Optical Phenomena and

Properties of Materials
LESSON 1 &2
PHOTOELECTRIC
EFFECT
09/07/2025
Optical Phenomena and Properties of Materials
(This section must be read in conjunction with the CAPS, p. 132–133.)

Photo-electric effect
Describe the photoelectric effect as the process whereby electrons are
ejected from a metal surface when light of suitable frequency is incident on
that surface.
State the significance of the photoelectric effect.
Define threshold frequency, fo, as the minimum frequency of light needed
to emit electrons from a certain metal surface.
Define work function, Wo, as the minimum energy that an electron in the
metal needs to be emitted from the metal surface.
Perform calculations using the photoelectric equation:

E =Wo+ Ek(max), where E = hf and Wo= hfo and Ek(max) = ½ mv2max

Explain the effect of intensity and frequency on the photoelectric effect.
State that the photoelectric effect demonstrates the particle nature of light.
Optical Phenomena and Properties of Materials Cont…
(This section must be read in conjunction with the CAPS, p. 132–133.)
Emission and absorption spectra
Explain the formation of atomic spectra by referring to energy transition.
Explain the difference between atomic absorption and emission spectra.
An atomic absorption spectrum is formed when certain frequencies of
electromagnetic radiation passing through a substance is absorbed.
For example, when light passes through a cold gas, atoms in the gas absorb
characteristic frequencies of the light and the spectrum observed is a continuous
spectrum with dark lines where characteristic frequencies of light were removed. The
frequencies of the absorption lines are unique to the type of atoms in the gas.

An atomic emission spectrum is formed when certain frequencies of electromagnetic

radiation are emitted due to an atom making a transition from a higher energy state to
a lower energy state.
For example, atoms in a hot gas emit light at characteristic frequencies. The
spectrum observed is a line spectrum with only a few coloured lines of frequencies
unique to the type of atom that is producing the emission lines.
 Key Concepts
• Photoelectric effect is the process whereby electrons are
ejected from a metal surface when light of suitable
frequency is incident on that surface.

• Cut-off frequency/Threshold frequency, fo, is the minimum

frequency of electromagnetic radiation required to eject an
electron from a certain metal surface.
• Threshold wavelength, o, is the maximum wavelength of
electromagnetic radiation required to eject an electron from
a certain metal surface.
• Work function, Wo, is the minimum energy that an electron
in the metal needs to be emitted from the metal surface.
• A photon is a particle of light/packet of energy (with a certain
frequency).
• A photoelectron is an electron which has been emitted from a
metal by a photon with sufficient energy.
Demonstrating the photoelectric effect
ē
ē ē

A negatively charged zinc plate paced on a

negatively charged electroscope discharges in the
presence of ultraviolet light.
Increased intensity of UV light discharges the
electroscope quicker.
A positively charged zinc plate placed on
an electroscope is not discharged by
ultraviolet light.
Visible light, even at high intensity, is not able to
discharge a zinc plate that has been negatively
charged.
WRITE DOWN THE CONCLUSIONS YOU CAN
MAKE FROM THE
RESULTS OF THIS EXPERIMENT
 Conclusions

Shining light onto the charged plate can cause

electrons to be ejected from the plate. (the leaf of
only the negatively charged electroscope drops in
the presence of light.)

• Only light of sufficiently high frequency can eject

electrons from the plate. This minimum frequency
is called the threshold frequency.

Increasing the intensity of the ultraviolet light

causes more electrons to be ejected per second.
This is what happens on the zinc plate:
the metal absorbs the energy of the radiation,
electrons in the atoms of the metal gain energy
and are “set free” from the metal plate
What is the relationship between energy and frequency?
Spectroscopy and the Electromagnetic Spectrum
 The wave theory fails to explain Photoelectric Effect

• When light shines on a metal, energy is transferred to the electrons in the

metal.
• If light is a wave movement, any frequency of light, if it shines long
enough on the metal, must be able to release electrons from it.
The longer the light shines, the more energy is transferred to the
electrons.
• Firstly, the existence of the threshold frequency opposes the wave theory.
• Electrons cannot accumulate energy over a period of time – if the
immediate energy of the light is not sufficient, electrons are not released.
• Secondly, light of higher frequency should transfer more energy to
electrons.
It doesn’t happen – intensity has no effect if the frequency of the light is not
high enough. Therefore, it looks as if energy of light comes in ‘packs’.
INTERESTING FACTS
• It is interesting that there is no evidence that light
shows both wave and particle properties at the
same time.
• During the reproduction the wave nature of
radiation dominates while the particle nature
dominates during the interactions with matter.
• The entire electromagnetic spectrum shows this
dual nature. However, we notice the particle
properties more at the high-frequency end of
the spectrum, i.e. gamma rays and X-rays.
• The wave properties are most noticeable at the
low-frequency end, i.e. radio waves.
𝑓)
 Einstein: A Photon of Light
• In 1921, Einstein was awarded the NOBEL PRIZE for Physics for
his explanation of the photoelectric effect.
• Einstein’s theory of light brings together the notion of light as wave
and particle.
• Light (but one aspect of electro-magnetic radiation) has a DUAL
WAVE-PARTICLE NATURE.
• Like all EM radiation, it propagates in quanta (today called
Albert Einstein PHOTONS), i.e. light is a stream of photons.

A PHOTON is a quantum (a wave packet) of EM energy. It

has zero mass and travels at the speed of light (c).
Note: a quantum (plural. quanta) is an indivisible amount of a physical
quantity. Given its dual nature, light (a stream of photons) may be
represented as …
Each photon ‘carries’ a specific quantity of
energy that depends on the frequency of
the light.
What happens when photons strike a metal surface? When a
photon strikes an electron The kinetic
within energy…of the
the atomic
electrons can be determined:
The energy of the photon = hf = w + ½ mv2
hf where f is the frequency
of the radiation

The energy of these photons must equal

to or greater than the work function for
this metal before electrons are emitted.
 Explaining the results – Einstein’s contribution.

• Energy is needed to remove an electron from a metal.

• For any metal, a minimum amount of energy, called the work
function (w) is needed to remove the electron.
• The metal absorbs the energy of the radiation one photon or
quantum at a time.
• The energy of the photon must be equal to or greater than the
work function before electrons will be ejected.
 Einstein explains the photoelectric effect

According to Einstein, the photoelectric effect can only be explained if

you think of light in the following way:
• Light is made up of very small ‘energy packets’.
• These ‘energy packets’ are called photons and behave like particles.
• When a photon strikes an electron, it transfers all its energy to the
electron.
• After this, the photon no longer exists.
• If the electron receives enough energy from the photon, it can be
ejected from the metal.
• If the energy of the photon is too low, the electron stays in the metal .
 E = hf

High frequency / high

energy photons

lower frequency / lower

energy photons

• The energy of a photon is related to the frequency of the EM wave, and

can be calculated using the formula ….
E = energy of photon: measured in joule (J); 𝑓 = frequency:
measured in hertz (Hz), ℎ = Planck’s constant = 6,63×10-34 J·s

• Note, this equation defines a RELATIONSHIP between the particle

property of light (the photon’s energy) and its wave property (the
frequency of the light).
• This is called the EINSTEIN RELATION and applies to all waves and all
particles.
 Einstein (1905): Photoelectric Effect
- No matter how intense light is, if f < f0 - No photoelectrons
- No matter how low the intensity is, if f >f0 - photoelectrons result
- Light must come in “packets” (E=hf)

Photons with Energy, E

where, E is given by
Planck’s equation
𝒄
𝑬 = 𝒉𝒇 𝑶𝑹 𝑬 = 𝒉
𝝀

(According to Principle of Conservation Energy)

 PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT

• The photoelectric effect is the emission of electrons from the

surface of a metal when electromagnetic radiation (such as visible
or ultraviolet light) of the right frequency shines on the metal.
• At the time of its discovery, the classical wave model for light
predicted that the energy of the emitted electrons would increase
as the intensity (brightness) of the light increased.
• Instead it was discovered that the energy of the emitted electrons
was directly proportional to the frequency of the incident light, and
that no electrons would be emitted if the light source was not
above a certain threshold frequency.
• Lower energy electrons were emitted when light with
relatively low frequency was incident on the metal, and
higher energy electrons were emitted when light with
relatively high frequency was incident on the metal.
 THE PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT APPARATUS

• The apparatus has several important features:

• The current amplifier has high sensitivity and is very stable in
order to improve the accuracy of the measurement.
• The photoelectric tube has low levels of dark current and
anode reverse current.
• The optical filters are of high quality in order to avoid an error
due to interference between different spectral lines.
 PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT
• The photoelectric effect is a phenomenon in which electrons are
ejected from the surface of a metal when light (of suitable
frequency) 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.
 𝑾𝟎
𝑾𝟎
 PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT
An illustration detailing the emission of photoelectrons as a result of
the photoelectric effect is provided below

Energy in = hf

KEphotoelectron = hf - Wo
Explaining the results – Einstein’s contribution.
 Explaining the results – Einstein’s contribution.

• Energy is needed to remove an electron from a metal.

• For any metal, a minimum amount of energy, called the work
function (w) is needed to remove the electron.
• The metal absorbs the energy of the radiation one photon or
quantum at a time.
• The energy of the photon must be equal to or greater than the
work function before electrons will be ejected.
 PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT
• Only light of sufficiently high frequency can eject electrons from a
metal surface. This minimum frequency is called the threshold
frequency.
• A photon is a particle of light/packet of energy (with a certain
frequency).
• 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 results – Einstein’s contribution.

• Energy is needed to remove an electron from a metal.

• For any metal, a minimum amount of energy, called the work
function (w) is needed to remove the electron.
• The metal absorbs the energy of the radiation one photon or
quantum at a time.
• The energy of the photon must be equal to or greater than the
work function before electrons will be ejected.
 What happens when photons strike a metal surface?

THREE possible situations can arise:

1) If the energy of the photon is less than the work function of the
metal, i.e. the frequency of light is less than the threshold
frequency, no electrons can escape from the metal and the
energy is absorbed by the substance.

2) If the energy of the photon equals the work function of the metal,
i.e. the frequency of the light is the same as the frequency of the
threshold; the electron simply escapes from the metal. It has no
kinetic energy to move away from the metal.

3) If the energy of the photon is greater than the work function, i.e.
the frequency of the light is higher than the threshold frequency;
the photoelectron leaves the metal with kinetic energy.
 Conceptual Questions

1.Is visible light the only type of electromagnetic radiation that can cause the
photoelectric effect?

2.Which aspects of the photoelectric effect cannot be explained without photons?

Which can be explained without photons? Are the latter inconsistent with the
existence of photons?

3.Is the photoelectric effect a direct consequence of the wave character of

electromagnetic radiation or of the particle character of electromagnetic radiation?
Explain briefly.

4.Insulators (nonmetals) have a higher W0 than metals, and it is more difficult for
photons to eject electrons from insulators. Discuss how this relates to the free
charges in metals that make them good conductors.

5.If you pick up and shake a piece of metal that has electrons in it free to move as a
current, no electrons fall out. Yet if you heat the metal, electrons can be boiled off.
Explain both of these facts as they relate to the amount and distribution of energy
involved with shaking the object as compared with heating it.
 PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT :PARTICLES AND ENERGY

Ejected photoelectrons
Photons with Energy, with maximum kinetic
E where, E is given energy
by Planck’s equation 𝟏
𝒄 𝑬𝒌𝒎𝒂𝒙 = 𝒎𝒆 𝒗𝒎𝒂𝒙 𝟐
𝑬 = 𝒉𝒇 𝑶𝑹 𝑬 = 𝒉 𝟐
𝝀
Electrons on a
metal needing
energy ,W0 called
the work function
𝑾𝟎 = 𝒉𝒇𝟎

Wo-the minimum energy that an electron in the metal needs to be emitted from the metal
surface.
APPARATUS USED TO DEMONSTRATE
THE PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT
GOLD LEAF
PHOTO-CELL
ELECTROSCOPE
PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT
 Graphing the Photoelectric Equation
The photoelectric equation – E = W0 + Ek – may be graphed as follows …
As the energy of the photons
increases (with frequency beyond

Ek (J)

no electrons
the threshold level), the electrons

ejected …
f > f0
ejected have more and more kinetic
energy.
electrons 𝐸 = 𝑊0 + 𝐸𝑘
ejected …
f < f0 ∴ ℎ𝑓 = ℎ𝑓0 + 𝐸𝑘
∴ 𝐸𝑘 = ℎ𝑓 − ℎ𝑓0
f0 frequency (Hz)
– the equation of a straight line
threshold frequency

𝐸𝑘 = ℎ(𝑓) − ℎ𝑓0
y = m x + c a constant
the gradient

Note: the gradient of the line (m) is equal to Planck’s constant, h …

the threshold frequency (x-intercept) will differ from metal to metal.
 Graphs for different metals
will differ only in the
Ek (J) magnitude of f0. The line will
always have the same
gradient …

frequency (Hz)
 The Intensity of Light
• The energy of light (or of a photon of light) is determined by its
frequency – a wave property. But a photon is also a particle – &
particles can be counted, determining the INTENSITY of light.
INTENSITY OF LIGHT: defined as the number of photons per unit
time. Note, intensity is completely independent of the frequency of
each photon of light.

IMPLICATIONS …
• If the frequency of incident light is below the threshold frequency of a
particular metal, no electrons will be ejected, irrespective of the
intensity of the light.
• If the frequency of the incident light is above the threshold frequency,
electrons will be ejected.
• The number of electrons ejected depends purely on the intensity
of the incident light.
 Effect of the frequency of light:

• Regardless of its intensity, white light could not release electrons

from the zinc.
• However, ultraviolet light did release electrons from the zinc.
• The only difference between these two types of electromagnetic
radiation is the frequency.
• Ultraviolet light has a higher frequency than white light.
• The frequency of ultraviolet light is high enough to release electrons
from zinc, but the frequency of white light is too low to release
electrons from zinc.
• Higher frequency light = photons have more energy → kinetic
energy of electrons higher, but rate of emission stays the same.
 Effect of intensity:

• The gold leaves of the electroscope closed faster when high intensity
ultraviolet light was used.
• Therefore, ultraviolet light of higher intensity released more electrons
per second from the zinc.
• The intensity of light determines the rate at which electrons are
released.
• Light of higher intensity, if the frequency is high enough, will release
more electrons per second.
• Higher intensity light = more photons → rate of emission increases, but
kinetic energy stays the same
 Photoelectrons
Some more terminology ..
• PHOTOELECTRON – electrons ejected by the photoelectric effect
• PHOTOEMISSIVE – a material that can demonstrate the photoelectric
effect is said to be photoemissive
• PHOTOCURRENT – the current that flows in a circuit due to the
photoelectric effect
When light with a frequency greater than the work function of
the photocell material is shone onto the photocell, a current
(/photocurrent) will flow …
CURRENT is defined as the rate of flow of charge, i.e. how
much charge flows past a particular point (flow of charge) per
unit time.

𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒆
𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒄 𝑪𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 =
𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒑𝒔𝒆𝒅
 Effect on Photocurrent
QUESTION: What is the effect of freq. & intensity on the kinetic energy of
photons and the size of the photocurrent that flows?
The effect can be illustrated as follows …

for f > f0
The number of electrons emitted
per second (i.e. the electric
current) is independent of
frequency and increases linearly
withf the light intensity.
0

for f > f0
 Effect on Photocurrent
QUESTION: What is the effect of freq. & intensity on the kinetic energy of
photons and the size of the photocurrent that flows?
The effect can be illustrated as follows …

for f > f0

f0

for f > f0
The kinetic energy of any single
photo- electron increases linearly
with frequency above a threshold
value and is independent of the
light intensity.
 Applications of the Photoelectric Effect

The photoelectric effect is used in many different technologies today.

PHOTOELECTRIC SENSORS are used to detect …
• the distance, or …
• the presence of an object
by using a light transmitter (often infrared) and a photo-electric receiver.
These are used in light meters, digital cameras, night vision goggles,
etc.

SOLAR CELLS (photovoltaic cells)

convert light energy into electricity
using the photovoltaic effect. They
are the building blocks of solar
panels.
 Cut-Off /Threshold Frequency

• This relationship between the work function of a metal

and its threshold frequency, can be expressed as ….
𝑊0 = ℎ𝑓0
• Energy is conserved. If a photon has more energy than the work
function of a metal, the excess energy becomes the kinetic energy
with which the electron is ejected.
Note: some of the excess energy of the photon is dissipated in
ejecting an electron from a little deeper within the metal. The photon’s
excess energy (beyond the W0) then is the maximum energy which
an ejected electron might have.

• The various quantities of energy are related in the

PHOTOELECTRIC EQUATION …
𝐸 = 𝑊0 + 𝐸𝑘 𝑚𝑎𝑥
or (given that E = hf)

hf = hf0 + Ekmax
 A Question of Units

• The appropriate SI unit for energy is the joule (J).

• When dealing with electrons, the amount of energy is much, much
smaller than a joule, and so scientists use a unit called the ELECTRON-
VOLT (eV).
1 eV = 1,6 × 10-19 J or

1 J = 6,241 × 1018 eV
• Remember too, that light, like all electromagnetic radiation, travels at the
speed of light, c (3 × 108 m·s-1), and that the wave equation applies,
𝑐
thus … 𝑐 = 𝑓 × 𝜆, 𝑜𝑟 𝑓 =
𝜆

Hence 𝐸 = ℎ𝑓 may be written as 𝑐 ℎ𝑐

𝐸=ℎ =
𝜆 𝜆
 THE PHOTOELECTRIC EQUATION
*Energy of incoming photon = Work function + kinetic energy

𝑬 = 𝒘𝟎 + 𝑬𝒌𝒎𝒂𝒙
𝟏
𝒉𝒇 = 𝒉𝒇𝟎 + 𝟐 𝒎𝒆 𝒗𝒆 𝟐
𝒄 𝟏
𝒉 = 𝒉𝒇𝟎 + 𝒎𝒆 𝒗𝒆 𝟐
𝝀 𝟐
 ½ mv2max = h (f - f0 )

f < f0
f ≥ f0

½ mv2max ά f
THE LAWS OF PHOTO-ELECTRIC EFFECT
I. A substance has a work function which is the minimum energy needed to emit electrons from the
metal. The frequency of light whose photons correspond exactly to the work function is known as
cut-off/threshold frequency.
II. For a given substance, there is a minimum value frequence of incident light called threshold
frequency below which no photoelectric emission is possible, however, high the intensity of incident
light may be.
III. The number of photoelectrons emitted per second (i.e. photoelectric current) is directly proportional
to the intensity of incident light provided the frequency is above the threshold frequency.
IV. The maximum kinetic energy of the photoelectrons is directly proportional to the frequency of the
incident light, provided the frequency is above the threshold frequency.
V. The maximum kinetic energy of the photoelectrons is independent of the intensity of the incident
light.
VI. The process of photoelectric emission is instantaneous. i.e. as soon as the photon of suitable
frequency falls on the substance, it emits photoelectrons.
VII. The photoelectric emission is one-to-one. i.e. for every photon of suitable frequency, one electron is
emitted.
VIII. Wavelength of the photon changes in different media; so, velocity of a photon is different in different
media.
IX. The work function is different for different elements. i.,e. the smaller the wok function, the easier it is
for electrons to be emitted from the metal.
 Lenard’s photoelectric effect Experimental Results (Intensity Dependence)
To measure the energy of the ejected electrons, Lenard charged the collector plate negatively, to repel the electrons coming
towards it. Thus, only electrons ejected with enough kinetic energy to get up this potential hill would contribute to the current.

(Left)High light intensity increase photocurrent (number of collected photoelectrons). (Right)Low light intensity has reduced photocurrent.

However, the kinetic energy of the ejected electrons is independent of incident light intensity.
 Millikan's Experimental Results (Wavelength Dependence)
Robert Millikan followed up on Lenard's experiments and using a powerful arc lamp, he was able to generate sufficient light
intensity to separate out the colors and check the photoelectric effect using light of different colors. He found that the maximum
energy of the ejected electrons did depend on the color - the shorter wavelength, higher frequency light eject photoelectrons
with greater kinetic energy (Figures 1.3.3 ).

(left) Incident high-energy blue light. (right) Incident low-energy red light.

Millikan's photoelectric experiment. (left) Incident high-energy blue light. The battery represents the potential Lenard used to charge the
collector plate negatively, which would actually be a variable voltage source. Since the electrons ejected by the blue light are getting to the
collector plate, the potential supplied by the battery is less than Vstop, for blue light. (right) Incident low-energy red light. Since the
electrons ejected by the red light are not getting to the collector plate, the potential supplied by the battery exceeds Vstop for red light.
Schematic drawings showing the characteristics of the photoelectric effect from
Lenard's and Millikan's experiments.
From these sketches, we see that
•the kinetic energy of the electrons is linearly proportional to the frequency of the incident radiation above a
threshold value of f0 (no current is observed below f0), and the kinetic energy is independent of the intensity
of the radiation, and
•the number of electrons (i.e. the electric current) is proportional to the intensity and independent of the
frequency of the incident radiation above the threshold value of f0 (i.e., no current is observed below f0).

f > f0 For f > f0

f < f0
f0 f0

(C) The number of electrons (D) The number of

(A) The kinetic energy of any (B) The electron kinetic energy is
emitted per second is independent electrons increases
single emitted electron increases independent of the light intensity
of light frequency above the linearly with the light
linearly with frequency above above the threshold frequency
threshhold frequency and zero intensity.
some threshold value and zero below.
below.
 FACTORS AFFECTING THE PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT

1. FREQUENCY

❑The equations above indicate that the for f >f0

energy of emitted electrons depends on
the frequency of the light.

❑ Increasing the frequency of light increases

the kinetic energy of the photoelectrons
emitted provided the frequency of that
radiation is above the threshold of the
metal concerned. for f >f0

❑However changing frequency does not

affect the rate of emission (number of
photoelectrons emitted per second)
2. LIGHT INTENSITY/BRIGHTNESS
❑ An increase in light intensity will increase the
number of photons striking the metal surface per
second. for f >f0

❑ This means that the rate of emission of

photoelectrons increase with increase in light
intensity.

❑ If an ammeter is connected there will be an

increase in the rate of flow of charge. (electron
current)

❑ The kinetic energy remains the same. for f >f0

❑ Note: if the energy of the radiation is below

minimum increasing intensity will have no effect.
DEMONSTRATION PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT – PROMATHS ONLINE
DEMONSTRATION PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT – PROMATHS ONLINE
APPLICATION PHOTO ELECTRIC EFFECT

Photo electric cell used in

camera for exposure meter.
Photo electric cell are also used
for burglar alarm.
SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE /IMPORTANCE OF THE PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT.

• It establishes the Quantum Theory.

• It illustrates/provides evidence to the Particle
nature of light
Optical Phenomena and
Properties of Materials
LESSON 3
Emission
and
Absorption
Spectra
 Emission and absorption spectra
• Explain the formation of atomic spectra by
referring to energy transition.
• Explain the difference between atomic
absorption and emission spectra.
 TYPES OF SPECTRA & HYDROGEN ATOMIC SPECTRUM:

• When electromagnetic radiation is passed through a prism

or grating it is split up and forms a collection of lines
representing different wavelengths. This is called
spectrum.
• The spectra can be divided into two types viz., emission
and absorption spectra. The differences between them are
given below:
 Photoemission
According to our current understanding of atomic
structure, electrons occupy certain specific energy levels
(or orbitals) within an atom …
• in their GROUND STATE, the electrons occupy the
lowest possible energy levels …
• in an EXCITED STATE, an electron (electrons) moves to a
higher energy level. This happens when a photon
of light (an energy packet) collides with an electron and transfers its
energy to the electron.
• The movement of an electron between energy levels is called ELECTRON
TRANSITION.
• Such transition will only happen if the photon’s energy is at least equal to the
difference between the two energy levels.
• When an excited electron falls back to its ground state, it emits a photon to
carry off the excess energy.
• The energy of that photon is equal to the energy difference between the two
energy levels (ΔE = Ef – Ei) and giventhat E = hf, specific transitions can be
related to specific frequencies.
CONTINOUS SPECTRUM
❑ spectrum is a pattern of colors that form when a beam of light is broken up into its component
frequencies in phenomenon calledispersion.

❑ The spectrum of white light consisting of seven colors is called a continuous spectrum.
ABSORPTION SPECTRA

ABSORPTION SPECTRUM EMISSION SPECTRA

• An atomic absorption spectrum is formed • A pattern of colours formed when certain
when certain frequencies of electromagnetic frequencies are absorbed from radiation passed
radiation passing through a substance is through a cold gas.
absorbed.
• The spectrum consists of a bright background
• For example, when light passes through a with dark lines.
cold gas, atoms in the gas absorb • The dark lines represent the missing
characteristic frequencies of the light and frequencies(colours).
the spectrum observed is a continuous
spectrum with dark lines where • Each element will absorb different frequencies
characteristic frequencies of light were depending on its electronic configuration.
removed.
• The frequencies of the absorption lines are
unique to the type of atoms in the gas.
 TYPES OF SPECTRA & HYDROGEN ATOMIC SPECTRUM:
Emission Spectrum Absorption Spectrum

1) The emission spectrum is obtained due to The absorption spectrum is obtained when the
emission of radiation from the substances. substance absorbs the radiation.

2) White lines are formed on the black Black lines are formed on the white
background. background.
3) Formed when atoms or molecules are de- Formed when atoms or molecules are excited
excited from higher energy level to lower from lower energy level to higher energy
energy level. levels.
The spectra can also be divided into line and band spectra. The differences
between them are shown below.
Line Spectrum Band Spectrum
It consists of closely spaced lines called
1) It consists of sharp and well defined lines.
bands.
2) Characteristic of atoms. Characteristic of molecules.
3) Formed due to the excitation and de- Formed due to the vibrations and rotations of
excitation of electrons in the atoms. atoms in molecules.
4) It is also known as atomic spectra. It is also known as molecular spectra.
 Hydrogen Emission Spectrum
The diagram shows energy levels for the H atom.
When an excited electron drops to the 1st energy
level, energy with a UV frequency range is given
off. When dropping to the 2nd energy level, visible
light is given off, and so on.

The diagram (right) shows a line emission spectrum for H, in the visible light range.
Note:
• the line emission spectrum for each element is unique.
• As such, line emission spectra may be used to determine
what elements might be present in a hot gas frequencies
of the white light, depending on what the gas consists of
• A line emission spectrum is formed when an excited atom
moves from a higher to a lower energy level and release
energy.
 Absorption Spectra

Absorption spectra for

oxygen and carbon

The dark lines in the absorption

spectrum are today known as
Fraunhofer Lines, after Joseph von Fraunhofer who first studied the
absorption spectrum of the sun.
In 1895, William Ramsay, studying the sun’s absorption spectrum, isolated
the element helium as a component of the sun.

Line emission spectra and absorption spectra may be compared as shown

on the next slide …
 Summary: Line Emission vs Absorption Spectra

Line emission spectra Absorption spectra

Emitted by hot gases under low Dark lines in cont. spectrum where
pressure spec. freq. have been absorbed by
a cool gas
Energy is given off as photons Electrons absorb photons of light of
specific frequencies
Electron transition from higher, Transition from a lower, ground
excited state to lower energy state state, to a higher energy (excited)
state
The frequency of emitted photons is The frequency of the absorbed
equal to the difference in energy photons is equal to difference in
between the energy levels involved energy between the energy levels
in the transition involved in the transition
 NCS 2022
(JUNE) :
Requirements
on
Photo electric
effect Spectrum
(Absorption &
Emission)

86
Thank you