Physics Stack Exchange
Physics Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [photoelectric-effect]

The observed behavior in which light falling on certain metals can eject electrons from the surface.

Frequency dependence

It can be shown experimentally that the maximum energy with which electrons are ejected varies in direct, linear proportion to frequency of the light falling on the metal (that is inversely with the wavelength).

Intensity dependence

It can be shown experimentally that for a fixed wavelength the rate with which electrons are ejected varies in direct linear proportion to the intensity of the light.

696 questions
20
votes
3 answers

Why doesn't photoelectric current increase with frequency of the incident wave?

If the frequency of the incident wave is increased, then the kinetic energy of the photoelectrons increases. If so, why doesn't the photoelectric current increase? If the kinetic energy of electrons increases then their velocity also increases, if…
rishabh gupta
  • 447
15
votes
5 answers

Photoelectric effect, low frequency light

Let's say we have a emitter, emitting light that has frequency f, less than the threshold frequency of a metal. If you leave light shining onto that metal, for long enough, does the energy of the individual photons accumulate, on the electrons, so…
Anonymous
  • 365
13
votes
5 answers

Saturation current in photoelectric effect

While studying photoelectric in my school, my teacher drew a graph of current versus the potential difference across the two electrodes: I am not able to understand why do we get saturation current. I know that at saturation current all the…
humble
  • 460
12
votes
4 answers

Is photoelectric effect a surface phenomenon?

I got this question on a test and the answer key states that the answer is 'Yes'. According to what I understand electrons are emmitted with different kinetic energies based upon their depth from the metal surface i.e. an electron would come out…
Meet Shah
  • 151
8
votes
5 answers

What is the relation between photoelectric current and frequency of incident light?

I googled it a bit and found that photoelectric current is independent of frequency(of incident light). Some further look revealed that actually "saturation current" is independent of frequency.I could not find about the instantaneous…
user2369284
  • 471
7
votes
1 answer

Photoelectric Effect, Why can't two quanta interact with an electron at the same time?

I understand that assuming light is quantized implies that if a lower energy interacts with metal, it is possible that that quanta will not have enough energy to eject the electron. What prevents two quanta from interacting with the electron at the…
user24082
6
votes
3 answers

Photoelectric effect: Why is the saturation current the same, as you vary the frequency of incident light but keep its intensity constant?

image courtesy of http://www.learncbse.in/ Why is the saturation current the same, as you vary the frequency of incident light but keep its intensity constant? If intensity is a measure of the energy of the incident beam, the product of the number…
Matrix23
  • 1,200
6
votes
5 answers

Why is the K shell electron preferred in the photo electric effect?

I have read in many books and on Internet as well that photoelectric effect is only possible when an electron is emitted from the K shell of the metal. Why not other bonded electrons?
Chetan verma
  • 303
4
votes
4 answers

Why is Maxwell's theory insufficient to explain the photoelectric effect?

You can argue that electromagnetic waves from a UV light source travel towards a metallic plate, and by the time they reach where a loose electron is located, they affect it with a electromagnetic field (force), so the energy might be enough to…
kave33
  • 91
4
votes
1 answer

How to find the work function of a metal without knowing the threshold-frequency?

As the title says it, I want to know how people find the work function of a metal without knowing the threshold frequency. Yes I've already searched on Google but I didn't find anything really relevant. I just found how to calculate Work function…
Lulzsec
  • 155
4
votes
1 answer

Why don't metals disintergrate in light?

I've been learning about photoelectricity. An electron can gain the energy from a single photon, and if that energy is greater than the work function of the metal the electron can leave the metal. However I was under the impression that the…
Jonathan.
  • 6,907
  • 18
  • 70
  • 94
4
votes
3 answers

Is Photoelectric Effect continuous or discrete?

I don't understand how electrons and photon interact with each other when a metal surface is illuminated with light. I've read that below a certain threshold frequency or wavelength of light, no matter how much we increase the intensity or time of…
Sagaryal
  • 49
4
votes
1 answer

Is a vacuum needed in photoelectric effect?

This question was asked to me. My first thought was that electrons may ionise the air and potential difference that was applied may increase or decrease the current which should have been observed. I'd like to know whether this is the right reason…
avz2611
  • 327
4
votes
1 answer

Direction of Photo Electron Emission

I was looking for information on how the photo electrons are emitted when under X-ray radiation. In this ancient review paper here http://authors.library.caltech.edu/1551/1/WATpr28.pdf they state that the most common angles for non polarized X-ray…
leb
  • 73
3
votes
3 answers

Why electron do not eject out even when there is photon of less threshold energy with increasing in time

When photon having certain energy less than threshold energy strikes on the electron of metallic plate. Electron do not eject out. But my question is when photon are falling continuously then electron must gain the energy to eject out.as electron…
Abhishek
  • 39
1
2 3
…
8 9