Practice portal › Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation › Conceptual and Statement Questions on the Photoelectric Effect

Which of the following statements is not true for a photon?

Asked in RS Academy GUJCET booklet · Conceptual points of the photoelectric effect

Answer: (1) A photon does not produce pressure.

Step-by-step solution

Idea: check each statement against the photon picture of light.

Energy E = hf: true.

Momentum p = E/c = (hf)/c: true.

Rest mass zero: true; a photon always moves at c.

Because photons carry momentum, photons striking a surface transfer momentum to it and push on it, so light does exert pressure (radiation pressure).

So the statement that is not true is: a photon does not produce pressure.

Why the other options are wrong

More Conceptual and Statement Questions on the Photoelectric Effect questionsAll Conceptual and Statement Questions on the Photoelectric Effect questions →

Reading this solution needs no sign-in. You only sign in to practise against the clock and keep your progress.

Practise this with a timer