1.

PHOTO ELECTRIC EFFECT

(a) In 1888 Hallwach discovered photo electric
effect and experimental verification of this
event was done by Hertz.
(b) The phenomenon of emission of electrons
from metal surface by the incidence of light
photon is called photo electric effect.
(c) Emitted e- is called photo electron
(d) Current produced due Photon
e
to emitted electron is
called photo electric
current
Metal
(e) Photo electric effect
varifies quantum nature of light.
(f) Photo electric effect can not be explained by
wave theory of light
(g) Normaly photo electrons are those electrons
which are present freely at the inter molecular
places in metal.
(h) Explanation for photo electric effect was given
by Einstein. For this excellent work Einstein
was honoured by nobel prize in 1921.
(i) Photo electric effect is based on law of
conservation of energy
Important Definitions :
Threshold Frequency ( 0) :
Minimum frequency of incident photon below
which no ejection of photoelectrons from a metal
surface can take place is known as threshold
frequency for that metal. Its value is constant
for a particular metal but may be different for
different metals.
If = Frequency of incident phtoton
& 0 = Threshold Frequency
then
(a) if < 0 No ejection of photo electron and
therefore no Photo electric effect.
(b) if = 0 Photo electrons are just ejected
from metal surface and in this case kinetic
energy of electron is zero.
(c) if > 0 then photo electrons will come out
of the surface along with kinetic energy
Threshold wavelength ( 0) :
Maximum wavelength of incident photon above
which there will be no photoelectric emission from
a metal surface is known as threshold wavelength

c
0 =
0

If = wavelength of incident photon then

(a) if < 0 then photo electric effect will take
place and ejected electron will possess
kinetic energy.
(b) if = 0 then Photo electric effect will just
take place and kinetic energy of ejected photo
electron will be zero
(c) if > 0 there will be no Photo electric effect.
2. WORK FUNCTION OR THRESHOLD ENERGY
()
(i) The minimum energy of incident photon below
which no ejection of photo electron from a metal
surface will take place is known as work function
of threshold energy for that metal .
hc
= h0 =
0
(ii) Work function is the characteristic of given
metal
(iii) If E = Energy of incident photon, then
(a) if E < No photo electric effect will take
place
(b) if E = photo electric effect will just take
place but KE of ejected photo electron is
zero.
(c) if E > Photo electric effect will take
place along with possession of KE by
ejected electron
3. LAWS OF PHOTO ELECTRIC EFFECT
On the basis of experiments Lenard gave
following laws regarding photo emission.
(a) Rate of photo electron's emission does not
depend upon frequency or wavelength of light
(or photon) and in other words it does not
depend upon energy of incident light.
(b) Rate of photo electron's emission depends
upon intensity of light which incidents on
metal surface
(c) Photo electric current depends upon intensity
of light but does not depend upon frequency/
wavelength or energy.
(d) Kinetic energy of Emitted electron depends
upon frequency or wavelength of incident light.
With increasing frequency of incident light,
kinetic energy of photo electrons increases
but with increasing wavelength it decreases.

K.E. of Emitted electrons

K.E. of Emitted electrons
So

(e) Kinetic energy of emitted photo electrons

does not depend upon intensity of light.

(f) Emission of electron from a metal surface is

possible only upto a certain minimum
frequency (corresponding maximum
wavelength) of incident photon. This minimum
frequency is called threshold frequency and
corresponding wavelength is called threshold
wavelength

hc
Threshold wavelength = 0 =

6.6 10 34 3 10 8

5.26 10 19
= 3764
Ex.2

Sol.

=3.764 107 m

The work function of Na is 2.3 eV. What is

the maximum wavelength of light that will
cause photo electrons to be emitted from
sodium?
(A) 539 mm
(B) 0.539 mm
(C) 539 nm
(D) 0.539 nm

hc
The threshold wavelength 0 =

= h0 = hc/0)

& hc = 1.24 106 (eV) m

0 =

1.24 10
2 .3

0 = 0.539

(a) In form of work function ( ) :- To emit

electron from the surface of metal
(b) To give kinetic energy to emitted electron.
3. If vmax is the maximum velocity of emitted
electrons then by law of conservation of
energy :-

(g) Value of threshold frequency or threshold

wavelength depends upon photo sensitive
nature of metal.
(h) There is no time lag between emission of
electron and incidence of photon i.e. the
electrons are emitted out as soon as the
light falls on metal surface.
Ex.1
The work function of silver is 5.26 10 19 J.
Calculate its threshold wavelength(A) 3674
(B) 3467
(C) 3647
(D) 3764
Sol.

The energy supplied to the electrons is used in

two ways :-

m ;

106

m = 539 nm

4. EINSTEINS EQUATION OF PHOTO ELECTRIC

EFFECT
1. Einstein (1905) explained photo electric
effect on the basis of quantum theory .
2. A photon striking the metal surface transfer
whole of its energy h to any one of the
electron present in the metal and it own
existence vanished.

h =

1
mv2
2

0 : threshold frequency
0 = h 0
if

so

h = h 0 +

1
mv2max.
2

This is called Einstein's equation of photo

electric effect.
4.1 Einsteins Equation Explain Following
Concepts (a) With increasing frequency of light, kinetic
energy of electrons increases similarly with
decreasing wavelength , Kinetic energy of
electrons increases.
If 0 is threshold frequency then maximum
kinetic energy
Emax = h - h 0

1
m v 2max = h(0)
2

so maximum velocity of photo electrons :-

vmax =

2h( 0 )
m

m- mass of electron.

- frequency of incident light

0- threshold frequency
0- threshold wavelength
- incident wavelength

1 1

=
hc

max
0

1 1
1
m v 2max = hc
2
0

= 0 or = 0 then v = 0
(c) < 0 or > 0 There will be no
(b) If

emission of photo electrons.

(d) When Intensity of light is increased it means

number of photons have been increased. It
does not affect energy of photons. Hence
rate of emission increases but there will be
no change in kinetic energy of electrons.
With increasing number of emitted electrons,
value of photo electric current increases.
Ex.3

Light of wavelength 4000 A0 is incident on a

metal whose work function is 2eV. Calculate
the maximum possible kinetic energy of the
photo electrons.
(A) 3.09 eV
(C) 1.09 eV

Sol

(B) 1. 9 eV
(D) None

Energy of the incident photon = hc /

5. PHOTO ELECTRIC CURRENT

(1) When light incidents on cathode, electrons
are emitted & these are attracted by anode
thus current flows in the circuit. It is called
photo electric current.
(2) Value of photo electric current depends upon
following parameters :(a) Potential difference between electrodes.
(b) Intensity of incident light.
5.1 Intensity of light (I)
(a) It is the qunantity of light energy falling
normally on a unit surface area in unit time.

Energy of the incident photon in

eV =

19.8 10 19
4 1.6 10 19

or I =
= 3.09 eV

E
A. t

where I = Intensity of light in

W
m2

Kinetic energy of the emitted electron

Ek = h
Ex.4

= 3.09 - 2.00 = 1.09 eV

The threshold wavelength of a metal is 5800 .

If wavelength of incident light is 4500, then
the
maximum
kinetic
energy
of
photoelectrons would be(A) 0.62 eV
(C) 62 eV

Sol

E k max =

(B) 26 eV
(D) 0.26 eV

hc[ 0 ]
0

= 6.6210343108

[5800 10 10 4500 10 10 ]
5800 4500 10

vmax =

A = C/s area
t = time of exposure
(b) Intensity of light is proportional to saturation
current
1
(c) For point source of light I
r2

1
r

where r is the distance of the point from the light

source.
6. STOPPING POTENTIAL

9.9 10 20
1.6 10

20

hc

n = no. of photons

(d) For line source of light I

= 9.9 1020 J

E k max =

E = total energy incidnet = nh = n

19

= 0.62 eV

2hc( 0 )
m 0

(1) When in photo electric cell (+) ve voltage on

cathode and negative voltage on anode is
applied then with increasing potential
difference magnitude of photo electric current
decreases.
(2) The negative potential (V 0 ) applied to the
anode at which the current is just reduced
to zero is called the stopping potential.
(3) Potential on anode equal to greater than
stopping potential give zero current in circuit.
(4) If emitted electrons do not reach from cathode
to anode then stopping potential is given by
eV0 =

1
m v 2max
2

or Emax = eV0
eV0 = h (0)

(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)

(4) Stopping potential V/s frequency :

eV0 = h -h 0

h( 0 )
V0 =
e
Value of stopping potential depends upon
frequency of incident light.
Stopping potential also depends upon nature
of metal (or work function)
Stopping potential does not depend upon
intensity of light
Example :-suppose stopping potential
= 3 Volt, then

1
m v 2max
2

v0
tan = slope
=

h 0
e

(5) Potential V/s current : (

I3
I >I >I
I2 3 2 1
I1

5 eV

-v0

voltage

Stopping potential does not depend upon

intensity of light .

Emax = 0

(6) Photo electric current V/s Retarding

potential :

Emax

Current

0
(2) Vmax
V/s
At 0

: constant)

Intensity
Current

Because stopping potential is not equal to

5V which cannot be used in einstein equation.
Graphs :
(1) Kinetic energy V/s frequency :
At

Intercept on y-axis =

= 3 eV

h
(constant for all type of metals )
e

Intercept on x-axis =

If we apply -5 volt then also there will be zero

current in the circuit but

1
m v 2max
2

Ex. 5

If one photon has 25 eV energy and work

function of material is 7 eV then value of
stopping potential will be(A) 32 V
(B) 18 V
(C) 3.3 V
(D) zero

Sol

V0 =

E 0
25 7
=
eV
e
e

V0 = 18 V
Current

Intensity

Retarding potential

(3) Saturated Current V/s Intensity :

Vmax = 0

Vmax

For eg :
Consider the following problem :

POINTS TO REMEMBER
(1)
(2)
(3)

(5)

Stopping potential depends on frequency of

incident light & the nature of cathode material.

h1 0
h 2 0

(8)

The intensity of light depends on the number

of photons.

(9)

Frequency of untraviolet light is more than

that of red light. Hence the kinetic energy of
photo electrons emitted by ultraviolet light
will be more than that of the electrons
emitted by red light.

2h( 0 )
m

(10)

max=

(11)

Photoelectric effect was discovered by

Hallwachs, experimentally verified by Hertz,
and successfully studied and explained by
Einstein.

hc 1 1

e 0

(12)

V =

(13)

Less energy is required to release the

electrons situated in the surface layer of
material where as more energy is required to
release electrons from the inner layers.

(14)

One electron is emitted by one photon.

(15)

Stopping potential does not depend on the

intensity of incident light.
Intensity of light is related to amount of
photons and in more simplified terms it is
related to no. of photons.
But frequency of light directly indicates toward
energy of one photon.

(16)

energy of one photon =

h
2

Conclusions :(A) If intensity in case 1 is higher so no. of

emitted electrons in case I will be greater.
current in case I > current in case II
(B) If energy of one photon is higher in case II so
kinetic energy of emitted electron will be more
in case of II though their intensity is less
than case I

The velocity of electrons emitted from the

surface layer is maximum.

Emax 1
Emax 2

/2 frequency

Case II : One photon having frequency

so Energy of this photon = h

Work function depends on nature of metal &

impurities present on metal surface.
Work function is the characteristic of matter.

(7)

So

Quantum nature of radiations is verified by

photo electric effect.

(4)

(6)

Case I : 2 photons both have

Photo electric effect is based on the principle

of conservation of energy.

(17)

One photon can emit only one electron. The

whole photo electric effect is based on this
simple concept.

(18)

red < violet It means incident violet ray will

give more energy to emitted electrons than
incident red ray it means

V0 (red) < V0 (violet)

Vmax (red) < Vmax (violet)
Emax (red) < Emax (vilolet)
(19)

Photo electric effect is based on energy

conservation law.

(20)

If light of same frequency incidences on

surfaces of various work function then velocity
or kinetic energy of that emitted electron will
be maximum for which surface that has least
work function.

S O LV E D E X A M P L E S
Ex.1

Sol

Two different photons of energies, 1 eV and

2.5 eV, fall on two identical metal plates
having work function 0.5 eV, Then the ratio of
maximum KE of the electrons emitted from
the two surface is(A) 1 : 2
(B) 1 : 4
(C) 2 : 1
(D) 4 : 1

Sol

Sol

6.6 10 34 3 10 8
2 1.6 10 19
( 0 )sodium

= 6188

( )copper

K 2 max = 2.5 0.5 = 2.0 eV

(0)copper =

K1max : K 2 max = 0.5 : 2 = 1 : 4

Ultraviolet light of wavelength 280 nm is used

in an experiment on photo electric effect with
lithium ( = 2.5 eV) cathode. Stopping
potential will be(A) 1 .9 eV
(B) 1.9 V
(C) 4.4 eV
(D) 4.4 V

Ex.5

hc
The maximum kinetic energy is Kmax=

1242
280

Sol

eV nm
2.5 eV
nm

= 4.4 eV 2.5 eV = 1.9 eV

Stopping potential V is given by eV = K max
K max
1.9
V =
=
eV = 1.9 V
e
e
A monochromatic source of light operating at
200 W emits 4 x 1020 photons per second.
Find the wavelength of light.
(A) 400 mm
(B) 200 n
(C) 4 1010
(D) None
The energy of each photon =

200
4 10 20

= 5 1019 J

(6.63 10 34 ) (3 10 8 )
5 10 19

0 =

hc
6.6 10 34 3 10 8
, 0 =
,

4.2 1.6 10 19

0 = 2.946 107 m = 2946

Ex.6

Slope of V0

= 400 nm
Which metal will be suitable for a photo
electric cell using light of wavelength 4000A0.
The work functions of sodium and copper are
respectively 2.0 eV and 4.0 eV.
(A) sodium
(B) copper
(C) Both
(D) None of both

curve is-

h
e
(D) h

(A) e
(C)
So

(B)

h h 0

e
e
Put it in the form of y = mx c,

Relation between V0

= 4.0 10-7

2
6188 = 3094
4

To eject photo-electrons from sodium the

longest wavelength is 6188 and that for
copper is 3094 . Hence for light of
wavelength 4000 , sodium is suitable.
The work function for the surface of aluminium
is 4.2 eV. What will be the wavelength of
that incident light for which the stopping
potential will be zero.
(A) 2496
(B) 2946 10-7 m
(C) 2649
(D) 2946
If the incident light be of threshold wavelength
(0), then the stopping potential shall be zero.
Thus

here V0 = y,

hc
Wavelength = =
E

Ex.4

(0)sodium=

K1max = h1 = 1 0.5 = 0.5 eV

Ex.3

hc

0 =

0 ( )
=
( )sodium
0 copper

Thus
Ex.2

Sol

= x,

y = e x c

m=

h
e

., V0 =

h 0
= c
e

Ex.7

Sol

A radio station is transmitting waves of

wavelength 300 m, If diffracting power of
transmitter is 10 kw, then numbers of
photons diffracted per second is(A) 1.5 1035
(B) 1.5 1031
29
(C) 1.5 10
(D) 1.5 1033
P = 10 103 watt
n = ?
= 300 m
P =

104 =

n =
Ex.8

nhc
t

h = h 0 + Ek
6.6 10-34 3 108
= 4 1.6 1019 + Ek
-19
19.8 10
6.4 10-19 = Ek

6.62 10 34 3 10 8 n
300 1

300 10 4
6.62 10

34

10

Light of wavelength 332 incidents on metal

surface (work function = 1.07 eV). To stop
emission of photo electron, retarding
potential required to be(A) 3.74 V
(B) 2.67 V
(C) 1.07 V
(D) 4.81 V
= 332 1010 m
eV0 =

V0 =

Ex.9

Sol

hc

0 = V0 =

6.62 10 34 3 10 8
332 10 10 e

0
hc

e
e

1.07 1.6 10 19
e

V0 = 3.74 1.07 = 2.67 volt.

Light of wavelength 5000 falls on a sensitive
surface. If the surface has received 107 Joule
of energy, then what is the number of photons
falling on the surface ?
(A) 25 1011
(B) 25 1012
11
(C) 0.25 10
(D) 2.5 1011
Let the energy of one photon = hc/,

Energy of n photons E = nhc/

10-7 =

n =

n 6.6 10 34 3 10 8
5000 10 10

5000 10 10 10 7
19.8 10 26

n = 2.5 1011

Sol

Ek = 13.4 1019 J

= 1.5 1031

0 = 1.07 eV = 1.07 1.6 10 19 J

Sol

Ex.10 An electromagnetic radiation of frequency

3 1015 cycles per second falls on a photo
electric surface whose work function is
4.0 eV. Find out the maximum velocity of the
photo electrons emitted by the surface(A) 13.4 1019 m/s (B) 19.8 10-19m/s
(C) 1.73 106 m/s
(D) None

= 0.25 1012

1
mv2max = 13.4 1019
2
2 13.4 10 19
m

vmax =

2 13.4 10 19
9 10 31

= 1.73 106 m/s

Ex.11 The wavelength of a photon is 4000 .

Calculate its energy.
(A) 49.5 1019 J
(B) 495 1019 J
(C) 4.95 1019 K
(D) 4.95 1019 J
Sol

E =

hc
6.6 10 34 3 10 8
=

4000 10 10

= 4.95 10-19 J
Ex.12 When ultraviolet light of energy 6.2 eV
incidents on a aluminimum surface, it emits
photo electrons. If work function for aluminium
surface is 4.2 eV, then kinetic energy of
emitted electrons is(A) 3.2 1019 J
(B) 3.2 1017 J
16
(C) 3.2 10
J
(D) 3.2 1011 J
Sol

Ek = E

0 = 6.2 4.2 = 2.0 eV,

Ek = 2 1.6 1019 = 3.2 1019 J

Ex.13 Using light of wavelength 6000 stopping
potential is obtained 2.4 volt for photo electric
cell. If light of wavelength 4000 is used
then stopping potential would be(A) 2.9 V
(B) 1.9 V
(C) 3.43 V
(D) 9.4 V

Sol

V0 =

2.4 =

V0 =

hc 0

,
e e

hc
6000 10

10

0
e

....(1)

0
e

....(2)

hc
4000 10 10 e

Eq. (1) - Eq.(2)

2.4 V0
=

1
1
hc

10

10
e 6000 10
4000 10

2.4 V0 =

V0 = 2.4 +

Ex.15 When monochromatic light of wavelength

illuminates a metal surface then stopping
potential for photo electric current is 3V 0. If
wavelength changes to 2 then stopping
potential becomes V0 . Threshold wavelength
for photo electric emission is(A) 4
(C) 4/3
Sol

(B) 8
(D) 6

hc

0 = 3V0

.....(1)

hc

0 = V0

.....(2)

6.62 10 34 3 10 8 4 6
24

10 71.6 10 19

eq. (1) - eq.(2) :

6.62 10 34 3 10 8

hc
= 2 V0
2

12 10 7 1.6 10 19

V0 = 2.4 + 1.03 = 3.43 V

Ex.14 When light source is placed at 1 m distant
from photo electric cell, then value of stopping
potential is obtained 4 volt. If it is placed at
4 m distant, then value of stopping potential
becomes(A) 2 volt
(B) 1 volt
(C) 4 volt
(D) 16 volt
Sol
Stopping potential does not depend upon
distance from light source.

hc 1
1 = 2V0
2

hc

= 4V
0

hc

4 = V
0