Which physicist is famous for his work on the photoelectric effect and quantum theory? A) Albert Einstein B) Max Planck C) Niels Bohr D) Richard Feynman
VerifiedAnswer: A) Albert Einstein
Explanation:
Albert Einstein is indeed the correct answer for this question. In 1905, Einstein published his groundbreaking paper on the photoelectric effect, which explained how light can knock electrons out of metal surfaces. This work was revolutionary because it showed that light behaves like particles (called photons) rather than just waves, which was the prevailing belief at that time.
Einstein's explanation of the photoelectric effect was based on quantum theory, specifically building upon Max Planck's earlier work on energy quantization. Einstein proposed that light energy comes in discrete packets called quanta or photons, and the energy of each photon is directly proportional to its frequency. This work earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921, interestingly not for his famous theory of relativity, but for his contribution to quantum physics.
Let's quickly look at why the other options, while brilliant physicists, are not the best answer for this specific question:
• Max Planck (Option B) is known as the father of quantum theory and introduced the concept of energy quantization, but he didn't specifically work on the photoelectric effect
• Niels Bohr (Option C) made significant contributions to quantum mechanics, particularly with his atomic model, but his primary focus wasn't the photoelectric effect
• Richard Feynman (Option D) was a brilliant quantum physicist who developed quantum electrodynamics, but his major contributions came much later in the 20th century
Einstein's work on the photoelectric effect was particularly important because it provided crucial evidence for the particle nature of light and helped establish quantum mechanics as a fundamental branch of physics. The photoelectric effect demonstrates that when light of sufficient frequency hits a metal surface, it can eject electrons from that surface. Einstein showed that this happens because each photon transfers its energy to an individual electron, and if that energy exceeds the metal's work function, the electron escapes.
