Quantum Mechanics Description of Light

[PatrickV]

Is it required of us to know the quantum mechanics description of light for the final?

[Hannah Choi 1K]

I think it would be good to know all the different properties of light and how they are proven, where light diffraction can explain the wave properties of light and the photoelectric experiment can explain that light has particle properties (that it has to meet a certain threshold energy in order to eject an electron from a metal surface as opposed to simply increasing the intensity of the light).

[Milli Zunich 3I]

I believe for the last class we had, Lavelle reviewed the photoelectric effect, so being familiar with what it measures is at least a little important.

[505784197]

Quantum mechanics speaks a lot towards properties of light and is proven by multiple experiments so I believe it is best to know it. An easy way to remember what quantum is by understanding that light acts as various packets and is not continuous. He gave an example in class where there was when you are pouring water with a nozzle attached and keep decreasing the radius of the nozzle to atomic size, the water flows out in quanta, packets, or discrete values.