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Photoelectric Effect

The photoelectric effect describes the ejection of electrons from a metal surface when light is incident on it, with the emission dependent on the light's frequency. Albert Einstein explained this phenomenon through the concept of photons, leading to his Nobel Prize in 1921, and established conditions such as threshold frequency and work function that govern the effect. Applications of the photoelectric effect include solar panels, motion sensors, and digital cameras, among others.

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12 views11 pages

Photoelectric Effect

The photoelectric effect describes the ejection of electrons from a metal surface when light is incident on it, with the emission dependent on the light's frequency. Albert Einstein explained this phenomenon through the concept of photons, leading to his Nobel Prize in 1921, and established conditions such as threshold frequency and work function that govern the effect. Applications of the photoelectric effect include solar panels, motion sensors, and digital cameras, among others.

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kanishka.dubey302
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Introduction

The photoelectric effect is a phenomenon in


which electrons are ejected from the surface of a
metal when light is incident on it. These ejected
electrons are called photoelectrons. It is
important to note that the emission of
photoelectrons and the kinetic energy of the
ejected photoelectrons is dependent on the
frequency of the light that is incident on the
metal’s surface. The process through which
photoelectrons are ejected from the surface of the
metal due to the action of light is commonly
referred to as photoemission.
The photoelectric effect occurs because the
electrons at the surface of the metal tend to
absorb energy from the incident light and use it to
overcome the attractive forces that bind them to
the metallic nuclei.
Explaining the
photoelectric effect: the
concept of photons
The photoelectric effect cannot be
explained by considering light as a wave.
However, this phenomenon can be
explained by the particle nature of light,
in which light can be visualised as a
stream of particles of electromagnetic
energy. These ‘particles’ of light are
called photons. The energy held by a
photon is related to the frequency of the
light via Planck’s equation.
E = h𝜈 = hc/λ
Where,
 E denotes the energy of the photon

𝜈 denotes the frequency of the light


 h is Planck’s constant

 c is the speed of light (in a vacuum)


 λ is the wavelength of the light
Einstein’s contribution
towards the photo electric
effect

The photoelectric effect is the process that involves


the ejection or release of electrons from the
surface of materials (generally a metal) when light
falls on them. The photoelectric effect is an
important concept that enables us to clearly
understand the quantum nature of light and
electrons.
After continuous research in this field, the
explanation for the photoelectric effect was
successfully explained by Albert Einstein. He
concluded that this effect occurred as a result of
light energy being carried in discrete quantised
packets. For this excellent work, he was honoured
with the Nobel Prize in 1921.
According to Einstein, each photon of energy E is
E = hν
Where,E is energy, h is planck’s constant and v is frequency.

Minimum conditions for


photoelectric effect
Threshold Frequency (γth)
It is the minimum frequency of the incident
light or radiation that will produce a
photoelectric effect, i.e., the ejection of
photoelectrons from a metal surface is known
as the threshold frequency for the metal. It is
constant for a specific metal but may be
different for different metals.
If γ = Frequency of the incident photon and
γth= Threshold frequency, then,
 If γ < γTh, there will be no ejection of
photoelectron and, therefore, no
photoelectric effect.
 If γ = γTh, photoelectrons are just ejected
from the metal surface; in this case, the
kinetic energy of the electron is zero.
 If γ > γTh, then photoelectrons will come
out of the surface, along with kinetic
energy.
Threshold Wavelength (λth)
During the emission of electrons, a metal
surface corresponding to the
greatest wavelength to incident light is
known as threshold wavelength.
λth = c/γth
For wavelengths above this threshold,
there will be no photoelectron emission.
For λ = wavelength of the incident
photon, then
 If λ < λTh, then the photoelectric effect
will take place, and ejected electron
will possess kinetic energy.
 If λ = λTh, then just the photoelectric
effect will take place, and the kinetic
energy of ejected photoelectron will
be zero.
 If λ > λTh, there will be no photoelectric
effect.
Work Function or Threshold Energy
(Φ)
The minimal energy of thermodynamic
work that is needed to remove an
electron from a conductor to a point in
the vacuum immediately outside the
surface of the conductor is known as work
function/threshold energy.
Φ = hγth = hc/λth
The work function is the characteristic of
a given metal. If E = energy of an incident
photon, then
 If E < Φ, no photoelectric effect will
take place.
 If E = Φ, just a photoelectric effect will
take place, but the kinetic energy of
ejected photoelectron will be zero
 If E > photoelectron will be zero
 If E > Φ, the photoelectric effect will
take place along with the possession
of the kinetic energy by the ejected
electron.
Photoelectric effect
formula
According to Einstein’s explanation of the
photoelectric effect,
The energy of photon = Energy needed to remove
an electron + Kinetic energy of the emitted
electron
i.e., hν = W + E
Where,
 h is Planck’s constant
 ν is the frequency of the incident photon
 W is a work function
 E is the maximum kinetic energy of ejected
electrons: 1/2 mv2

Factors affecting
photoelectric effect
With the help of this apparatus, we will now study
the dependence of the photoelectric effect on the
following factors:
1.The intensity of incident radiation.
2.A potential difference between the metal plate
and collector.
3.Frequency of incident radiation.
Applications of
photoelectric effect
 Used to generate electricity in solar
panels. These panels contain metal
combinations that allow electricity
generation from a wide range of
wavelengths.
 Motion and Position Sensors: In this
case, a photoelectric material is placed in
front of a UV or IR LED. When an object is
placed in between the Light-emitting
diode (LED) and sensor, light is cut off,
and the electronic circuit registers a
change in potential difference
 Lighting sensors, such as the ones used in
smartphones, enable automatic
adjustment of screen brightness according
to the lighting. This is because the amount
of current generated via the photoelectric
effect is dependent on the intensity of
light hitting the sensor.
 Digital cameras can detect and record
light because they have photoelectric
sensors that respond to different colours
of light.
 X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy
(XPS): This technique uses X-rays to
irradiate a surface and measure the
kinetic energies of the emitted electrons.
Important aspects of the chemistry of a
surface can be obtained, such as
elemental composition, chemical
composition, the empirical formula of
compounds and chemical state.
 Photoelectric cells are used in burglar
alarms.
 Used in photomultipliers to detect low
levels of light.
 Used in video camera tubes in the early
days of television.
 Night vision devices are based on this
effect.
 The photoelectric effect also contributes to
the study of certain nuclear processes. It
takes part in the chemical analysis of
materials since emitted electrons tend to
carry specific energy that is characteristic
of the atomic source.

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