PHOTO-ELECTRIC EFFECT

Developed by the
Cape Town Science Centre

In collaboration with the

Western Cape Education Department
 The Dual Nature of Light
In the early 1900s, light was thought to only have a wave nature, as it could reflect,
refract, diffract and undergo interference.

Reflection Refraction Diffraction Interference

However this does NOT explain how only certain frequencies of light shone onto a piece of
metal would eject electrons.

A gold leaf electroscope, with a zinc metal

cap, is given a charge at the beginning of an
experiment. This causes the gold leaf to rise.

When red and green light is shown onto the

zinc plate, no change occurs. However,
when a ultraviolet light is shown onto the
zinc metal, the gold leaf begins to falls,
showing the electroscope is discharging.
This is due to electrons being ejected from
the zinc plate.

Albert Einstein won the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics for his
discovery of the law of the Photoelectric Effect where he presented
that light is made up of small ‘energy packets’ called photons. This
showed that light has a particle nature.

Therefore light has a dual nature. It can be have as both a particle

and as a wave.
 Photoelectric Effect
The process whereby electrons are ejected from a metal surface when light of
suitable frequency is incident on that surface

Electrons removed like these

Light rays are called photoelectrons

Electron emission

Metal

The photoelectric effect suggested light consists of particles. This changed the scientific
understanding of light. It helped to develop the quantum theory of light where light, which
consists of photons.

Each photon is a particle which represented quantum of light. They can be though of as
‘packets of energy’ called quantum.

The amount of energy (E) in a photon is directly proportional to the frequency (𝒇) of the
light and inversely propotional to the wavelgth of the light (𝜆) being shown onto the metal .

𝒄 Where
𝐄 = 𝒉𝒇 = 𝒉 o ℎ is Planck’s constant equal to 6,63 x 10-34 J.s
𝝀 o c is the speed of light equal to 3 x 108 m/s
Increasing the intensity (brightness) of the light would only increase the number of photon
but not the energy.
The light strikes the metal surface, all the energy is transferred to the atoms in the surface
but not all frequencies of light cause electrons to be ejected from the metal surface.

In order for the electron to be released from the atom, the photon must have a minimum
amount of energy. This means the light must be of a certain frequency.

The minimum energy that an electron in a metal needs to be emitted from the metal
surface is called the work function (WO )

𝑾𝟎 = 𝒉𝒇𝟎
The minimum frequency of the incident photon that is required to emit a
photoelectron from the surface of the metal is called the threshold frequency (𝒇𝟎 )
Photon Energy and Work Function
hf < WO
If hf < WO , then the photon does not have enough energy to emit an electron,
regardless of the number of photons, their intensity or the duration of exposure,
no electron emission would take place.
Incoming Photons
Red Light rays No photoelectron

Metal

hf = WO
When hf = WO, then an electron will be displaced onto the surface but will not
have any kinetic energy. The photoelectron will not move away.
Incoming Photons
Photoelectron
Yellow Light rays (Without Kinetic Energy)

Metal

hf > WO
When hf > WO ,then the energy transferred to the electron is more than what is
needed to emit it. The extra energy is transferred into the kinetic energy of the
photoelectron and the photoelectron will move away.
Incoming Photons
Photoelectron
Blue Light rays (With Kinetic Energy)

Metal
 Energy of Photon
The energy of the photon (E) can be described using the threshold energy (W0) and the
kinetic energy of the photoelectron (Ek). This is because all the energy of the photon is
transferred into an electron.

E = W0 + EK

𝟏
hf = W0 + 𝒎𝒗𝟐
𝟐
Remember
o 𝒇 is the frequency which gives the energy of light which is observed as its colour.
o W0 is the work-function which gives the minimum energy needed for the electron to
be relsease.
o Ek is the photoelectron kinetic energy (max) after the photoelectron has been
ejected).

Graphical Representation

hf = W0 + EK

Straight-line graph: y = mx + c

EK = 𝒉𝒇 – W0

EK

W0

𝒇
WORKED Exam Question Paper 1, Oct/Nov 2019, Q.10

During an experiment, light of different frequencies is radiated onto a silver cathode of a

photocell and the corresponding maximum speed of the ejected photoelectrons are
measured.

A graph of the energy of the incident photons versus the square of the maximum speed of
the ejected photoelectrons is shown below.

10.1 Define the term photoelectric effect.

The process whereby electrons are ejected from a metal / surface when light
(of suitable frequency) is incident on that surface.

Use the graph to answer the following questions.

10.2 Write down the value of the work function of silver. Use a relevant equation to
justify the answer.

𝟏
E = WO + EK(MAX) = WO + 𝟐 𝒎𝒗𝟐

Straight line graph equation: y = mx + c

When 𝒗𝟐 (the x-variable) is zero, then Wo is the y-intercept

Therefore W0 = 7,48 x 10-19 J

Continued… Paper 1, Oct/Nov 2019, Q.10

10.3 Which physical quantity can be determined from the gradient of the graph?

Mass (of photo-electron)

10.4 Calculate the value of X as shown on the graph.

𝟏
E = WO + 𝟐 𝒎𝒗𝟐

𝟏
11,98 x 10-19 = 7,48 x 10-19 + 𝟗, 𝟏𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟑𝟏 𝒗𝟐
𝟐

4.5 x 10-19 = 𝟒. 𝟓𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟑𝟏 𝒗𝟐

𝒗𝟐 = 𝟎, 𝟗𝟖𝟔𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟐

∴ 𝑿 = 𝟎, 𝟗𝟖𝟔𝟖

The experiment above is now repeated using light of higher intensity.

10.5 How will EACH of the following be affected? Choose from INCREASES, DECREASES
or REMAINS THE SAME.

10.5.1 The gradient of the graph

Remains the same

10.5.2 The number of photoelectrons emitted per unit time

Increases
PREVIOUS Exam Question Paper 1, Oct/Nov 2018, Q.11

The threshold frequencies of caesium and potassium metals are given in the table below.

METAL THRESHOLD FREQUENCY

Caesium 5,07 x 1014 Hz
Potassium 5,55 x 1014 Hz

11.1 Define the term work function in words. (2)

11.2 Which ONE of the two metals in the table has the higher work function?
Give a reason for the answer by referring to the information in the table. (2)

The simplified diagrams below show two circuits, A and B, containing photocells. The
photocell in circuit A contains a caesium metal plate, while the photocell in circuit B contains
a potassium metal plate.

ultraviolet light
ultraviolet light
caesium metal plate potassium metal plate

Circuit A Circuit B

Ultraviolet light with the same intensity and wavelength of 5,5 x 10 -7 m is incident on the metal
plate in EACH of the photocells and the ammeter in circuit A registers a current.

11.3 By means of a calculation, determine whether the ammeter in circuit B will

also register a current. (3)

11.4 Calculate the maximum kinetic energy of an ejected electron in circuit A. (5)

11.5 How will the maximum kinetic energy of the ejected electron, calculated in
QUESTION 11.4, change when the intensity of the incident light increases?

Choose from: INCREASES, DECREASES or REMAINS THE SAME. (1)

PREVIOUS Exam Question Paper 1, May/June 2018, Q.11

A group of students investigates the relationship between the work function of different metals
and the maximum kinetic energy of the ejected electrons when the metals are irradiated with
light of suitable frequency.

11.1 Define the term work function. (2)

During the investigation ultraviolet rays of wavelength 2 x 10-8 m are allowed to fall on
different metal plates. The corresponding maximum kinetic energies of ejected electrons are
measured.

The data obtained is displayed in the table below.

METAL PLATE USED MAXIMUM KINETIC ENERGY (Ek(max))

(x 10-18 J)
Lead 9,28

Potassium 9,58

Silver 9,19

11.2 Write down the dependent variable for this investigation. (1)

11.3 Write down ONE control variable for this investigation. (1)
11.4 Using the information in the table, and without any calculation, identify the
metal with the largest work function.

Explain the answer. (3)

11.5 Use information in the table to calculate the work function of potassium. (4)
11.6 State how an increase in the intensity of the ultraviolet light affects the
maximum kinetic energy of the photoelectrons. Choose from: INCREASES,
DECREASES, REMAINS THE SAME.
Explain the answer. (3)
PREVIOUS Exam Question Paper 1, Feb/Mar 2017, Q.10

The graph below is obtained for an experiment on the photoelectric effect using different
frequencies of light and a given metal plate.
Ekmax. (J)

0
6,8 f (x 1014 Hz)

The threshold frequency for the metal is 6,8 x 1014 Hz.

The threshold frequency for the metal is 6,8 x 1014 Hz.

10.1 Define the term threshold frequency. (2)

In the experiment, the brightness of the light incident on the metal surface is increased.

10.2 State how this change will influence the speed of the photoelectrons emitted.

Choose from INCREASES, DECREASES or REMAINS UNCHANGED. (1)

10.3 Show by means of a calculation whether the photoelectric effect will be

OBSERVED or NOT OBSERVED, if monochromatic light with a wavelength
of 6 x 10-7 m is used in this experiment. (5)

One of the radiations used in this experiment has a frequency of 7,8 x 1014 Hz.
10.4 Calculate the maximum speed of an ejected photoelectron. (5)