In the photoelectric effect experiment we use a source of light whose ...
No photocurrent till the incident frequency reaches the minimum frequency required to overcome the work function of the metal φ
i.e. hvin = φ
After that, any increase in the frequency will not increase the photocurrent because the incident light has the same intensity.
Whereas KEmax increase linearly with the frequency of the incident radiation.
The correct answers are: Photoelectric effect observed (after some time) with photocurrent remaining constant., Photoelectric effect observed after some time with the maximum kinetic energy (KE) of electron varying (increasing with time)
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In the photoelectric effect experiment we use a source of light whose ...
The Photoelectric Effect Experiment
The photoelectric effect is a phenomenon in which electrons are emitted from a material when it is exposed to light. In the photoelectric effect experiment, a source of light is used to illuminate a metal surface, and the resulting emission of electrons is observed. The frequency of the incident light can be varied in this experiment.
Increasing the Frequency of the Incident Light
When the frequency of the incident light is gradually increased, the following observations can be made:
1. Photoelectric Effect Observed with Increasing Maximum Kinetic Energy (KE)
As the frequency of the incident light increases, the energy of the photons also increases. According to the wave-particle duality of light, photons can be considered as discrete packets of energy. Each photon carries energy proportional to its frequency, given by the equation E = hf, where E is the energy, h is Planck's constant, and f is the frequency.
When a photon strikes the surface of a metal, it can transfer its energy to an electron in the metal. If the energy of the photon is greater than or equal to the work function of the metal (the minimum energy required to remove an electron from the metal), the electron can be ejected and a photoelectric effect is observed.
As the frequency of the incident light increases, the energy of the photons also increases. This means that more energetic photons can be absorbed by the metal surface, resulting in the ejection of electrons with higher kinetic energies. Therefore, as the frequency of the incident light is gradually increased, the photoelectric effect is observed after some time with the maximum kinetic energy (KE) of the ejected electrons increasing.
2. Photoelectric Effect Observed with Constant Photocurrent
In addition to the variation in the maximum kinetic energy of the ejected electrons, the photoelectric effect can also be observed with a constant photocurrent. The photocurrent is the current generated by the flow of ejected electrons when they are collected by an external circuit.
When the frequency of the incident light is increased, the number of photons striking the metal surface per unit time also increases. This leads to a higher rate of electron ejection and, consequently, a higher photocurrent. However, the increase in the photocurrent is limited by the number of available electrons in the metal and the efficiency of the photoelectric effect.
Therefore, as the frequency of the incident light is gradually increased, a photoelectric effect is observed with a constant photocurrent.
Conclusion
In conclusion, in the photoelectric effect experiment, if the frequency of the incident light is gradually increased, the photoelectric effect is observed after some time with the maximum kinetic energy (KE) of the ejected electrons increasing. Additionally, the photoelectric effect can also be observed with a constant photocurrent as the frequency is increased. These observations are consistent with the wave-particle duality of light and the energy transfer between photons and electrons in the photoelectric effect.
In the photoelectric effect experiment we use a source of light whose ...
No photocurrent till the incident frequency reaches the minimum frequency required to overcome the work function of the metal φ
i.e. hvin = φ
After that, any increase in the frequency will not increase the photocurrent because the incident light has the same intensity.
Whereas KEmax increase linearly with the frequency of the incident radiation.
The correct answers are: Photoelectric effect observed (after some time) with photocurrent remaining constant., Photoelectric effect observed after some time with the maximum kinetic energy (KE) of electron varying (increasing with time)