Which of the following can be concluded from the photo-electric effect?

The correct answer is option 2) i.e. particle nature of light

CONCEPT:

• Photoelectric effect: The photoelectric effect is a phenomenon where electrons are ejected from a metal surface when the light of sufficient frequency is incident on it.
  • When a photon falls on the metal surface, the photon’s energy is transferred to the electron.
  • Some part of the energy gets utilized in removing the electron from the metal surface, and the remaining goes into giving kinetic energy for the ejected electron.

EXPLANATION:

• The photoelectric effect proved that light behaves like an elastic collision conserving mechanical energy between the photon of light and the electron of the metal.

Additional Information 

• Interference is a phenomenon in which two waves superpose to give a resultant intensity different from sum of their separate intensities. Hence, this does not indicate the particle nature of light.

• Diffraction is a phenomenon of light bending around the sharp ends of an obstacle or a pinhole. Hence, this does not indicate the particle nature of light.

• Diffraction and interference confirm the wave nature of light.