Compton Scattering

What is Compton scattering?

• The emission of electrons from a metal when light shines on it

• The increase in kinetic energy of an atom due to a collision

• The decrease in wavelength of light due to scattering from a free electron

• The increase in wavelength of a photon after it scatters off a free electron

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Which fundamental concept is best demonstrated by Compton scattering?

• Conservation of mass

• Conservation of electric charge

• Conservation of energy and momentum in photon-electron interactions

• Quantization of atomic energy levels

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After a photon undergoes Compton scattering, what happens to its wavelength?

• It stays the same

• It decreases

• It increases

• It becomes zero

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In Compton scattering, what does the change in photon wavelength depend on?

• The energy of the incoming photon only

• The mass of the electron

• The angle at which the photon scatters

• The atomic number of the material

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A photon scatters off a stationary electron at a 90° angle. What happens to the energy of the scattered photon compared to the original photon?

• It is greater

• It is the same

• It is less

• It depends on the electron’s mass

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Which equation represents the Compton wavelength shift?

• Δλ = h/p

• Δλ = h/(mc)

• Δλ = (h/mc)(1 - cos θ)

• Δλ = (hc)/λ

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In the Compton formula, what does the symbol θ represent?

• The angle between the electric and magnetic fields

• The angle of photon incidence

• The angle between the incident and scattered photon directions

• The angle of electron recoil

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What evidence did Compton’s experiment provide in support of quantum theory?

• Light acts purely as a wave

• Electrons exist in orbitals

• Light has particle-like properties and carries momentum

• Atoms are indivisible

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Why does Compton scattering not occur with tightly bound electrons in atoms?

• The energy of photons is too low

• Bound electrons cannot move

• Energy and momentum conservation require nearly free electrons

• Atoms absorb all incident photons

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What is the Compton wavelength of an electron?

• 6.63 × 10⁻³⁴ m

• 9.11 × 10⁻³¹ m

• 2.43 × 10⁻¹² m

• 3.00 × 10⁸ m

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