Compton Scattering Class Exercises

1. What is a photon?

AP Physics 2. Is a photon more like a particle or more like a wave?

et!s look a little more closely at the photoelectric e""ect# $. A 2%% nm light wave is a&sor&e' &y the most 'istant electron "rom the n(cle(s in an al(min(m atom. a) *ow "ast is the electron moving a"terwar'?

&) A"ter it a&sor&s the light+ the electron has kinetic energy which means that it also has moment(m. *ow m(ch moment(m 'oes the electron have?

c) Is moment(m conserve' when the photon is a&sor&e' &y the electron? Explain

,. *ow m(ch moment(m is carrie' &y a photon o" each o" the "ollowing wavelengths o" light? a) ,%% nm -violet) &) .%% nm -re') c) 12/ nm -(ltraviolet)

/. Consi'er a "ree electron that a&sor&s a 12/ nm photon. a) I" the photon!s energy is converte' into kinetic &) *ow m(ch moment(m will the moving electron energy in the electron+ how "ast is the electron going have? Is moment(m conserve' when the photon is a"terwar'? a&sor&e'? -0emem&er ,c)

1. We know that moment(m an' energy have to &e conserve' in every event. *ow is it possi&le to conserve &oth energy an' moment(m when a photon 2colli'es3 with a "ree electron?

.. *ow wo(l' things change i" the photon was not a&sor&e' &y the electron+ &(t was scattere' o"" o" it? -0e"lection an' re"raction are 4(st special types o" scattering.) Conserve energy an' moment(m.

5. et!s look at a pict(re o" this event an' how we wo(l' write the e6(ations to energy an' moment(m.

"ig(re o(t conserve

7. Elastic scattering o" 89rays was an' explaine' &y the American physicist Arth(r Compton in 172$. et!s investigate what he "o(n'. :he 'otte' line on the graph shows meas(rements o" 89rays that came 'irectly the so(rce. :he soli' line on the graph shows meas(rements o" 89rays that were scattere' o"" graphite &lock. What is 'i""erent a&o(t the 'ata recor'e' in the two lines?

o&serve' *. "rom o" a

1%. Why wo(l' it &e &etter to per"orm this experiment with 89rays instea' o" visi&le light?

11. A &eam o" x9rays with a photon energy o" 12%% e; scatters o"" electrons in a metal. i) What is the wavelength an' "re6(ency o" these waves?

ii) <in' the wavelength+ "re6(ency an' photon energy a"ter &eing scattere' at the "ollowing angles# a) $%= &) .%=

c) 12%=

') 15%=

12. A &eam o" 7.$/ x 1%911 m 89rays is scattere' "rom electrons i) What is the "re6(ency an' photon energy "or these waves?

ii) <in' the wavelength+ "re6(ency an' photon energy a"ter &eing scattere' at the "ollowing angles# a) $%= &) 12%=

1$. >o( o&serve photons scattere' "rom a metal s(r"ace to have a "re6(ency o" 1.2%. x 1%1. *? when scattere' at an angle o" 1/%=. What was the wavelength+ "re6(ency an' photon energy o" the light &e"ore it was scattere'?