher to interact with the simulation. The sections are: a) Special Relativity, b) Need for a Quantum Theory, c) Quantum Theory and d) Applications. Section b) includes i) From Black Body to Bohr and ii) Wave-Particle Duality.
Up and Atom – Videos by Jade Tan Holmes
A series of videos by Jade Tan Holmes on quantum physics and maths paradoxes. She is a young Australian physicist, her style is engaging and her explanations clear, although at the more demanding end.
The Life of Psi – Philosophical interpretations of Quantum Mechanics
The meaning of Psi, the symbol for the wavefunction solution to Schrodinger’s equation has been the subject of much discussion of prominent physicists, such as Bohr, Einstein, Bohm and Feynman. The article is a detailed description of historical approaches as well as recent attempts to give meaning to the wavefunction.
Photoelectric Effect: Context
On a UK Physics Teachers Forum, a new teacher asked about how to introduce the photoelectric effect, other than by just delivering notes about the phenomenon. These are contributions that followed.
- A teacher’s Youtube video of a negatively charged electroscope with a sanded Zinc plate on top, discharged by a UV lamp. (25 s). These are the explanatory notes for the video.
- A Youtube video by a teacher of negatively charged light metal streamers on an isolated stand discharged by a UV Lamp. (11 s)
- Lesson plans for the Photoelectric Effect on the Institute of Physics (IOP) website of teacher resources.
- A PE simulation in which you can vary the wavelength, intensity, metal surface and opposing voltage. It shows ejected electrons being slowed down. Unfortunately there is no variation in the initial energy of the ejected electrons, so once beyond the stopping voltage all the electrons reach the same point before returning to the electrode. However it is a very versatile simulation. It is part of the Physics Aviary website by US teacher, Frank McCulley.
- A worksheet UK teacher, Simon Poliakoff, to guide students with the above PE Simulation in the Physics Aviary website.
- There was also a small item on a PE Effect explanation for dust fountains on the moon. This is the research paper.
- Another teacher provided extensive advice on teaching the PE Effect.
Stein a Litle Light: A Podcast on Photoelectric Effect
This podcast is part of a History and Philosophy of Physics Podcast series by a young Canadian researcher, Teagan Phiilips. The 20 minute podcast discusses the quantization of energy and of light. It goes from the ultraviolet catastrophe to the revolutionary beginnings of modern physics. It is useful as an introductory overview of the topic.
Photoelectric Effect: Activities
Photoelectric Effect – Data Analysis Exercise 41.5 kB
Data analysis task prepared by Chris Bowen, Caulfield Grammar School (Wheelers Hill Campus) using a PhET simulation activity.
Photoelectric Effect – Data Analysis Exercise 26.1 kB
Another data analysis task using a PhET simulation activity. Source unknown.
Unit 4 Physics Pracs you can build and modify 19.5 kB
Pracs for “Light and Matter” By Ray Watterson, Waverley Christian College, presented at the 2007 Physics Teachers Conference. An Excel file for LED pracs.
FARLabs: Light and Matter Experiments on line
FARLabs is short for Freely Accessible Remote Laboratories. It is a website where your students can control real experiments via the internet and collect their own data. There are four experiments i) Photoelectric effect, ii) Young’s Double Slit experiment using a beam line at the Synchrotron, iii) Diffraction pattern of a thin wire from a laser beam, iv) 3D imaging. Once registered, teachers will be able to book times for their students. Most experiments accommodate 8 groups of 2.
Investigating Planck’s Constant with LEDs
A free download of resources from Perimeter Institute. The resource includes two versions of the prac. The first version is a structured investigation. Students follow instructions to build a simple circuit and make measurements that allow them to measure Planck’s constant. The second version is a guided inquiry activity. Students develop and test a mathematical model in which Planck’s constant is an important proportionality constant.
The ‘Double slit’ experiment with electrons
This Hitachi website describes the experiment of electrons passing through a double slit, one at a time, yet still producing an interference pattern. It includes a video (about 3.5MB, 68 sec long) of the screen with electrons slowly accumulating to build the pattern. There is explanatory text on the bottom as well.
Applet on Franck Hertz Experiment
The applet displays a diagram of the apparatus for the experiment. As the grid voltage is adjusted, a graph of current vs grid voltage is generated. There is a choice of two gases. Applet uses Shockwave.
Wolfram Demonstration – Event by Event Simulation of Double Slit experiments with Single Photon
There is a start, stop and rest button. You can change the number of detectors, the slit separation and the source width.
PE effect simulation
A simulation from the Perimeter Institute. Students can adjust the intensity, voltage and wavelength. Students can collect values of the stopping voltage for different wavelengths for each of three metals. The display shows photoelectrons being slowed down, stopping and reversing as you adjust the voltage to find the stopping voltage.
LED simulation
A simulation from the Perimeter Institute. Students can adjust the voltage of the battery connected in parallel to five different coloured LEDs as each LED goes on in turn as the voltage is increased. A table on the side has the frequencies of the light each LED produces.
Photoelectric Effect: Assessment
Data Analysis Exercise on PE effect 31.3 kB
This file is a Data Analysis assessment task on the PE Effect for Light and Matter. It includes a short statement for students about what they will be assessed on. data is supplied for students to graph and analyse.
Photoelectric Effect: Websites
Photoelectric Effect
A PhET Simulation of the Photoelectric Effect in which the intensity of the light, its wavelength, the voltage and the material of the target can be changed to affect the current and energy of the emitted electrons.
Colorado Modern Physics
PhET Simulations: An interactive journey through numerous applets with accessible supporting text, including Photoelectric Effect, Quantum wave interference and Models of the Hydrogen atom among many others.
Wave-Particle Duality: Context
A common misunderstanding about particle-wave duality: An article
This is an article by science journalist, author and former editor of physical sciences at Nature magazine, Philip Ball. He explores media’s use of the phrase and quotes Bohr, Heisenberg and Feynmann on its meaning. He also describes a recent experiment where researchers ‘trap ultracold lithium atoms in an optical lattice. They image individual atoms by detecting fluorescence from excited atomic states. Confined in a well, an atom’s wavefunction is tightly confined: it looks like a discrete particle’
Physics World Articles on Quantum Language
- Beyond the quantum woo-niverse: getting to grips with the fundamentals of quantum mechanics. A review of the book by Chris Ferrie, titled ‘Quantum Bullsh*t: How to ruin your life with advice from Quantum Physics’. Chris is the author such popular books as ‘Quantum Physics for Babies’ and ‘General Relativity for Babies’. Check his collection here.
- Let’s talk about quantum 2.0: why we need to sharpen up our language This article explores the issues surrounding the imperfect metaphorical language used to describe quantum phenomena. The opening paragraph is ‘Superposition, entanglement and other baffling facets of the quantum world are now the driving forces behind various breakthrough technologies. Whereas “quantum 1.0” was all about interrogating the mysteries of Schrödinger’s wave equations and setting up clever experiments to close loopholes in the theory, “quantum 2.0” is putting the most bizarre aspects of quantum physics to routine work. Quantum computers based on superposition, as well as encryption devices relying on entanglement for long-distance communication, are now all becoming technologically viable.’