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Why it is the frequency and not the intensity of the light source that determines whether the emission of photoelectrons will occur or not? Explain.

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Question

Why it is the frequency and not the intensity of the light source that determines whether the emission of photoelectrons will occur or not? Explain.

Answer in Brief
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Solution

The frequency, not the intensity, of the light source, determines the emission because if any incident light of a specific (i.e., threshold or more) frequency is incident, it results in emission regardless of its intensity.

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2021-2022 (March) Term 2 - Delhi Set 1

RELATED QUESTIONS

Ultraviolet light of wavelength 2271 Å from a 100 W mercury source irradiates a photo-cell made of molybdenum metal. If the stopping potential is −1.3 V, estimate the work function of the metal. How would the photo-cell respond to a high intensity (∼105 W m−2) red light of wavelength 6328 Å produced by a He-Ne laser?


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