Explain Einstein's photoelectric effect and derive Einstein's photoelectric equation.

Vedclass pdf generator app on play store
Vedclass iOS app on app store
(N/A) In $1905$,Einstein proposed a new theory to explain the photoelectric effect.
According to this theory,the emission and absorption of energy (called a photon) take place in discrete units. These units are called quanta of energy of radiation.
Each quantum (photon) has energy $E = h\nu$,where $\nu$ is the frequency of radiation. An electron on the surface will absorb this energy $h\nu$.
If the energy absorbed by an electron on the surface is greater than the minimum energy required (work function $\phi_{0}$),then the electron will be emitted with maximum kinetic energy $K_{\max}$.
Let the energy of the incident radiation be $h\nu$,the maximum kinetic energy of the electron be $K_{\max}$,and the work function of the metal be $\phi_{0}$. Then,according to the law of conservation of energy:
$h\nu = K_{\max} + \phi_{0}$
Therefore,$K_{\max} = h\nu - \phi_{0} \quad \dots (1)$
More tightly bound electrons will emerge with kinetic energy less than the maximum value. With an increase in the intensity of light,the number of electrons emitted per second increases. However,the maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electron is determined solely by the energy of the photon.
In Einstein's equation,the maximum kinetic energy is $K_{\max} = e V_{0}$,where $V_{0}$ is the stopping potential. Substituting this into equation $(1)$:
$e V_{0} = h\nu - \phi_{0} \quad \dots (2)$
Rearranging this gives $V_{0} = \left(\frac{h}{e}\right)\nu - \frac{\phi_{0}}{e}$.
The graph of stopping potential $V_{0}$ versus frequency $\nu$ is a straight line. The slope of the $V_{0}-\nu$ graph is $\frac{h}{e}$,which is a universal constant and does not depend on the type of material used.

Explore More

Similar Questions

The electric field associated with a monochromatic light wave is given by $E = E_0 \sin \left[ \left( 1.57 \times 10^7 \text{ m}^{-1} \right) (x - ct) \right]$. The stopping potential when this light is used in a photoelectric experiment with a metal having a work function of $1.9 \text{ eV}$ is: (Planck's constant,$h = 6.64 \times 10^{-34} \text{ J-s}$) (in $\text{ V}$)

When a photosensitive surface is irradiated by light of wavelengths $\lambda_1$ and $\lambda_2$,the kinetic energies of the emitted photoelectrons are $E_1$ and $E_2$ respectively. The work function of the photosensitive surface is:

The work functions of tungsten and sodium are $5.06 \ eV$ and $2.53 \ eV$ respectively. If the threshold wavelength for sodium is $5896 \ \mathring{A}$,then the threshold wavelength for tungsten will be .......... $\mathring{A}$.

When a point source of monochromatic light is at a distance of $0.2 \ m$ from a photoelectric cell,the stopping potential and saturation photocurrent are $0.6 \ V$ and $18 \ mA$ respectively. If the same source is placed $0.6 \ m$ away from the photoelectric cell,then:

Difficult
View Solution

Radiation $p$ with wavelength $6561 \; \mathring{A}$ falls on a metal surface to produce photoelectrons. The electrons are made to enter a uniform magnetic field of $3 \times 10^{-4} \; T$. If the radius of the largest circular path followed by the electrons is $10 \; mm$,the work function of the metal is close to ............... $eV$.

Vedclass Products

For Students

Vedclass Test Series

Mock tests in real JEE/NEET style with performance analysis. 5-day free trial.

Start Free Trial
For Teachers

Exam Paper Generator

Generate Set A/B/C/D exam papers from 7.5L+ questions in 2 minutes. 3 chapters free.

Try Free
For Institutes

Online Exam Module

Live online exams with unlimited students, 360° analytics & white-label branding.

See Demo