Light Intensity

[505095793]

What is the significance and use of light intensity when solving electromagnetic radiation questions?

[Mariah Hill]

Because the intensity of the light corresponds to the amplitude of the wave, the wave intensity for an electromagnetic wave is used when the question requires some knowledge about the amplitude.

[Anna O 2C]

Light intensity has to do with the amount of photons in a light sample. This is especially important when considering threshold energy in quantum mechanics. Intensity doesn't affect the amount of electrons ejected from a sample if the individual photons in the sample don't have a high enough frequency. As Dr. Lavelle put in his metaphor during lecture, it doesn't matter how many runners you have trying to go over a wall, if none of them are tall enough, it doesn't matter how many try to get over it; none of them will. One of the times intensity comes into play is when the frequency of the light IS enough to eject an electron. The more intensity means more individual photons, and thus higher intensity will proportionally lead to more electrons being ejected.

[duverge_maciel]

Since light intensity comes in different measurements depending on which kind of light it is, does that determine some of the numbers used to calculate the problems on the wave properties of electrons?