Photoelectric wave vs particle

[Shark 774]

In TSSM 2010, there is a question along the lines of: Which one of more of the following correctly justifies the particle model for light during the photoelectric effect?:

I chose simply option C which says "Increasing the frequency of the light source will increase the energy of the electrons being emitted" because obviously this is true of the particle model but not the wave model.

However, the answers says C & D, where D says "Decreasing the intensity of the light source will decrease the current recorded by the ammeter."
This is of course true of the particle model, but when doing the question I reasoned that this is also true of the wave model, hence it does not justify the particle model.

What do you guys think?

[Lasercookie]

Nice pickup, I didn't notice this when doing the exam.

It looks like TSSM misused the word 'justify'. To justify you have to show both sides.

Question 2 (L&M) from VCAA 2010 - it listed 3 observations and one of them could not be explained by the wave model (observation 2). Observation 1 was about photocurrent depending on intensity. So from that, you can say that VCAA agrees that decreasing the intensity would decrease the current.

You could argue that it justifies itself as the more correct model for the photoelectric effect by simply explaining all the observations - despite the fact that the wave model can also explain it. It doesn't explicitly state 'over the wave model'.

Justify in a VCAA exam usually wants you to reason and choose the better option though.

[Shark 774]

Nice pickup, I didn't notice this when doing the exam.

It looks like TSSM misused the word 'justify'. To justify you have to show both sides.

Question 2 (L&M) from VCAA 2010 - it listed 3 observations and one of them could not be explained by the wave model (observation 2). Observation 1 was about photocurrent depending on intensity. So from that, you can say that VCAA agrees that decreasing the intensity would decrease the current.

You could argue that it justifies itself as the more correct model for the photoelectric effect by simply explaining all the observations - despite the fact that the wave model can also explain it. It doesn't explicitly state 'over the wave model'.

Justify in a VCAA exam usually wants you to reason and choose the better option though.

Yeah, cheers. I think it's just a lack of effort from TSSM in making their exams!! How many practice exams are you at so far?

[Lasercookie]

Yeah, cheers. I think it's just a lack of effort from TSSM in making their exams!! How many practice exams are you at so far?

I lost count because I got lazy with my spreadsheet and keeping track.
It's something like 20ish. I'm taking a perfectionist approach, so I keep on finding ways I can improve the quality of my answers and exam technique.

[Shark 774]

Yeah, cheers. I think it's just a lack of effort from TSSM in making their exams!! How many practice exams are you at so far?

I lost count because I got lazy with my spreadsheet and keeping track.
It's something like 20ish. I'm taking a perfectionist approach, so I keep on finding ways I can improve the quality of my answers and exam technique.

Nice, I will be doing the same as soon as methods is done!