Final answer:
Light of a certain frequency can be absorbed by atoms with the same resonant frequency, this is called resonance absorption, characteristic of the photoelectric effect. The process involves photons with energy described by the equation E = hf, where h is Planck's constant and f is frequency. The frequency of the light remains the same, but the amplitude of atomic vibrations may increase.
Step-by-step explanation:
When light of a certain frequency encounters atoms with the same resonant frequency, the atoms can absorb the light, causing an electron to move to a higher energy state which is termed resonance absorption. This occurs because the energy of the light photon matches the energy difference between the two energy states of the electron in the atom. However, if the light's frequency is below a certain threshold, no electrons are ejected, regardless of the light's intensity. This is a central aspect of the photoelectric effect. According to Einstein, light behaves as if it's composed of particles called photons, each carrying a quantum of energy that is proportionate to the frequency of the light, as described by the equation E = hf where h is Planck's constant and f is the frequency of the light. In instances like the workings of a laser, an incident photon of a specific frequency can stimulate an atom, causing it to release additional photons of the same frequency, resulting in a cascade effect. The absorbed energy may also re-emit as light of the same frequency, but usually at a different angle in a process called scattering. The crucial takeaway is that the frequency remains the same during these processes, but the amplitude of that frequency in the atoms' vibrational energy state increases.