All Flashcards
Define the photoelectric effect.
The emission of electrons when light strikes a material.
What is a photon?
A discrete packet of electromagnetic energy (light).
Define threshold frequency ().
The minimum frequency of light required to eject electrons from a material.
What is the work function ()?
The minimum energy required to remove an electron from a material's surface.
Define maximum kinetic energy () in the context of the photoelectric effect.
The maximum kinetic energy of emitted electrons, dependent on the frequency of incident light and the work function of the material.
What is Planck's constant ()?
The constant of proportionality between the energy of a photon and its frequency, approximately .
What is the effect of increasing the frequency of incident light above the threshold frequency?
The maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electrons increases.
What happens if the frequency of incident light is below the threshold frequency?
No electrons are emitted, regardless of the light's intensity.
What is the effect of increasing the intensity of incident light (above threshold frequency)?
More electrons are emitted per unit time (increased current), but their maximum kinetic energy remains the same.
What is the effect of using a material with a higher work function?
A higher threshold frequency is required for electron emission.
What is the effect of shining light on a metal surface?
If the light's frequency is above the threshold frequency, electrons are emitted from the metal surface (photoelectric effect).
What happens when light with a frequency below the threshold frequency strikes a metal?
No electrons are emitted, regardless of the light's intensity.
What is the effect of increasing the frequency of incident light above the threshold frequency?
The maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electrons increases.
What is the effect of increasing the intensity of incident light above the threshold frequency?
The number of emitted electrons increases, but their maximum kinetic energy remains the same.
What happens when a material with a low work function is illuminated with light above its threshold frequency?
Electrons are easily emitted with relatively high kinetic energy.
What is the effect of using a material with a high work function in a photoelectric effect experiment?
A higher frequency of light is required to initiate electron emission.