# Write Einstein'S Photoelectric Equation and Mention Which Important Features in Photoelectric Effect Can Be Explained with the Help of this Equation. - Physics

Write Einstein's photoelectric equation and mention which important features in photoelectric effect can be explained with the help of this equation.

The maximum kinetic energy of the photoelectrons gets doubled when the wavelength of light incident on the surface changes from λ1 to λ2. Derive the expressions for the threshold wavelength λ0 and work function for the metal surface.

State two important features of Einstein's photoelectric equation.

#### Solution

Einstein's photoelectric equations is given by

K_max=1/2mv_max^2=hv=phi_0

where

Kmax = Maximum kinetic energy of the photoelectron

vmax = Maximum velocity of the emitted photoelectron

m = Mass of  the photoelectron

ν = Frequency of the light radiation

ϕ0 = Work function

If ν0 is the threshold frequency, then the work function can be written as

ϕ0 = hν0

=>K_max=1/2mv_max^2=hv-hv_0=h(v-v_0)

The above equations explains the following results:

1.  If ν < ν0, then the maximum kinetic energy is negative, which is impossible. Hence, photoelectric emission does not take place for the incident radiation below the threshold frequency. Thus, the photoelectric emission can take place if ν > ν0.

2. The maximum kinetic energy of emitted photoelectrons is directly proportional to the frequency of the incident radiation. This means that maximum kinetic energy of photoelectron depends only on the frequency of incident light.

According to the photoelectric equation,

K_max=1/2mv_max^2=hv-phi_0

K_max=(hc)/lambda_1-phi_0

Let the maximum kinetic energy for the wavelength of the incident λ2 be K'max

K'_max=(hc)/lambda_2-phi_0

Form (i) and (ii), we have

(hc)/lambda_2-phi_0=2((hc)/lambda_1-phi_0)

=>phi_0=hc(2/lambda_1-1/lambda_2)

=>hv_0=hc(2/lambda_1-1/lambda_2)

=>c/(lambda_0)=c(2/lambda_1-1/lambda_2)

=>1/lambda_0=(2/lambda_1-1/lambda_2)

=>lambda_0=((lambda_1lambda_2)/(2lambda_2-lambda_1))

Concept: Einstein’s Equation - Particle Nature of Light
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