Quantum Theory: How It Drastically Changed the Way We Look at Our Physical World
Introduction The
Quantum Theory was the second of two theories which drastically changed the way we look at our physical world today, the first being Einstein's
Theory of Relativity. Although both theories revolutionized the world of physics, the Quantum
Theory required a period of over three decades to develop, while the Special Theory of Relativity was created in a single year. The development of the Quantum Theory began in 1887 when a
German physicist, Heinrich Hertz, was testing
Maxwell's Theory of Electromagnetic Waves.
Hertz discovered that ultraviolet light discharged certain electrically charged metallic plates, a phenomenon that could not be explained by
Maxwell's Wave Theory. In order to explain this phenomenon termed the photoelectric effect, because both light and electricity are involved, the
Quantum Theory was developed. The
Photoelectric Effect Maxwell's work with the
Theory of Electromagnetic Waves may seem to have solved the problem concerning the nature of light, but at least one major problem remained.
There was one experiment conducted by Hertz, the photoelectric effect, which could not be explained by considering light to be a wave. Hertz observed that when certain metals are illuminated by light or other electromagnetic radiation, they lose electrons. Suppose we set up an electric circuit. In this circuit the negative terminal of a battery has been connected to a piece of sodium metal. The positive terminal of the battery is connected through a meter that measures electric current, and to another piece of metal. Both of these metal plates are enclosed in a sealed glass tube in which there is a vacuum. When there is no light illuminating the sodium plate, no current will flow, and therefore there is no reading on the meter. A reading on the meter will only occur when electrons are liberated from the metal creating a flow of electric current. However, if the sodium plate is exposed to light, an electric
Quantum Theory was the second of two theories which drastically changed the way we look at our physical world today, the first being Einstein's
Theory of Relativity. Although both theories revolutionized the world of physics, the Quantum
Theory required a period of over three decades to develop, while the Special Theory of Relativity was created in a single year. The development of the Quantum Theory began in 1887 when a
German physicist, Heinrich Hertz, was testing
Maxwell's Theory of Electromagnetic Waves.
Hertz discovered that ultraviolet light discharged certain electrically charged metallic plates, a phenomenon that could not be explained by
Maxwell's Wave Theory. In order to explain this phenomenon termed the photoelectric effect, because both light and electricity are involved, the
Quantum Theory was developed. The
Photoelectric Effect Maxwell's work with the
Theory of Electromagnetic Waves may seem to have solved the problem concerning the nature of light, but at least one major problem remained.
There was one experiment conducted by Hertz, the photoelectric effect, which could not be explained by considering light to be a wave. Hertz observed that when certain metals are illuminated by light or other electromagnetic radiation, they lose electrons. Suppose we set up an electric circuit. In this circuit the negative terminal of a battery has been connected to a piece of sodium metal. The positive terminal of the battery is connected through a meter that measures electric current, and to another piece of metal. Both of these metal plates are enclosed in a sealed glass tube in which there is a vacuum. When there is no light illuminating the sodium plate, no current will flow, and therefore there is no reading on the meter. A reading on the meter will only occur when electrons are liberated from the metal creating a flow of electric current. However, if the sodium plate is exposed to light, an electric