Question

Light of intensity ‘I’ and frequency ‘v’ is incident on a photosensitive surface and causes photoelectric emission. What will be the effect on anode current when (ii) the frequency of incident radiation is increased. In each case, all other factors remain the same. Explain, giving justification in each case.

Answer 1

For photoelectric emission to occur, there is a minimum cut off frequency of the incident radiation called the threshold frequency below which no photoelectric emission occurs. This frequency is independent of the intensity of the incident light. With an increase in the frequency of the incident radiation, the kinetic energy of the photoelectrons ejected increases, whereas it is independent of the number of photoelectrons ejected. Hence, with the increase in the frequency of incident radiation, there will not be any change in the anode current.