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प्रश्न
With the help of a circuit diagram describe the experiment to study the characteristics of the photoelectric effect. Hence discuss any 2 characteristics of the photoelectric effect.
With a neatly labelled circuit diagram, describe an experiment to study the characteristics of the photoelectric effect.
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उत्तर
- A laboratory experimental set-up for the photoelectric effect consists of an evacuated glass tube with a quartz window.
- The glass tube contains photosensitive metal plates. One is the emitter E and another plate is the collector C.

Schematic of experimental set-up for the photoelectric effect - The emitter and collector are connected to a voltage source whose voltage can be changed and to an ammeter to measure the current in the circuit.
- A potential difference of V, as measured by the voltmeter, is maintained between the emitter E and collector C. Generally, C (the anode) is at a positive potential with respect to the emitter E (the cathode). This potential difference can be varied and C can even be at a negative potential with respect to E.
- When the anode potential (V) is positive, it accelerates the electrons. This potential is called accelerating potential. When the anode potential (V) is negative, it retards the flow of electrons. This potential is known as retarding potential.
- A source S of monochromatic light of sufficiently high frequency (short wavelength ≤ 10–7 m) is used.
Two characteristics of the photoelectric effect:
- The photoelectric work function `phi_0` is constant for a given emitter. Hence if the frequency ‘ν’ of the incident radiation is decreased, the maximum kinetic energy of the emitted photoelectrons decreases, till it becomes zero for a certain frequency ν0.
Therefore, from Einstein’s equation,
0 = `"hv"_0 - phi_0`
∴ `phi_0 = "hv"_0` ........(1)
This shows that the threshold frequency is related to the work function of the metal and hence it has different values for different metals. - The photoelectric equation is,
`1/2"mv"_"max"^2 = "hv" - phi_0` ........(2)
where, hν = energy of the photon of incident radiation.
`phi_0 = "hv"_0` = photoelectric work function of the metal.
Thus, both the terms on the R.H.S of equation (2) depend on the frequency and not on the intensity of radiation. Hence the maximum kinetic energy with which photoelectrons are emitted is independent of the intensity of radiation. However, since `phi_0` and h are constants, the maximum kinetic energy of the photoelectrons is directly proportional to the frequency.
संबंधित प्रश्न
Is it always possible to see the photoelectric effect with a red light?
Using the values of work function given in the following table, tell which metal will require the highest frequency of incident radiation to generate photocurrent.
Typical values of work function for some common metals
| Metal | Work function (in eV) |
| Potassium | 2.3 |
| Sodium | 2.4 |
| Calcium | 2.9 |
| Zinc | 3.6 |
| Silver | 4.3 |
| Aluminium | 4.3 |
| Tungsten | 4.5 |
| Copper | 4.7 |
| Nickel | 5.0 |
| Gold | 5.1 |
It is observed in an experiment on the photoelectric effect that an increase in the intensity of the incident radiation does not change the maximum kinetic energy of the electrons. Where does the extra energy of the incident radiation go? Is it lost? State your answer with explanatory reasoning.
Photocurrent recorded in the microammeter in an experimental setup of the photoelectric effect vanishes when the retarding potential is more than 0.8 V if the wavelength of incident radiation is 4950 Å. If the source of incident radiation is changed, the stopping potential turns out to be 1.2 V. Find the work function of the cathode material and the wavelength of the second source.
Radiation of wavelength 4500 Å is incident on a metal having work function 2.0 eV. Due to the presence of a magnetic field B, the most energetic photoelectrons emitted in a direction perpendicular to the field move along a circular path of radius 20 cm. What is the value of the magnetic field B?
As the intensity of incident light increases ______
Planck's constant is 6.6 × 10-34 Js. The momentum of each photon is given radiation Is 3.3 × 10-29 kg/s. The λ of radiation is ______.
Find the kinetic energy of the emitted electron, if in photoelectric effect energy of incident Photon is 4 eV and work function is 2.4 eV.
Draw a neat labelled diagram of a schematic of the experimental setup for the photoelectric effect.
The maximum velocity of the photoelectron emitted by the metal surface is v. Charge and the mass of the photoelectron is denoted by e and m, respectively. The stopping potential in volt is ______.
Which one of the following is TRUE in photoelectric emission?
The following graph shows the stopping potential V0 versus frequency v for photoelectric emission from two metals A and B. The slope of each of the lines gives ______
The graph of stopping potential `"V"_"s"` against frequency v of incident radiation is plotted for two different metals P and Q as shown in the graph. ΦP and ΦQ are work-functions of P and Q respectively, then

Threshold frequency for a metal is 1015 Hz. Light of `lambda` = 4000 Å falls on its surface. Which of the following statements is correct?
In photoelectric experiment, if both the intensity and frequency of the incident light are doubled, then the saturation of photoelectric current ______.
Threshold wavelength for lithium metal is 6250 Å. For photoemission, the wavelength of the incident light must be ______.
When a surface 1 cm thick is illuminated by light of wavelength 'λ', the stopping potential is 'V0'. When the same surface is illuminated by light of wavelength '3λ', the stopping potential is `"V"_0/6`. The threshold wavelength for the metallic surface is ______.
Light of different frequencies, whose photons have energies 3 eV and 18 eV respectively, successively illuminate a metal of work function 2 eV. The ratio of the maximum speeds of the emitted electrons will be ______.
The work function of a substance is 4.0 eV. The longest wavelength of light that can cause photo-emission from this substance is approximately (h = 6.63 × 10-34 Js)[1eV = 1.6 × 10-19 J]
The lowest frequency of light that will cause the emission of photoelectrons from the surface of a metal (for which work function is 1.65 eV) will be ____________.
The photon of frequency vis incident on a metal surface whose threshold frequency is v0. The kinetic energy of the emitted photoelectrons will be ______.
An electromagnetic wave of wavelength '`lambda`' is incident on a photosensitive surface of negligible work function. If the photoelectrons emitted from this surface have the de-Broglie wavelength '`lambda_1`' then ____________.
The radiation corresponding to the 3 → 2 transition of a hydrogen atom falls on a gold surface to generate photoelectrons. These electrons are passed through a magnetic field of 5 × 10-4 T. Assume that the radius of the largest circular path followed by these electrons is 7 mm, and the work function of the metal is ______.
(Mass of electron = 9.1 × 10-31 kg)
A point isotropic light source of power P = 12 watts is located on the axis of a circular mirror of radius R = 3 cm. If the distance of the source from the centre of the mirror is a = 39 cm and the reflection coefficient of the mirror is α = 0.70 then the force exerted by the light ray on the mirror is ______ × 10-10 N.
Two radiations of photons energies 1 eV and 2.5 eV, successively illuminate a photosensitive metallic surface of work function 0.5 eV. The ratio of the maximum speeds of the emitted electrons is ______.
Light of two different frequencies whose photons have energies 1.3 eV and 2.8 eV respectively, successfully illuminate a metallic surface whose work function is 0.8 eV. The ratio of maximum speeds of emitted electrons will be ______.
Photoelectric emission is observed from a metallic surface for frequencies ν1 and ν2 of the incident light rays (ν1 > ν2). If the ratio of the maximum value of the kinetic energy of the photoelectrons emitted in the first case to that in the second case is 2 : K, then the threshold frequency of the metallic surface is ______.
The photoelectric threshold for a certain metal surface is 3600 Å. If the metal surface is irradiated by a wavelength of 1100 Å, then kinetic energy of the emitted photoelectrons is ______.
When monochromatic light of frequency v1 falls on a metal surface, the stopping potential required is found to be V1. If the radiation of frequency v2 is incident on the surface, the stopping potential required V2 is ______. (v2 > v1)
Give Einstein's explanation of the photoelectric effect.
