Define the terms threshold frequency and stopping potential in relation to the phenomenon of the photoelectric effect. How is the photoelectric current affected on increasing the
(i) frequency,
(ii) intensity of the incident radiation, and why?
(i) frequency,
(ii) intensity of the incident radiation, and why?
Answer: Current unaffected by frequency; increases with intensity.
Solution
Threshold frequency : the minimum frequency of incident light that can just cause photoemission; below it no electrons are emitted.
Stopping potential : the minimum retarding potential at which the photoelectric current becomes zero; .
(i) Increasing the frequency (intensity fixed) does not change the saturation photocurrent — the number of emitted electrons depends on the number of photons, not their energy (it only raises ).
(ii) Increasing the intensity (frequency fixed) increases the photocurrent, because more photons arrive per second and eject proportionally more electrons.
Stopping potential : the minimum retarding potential at which the photoelectric current becomes zero; .
(i) Increasing the frequency (intensity fixed) does not change the saturation photocurrent — the number of emitted electrons depends on the number of photons, not their energy (it only raises ).
(ii) Increasing the intensity (frequency fixed) increases the photocurrent, because more photons arrive per second and eject proportionally more electrons.
CBSE Class 12 Board · 2006 · Subjective