THE PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT

INTRODUCTION

When light shines on a metal,

electrons can be ejected from the
surface of the metal in a phenomenon
known as the photoelectric effect. This
process is also often referred to as
photoemission, and the electrons that
are ejected from the metal are called
photoelectrons.
INTRODUCTION

In terms of their behavior and

their properties, photoelectrons
are no different from other
electrons. The prefix, photo-,
simply tells us that the electrons
have been ejected from a metal
surface by incident light.
DISCOVERY
The photoelectric effect was first
observed by German physicist
Heinrich Hertz in 1887. Hertz
noticed that when certain
frequencies of light were shone
on a metal, the metal would
sometimes exhibit a spark. Later,
J.J. Thomson identified these
sparks as light-excited electrons
leaving the surface of the metal.
PHOTO (LIGHT) + ELECTRIC

A photoelectric effect is any

effect in which light energy is
converted to electricity.
First explained by Albert
Einstein in 1905
METAL FOIL
PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT

When red light hits the metal foil, the foil does not
emit (give off) electrons.
Blue light has more energy than red light.

How could we get more energy into the red light?

Try increasing the brightness (intensity)?
PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT
PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT

That didn’t work

Maybe its still not
bright (intense)
enough?
PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT
PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT

Still not working.

What happens with
brighter (more intense)
blue light?
PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT
PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT

More blue light means

more electrons emitted,
but that doesn’t work
with red.
PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT
WHEN LIGHT STRIKES CERTAIN LIGHT-SENSITIVE MATERIALS…

It may cause them to give up electrons.

PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT

High FREQUENCY light Low Frequency light,

even from a dim source even very bright (very
can eject electrons from intense) cannot
a photosensitive metal dislodge electrons.
THRESHOLD FREQUENCY

if the incident light had a

frequency less than a minimum
frequency (fo), then no electrons
were ejected regardless of the
light amplitude.
the value of fo depends on the
metal.
PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT

Light, like all other radiation, is made up of

small particles called photons.
The higher the frequency, the more energy
the photons have.
Einstein stated that light interacts with
matter as a stream of particle-like photons.
Einstein received the Nobel Prize for this
discovery.
EINSTEIN WON THE NOBEL PRIZE FOR THE
PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT, NOT E= MC²
PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT

If a photon hits an atom of a certain

material, it may be absorbed by an
electron of that material.
However, if the photon has enough energy,
the electron is ejected, or emitted, from the
atom.
In this way, light energy changes into
electrical energy.
PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT

If wires are attached to a photoemittive material,

the electrons can flow along the wires, forming an
electric current.
 WHY IS THE PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT SO IMPORTANT?

It helped explain the

particle nature of light.
It is the basis of the
quantum theory.
It is used in photocells
e.g. in solar calculators,
alarms, automatic
garage door openers,
flash of a camera
EQUATION

Einstein's interpretation of the

photoelectric effect results in equations
which are valid for visible and ultraviolet
light:

E photon = ø (phi)+KEelectron
EQUATION

h is Planck's constant
f is the frequency of photon
ø is the work function, which ids the minimum energy
required to remove and electron from the surface of a
given metal
KE is the maximum kinetic energy of ejected electrons
SOLVING

A laser produces a beam of light 2.0

mm in diameter. The wavelength is 532
nm and the output power is 20.0 mW.
How many photons does the laser emit
per second?
SOLVING

A metal with a work function of

2.4 eV is illuminated with
monochromatic light. The stopping
potential that prevents electrons
being ejected is 0.82 eV. Find the
wavelength of light.
SOLVING

Cesium has a work function of 1.8 eV.

When cesium is illuminated with light of
a certain wavelength, the electrons
ejected from the surface have kinetic
energies ranging from 0 to 2.2 eV.
a) What is the wavelength of the light?
b) Find the threshold frequency.
QUIZ
QUIZTIONS {TRO OR FOLS}
1. When light shines on a metal, electrons can be
ejected from the surface of the metal.
2. The minimum energy required for photons to remove
electrons from the surface of a metal is called the
photoelectron.
3. An electron emitted as a result of the Photoelectric
effect is called photoelectron.
4. The photoelectric effect was first observed by
German physicist Heinrich Hertz in 1905.
5. A photoelectric effect is any effect in which light
energy is converted to electricity.
QUIZTIONS {TRO OR FOLS}

6. Red light has more energy than blue light.

7. More blue light means more electrons emitted.
8. When light strikes certain light-sensitive
materials, it will always cause them to give up
electrons.
9. Low Frequency light, even very bright (very
intense) cannot dislodge electrons.
10. Spell BONUS.