Photons

Photons

Definition
A photon is the smallest discrete amount or quantum of electromagnetic
radiation. It is the basic unit of all light.
As per Einstein’s quantum theory of radiation, photons have energy
equal to their oscillation frequency ‘f’ times Planck’s constant ‘h’ and
expressed as
E = hf………..i
Where h = 6.62x 10-34Js
If λ is the wave length of the radiation, then we have,
Velocity of light c = f λ
i.e f = c/ λ using it in equn i we get,
E =hc/ λ
If Photon of mass m is moving with velocity c then, According to
Einstein’s mass energy relation,
E = mc2
hf = mc2 from i
m =hf/c2
This is the effective or equivalent mass of a photon.
Properties of Photons
•They have no electric charge so are not deflected by electric and magnetic field.
•They only exist as moving particles.
•They carry energy E and momentum which are dependent on the frequency and is
expressed as
E= hf
c
=h where c is the velocity of light, λ its wavelength and h is the
λ
planks constant.
•The momentum of photon is given as
hf hf hf h
P= 2c = = = where c is the velocity of light
c c λ𝑓 λ
• The frequency of photon does not change as it moves from one medium to another
medium but the wavelength and velocity changes.
•They travel in straight path with the speed of light.
• It has both particle and wave nature.
• It exerts force and pressure when strikes on the surface.
Problem: A Photon of green light has a wave length of 520nm. Find
i. The frequency of photon
ii. The Magnitude of momentum
iii. Energy
Express the energy both on joules and electron volt.

Solution:
Given
Wave length λ = 520nm
= 520 x 10-9m
To find,
i. frequency of photon f =?
ii. The Magnitude of momentum p=?
iii. Energy E =?
We have,
c =f λ
c
So f =
λ
 3 x 108
f=
520 x 10−9

f = 5.77x 1014Hz
Also we have,
h
Momentum p =
λ −
6.6𝑥10 34
= −
520𝑥10 9
= 1.27 x 10-27Ns
Now, energy of photon ,E = hf
= 6.62 x 10-34 x 5.77 x 1014
= 3.82 x 10-19J
Now, as 1 eV = 1.6 x 10-19J
Note: 1 electron volt is the K.E gained by an electron when it is accelerated
through the P.d one Volt.
3.82x10−19
here, E =
1.6x10−19

= 2.38 eV
What is the frequency of a photon whose energy is 66.3eV?
Solution:
Given,
E = 66.3eV
= 66.3 x 1.6 x 10-19J
Also we know,
h= 6.62 x 10-34Js
E = hf
f= E/h
66.3 x 1.6 x 10−19
=
6.62 x 10−34
= 1.6 x 1016 Hz
Quantum Nature of Radiation
The quantum theory of radiation was proposed
by Max Plank.

According to this theory, the energy is discrete and

is radiated or absorbed in the form of packets called
quanta. The quantum (or packet) of energy is called
photon. The energy of photon is given by
E = hf
Where, h is Planck's constant whose value is 6.626 x10-34 JS and f is
frequency of radiation.
The energy of photon is the basic unit of energy and it depends on the
frequency of radiation.
The higher is the frequency, the larger will be the energy of photon and vice-
versa
Photo electric Effect
When light of suitable frequency incident on the metal surface,
electrons are ejected from the surface. This effect of light is known as
photoelectric effect.
The electrons emitted from metal surface in photoelectric effect are
called photoelectrons.
Important Terms

1. Photo electrons :The electrons which are

emitted from the metal surface when light of
suitable frequency incident on it, are called
photoelectrons.

These electrons are highly energetic.

The maximum energy of a photoelectron
is given by
1 2
K.Emax= mv Where m is mass
2
And Vmax is maximum velocity of a photoelectron.
Work function (φ):The minimum energy of incident photon or
radiation which is required to just emit an electron from the metal surface is
known as work function of that metal.
The work function is equal to the ionization energy of an atom. It is denoted
by φ or wo.
The work function of a metal is given by
φ = hfo……..1
Where, h = 6.626 x10-34 Js is Planck's constant and fo is threshold
frequency.

Since, velocity of light (c) = λofo

c
fo = where, λo threshold wavelength and
λo
fo is threshold frequency.
Using it in equn 1, we get
hc
So, φ =
λo
The work function depends on nature of the metals.
Problem: A metal has a threshold wavelength of 6000A 0. Calculate, the work
function of a metal in eV.
Solution:
Given,
Threshold wavelength λo = 6000A0
= 6000 x 10-10m
We know,
hc
φ=
λo

6.62 x10−34 x 3 x 10 8
=
6000 x 10−10

3.31 x 10 −19
=
1.6 x 10 −19

= 2.07 eV
Threshold frequency (f0) :
It is the lowest frequency of incident light which is just sufficient to liberate
an electron from the metal surface. It is denoted by fo .

The threshold frequency is different for different metals.

As we know,
Velocity of light (c) = λofo
c
Threshold frequency (fo) =
λo
Also, Work function (φ) = hfo
φ
or, Threshold frequency (f0) =
h
Where, h = 6.626 x10-34 Js is Planck's constant
Problem: A metal has a threshold wavelength of 6000A 0. Calculate, the
threshold frequency of a metal.

Solution:
Given,
Threshold wavelength λo = 6000A0
= 6000 x 10-10m

We know, velocity of light (c) = λofo

c
fo = where, λo threshold wavelength and fo is threshold
λo
frequency.
3 x 10 8
=
6000 x 10−10

3 x 10 15
=
6 x 1.6 x 10 −19

= 5 x 10 14 Hz.
Threshold wavelength (λo):
The maximum wavelength of incident radiation which can cause photo electronic effect
is called threshold wavelength. It is denoted by λo .

If wavelength of incident radiation (λ) is greater than threshold wavelength (λo) then no
electrons are emitted.

Since,
Velocity of light (c)= λofo
c
or, Threshold wavelength (λo) =
fo
Where, fo is threshold frequency of incident light.
Also, Work function (φ) = hfo = hc/ λo
hc
λo=
φ
The threshold wavelength depends on the nature of the metal used.
Problem 1. The work function of sodium is 2.3eV. Calculate the
threshold frequency and the corresponding wavelength.(h = 6.62 x 10-
34Js)

Given:
Work function of Na (φ) = 2.3 eV = 2.3∗1.6∗10−19 J
h = 6.6 x 10-34Js
We have,
φ = hf where, f is threshold frequency.
o o

Or, f = φ/h
o

2.3∗1.6∗10−19
=
6.6∗10−34
= 5.57 * 1014Hz.
Also, λ0 = c/f0, where c is speed of light.
Or, λ = 3∗108 / 5.57∗1014
= 5.385 x 10-7m
= 5385A°
Einstein’s Photoelectric Equation
Einstein used the Planks Theory to
describe Photoelectric effect.
According to Einstein, When light of
suitable frequency ‘f’ incident on the metal
surface, the energy of Photon is
E =hf

Then, a part of its energy is used for ejecting the electron just from the
metal surface and remaining energy is used to move the emitted electron
with certain velocity i.e transferred as K.E of Photoelectron.
 i.e E = φ + K.Emax
1 2
hf = φ + mv max ………………1
2
where,
m = mass of emitted photoelectron
vmax = the maximum velocity of emitted photoelectron
If f0 be the threshold frequency , then
φ= hf0
1 2
So, hf = hf0 + mv max ………………2
2

1 2
mv max = hf - hf0 …………3
2
These equations 1,2 and 3 equation are Known as
Einstein’s photoelectric equations in different forms.
Let λ 0 be the wavelength of incident light and be the threshold
wavelength
we have,
c c
f = and f0 = , where, c is the velocity of light in vacuum.
λ λ0
Using f and f0…..in equation 3, we get,
1 2 c c
mv max = h - h
2 λ λ0

1 2 1 1
mv max = hc( - )……..4
2 λ λ0
This is another form of Einstein’s Photo electric equation.
P: When Light of wave length 400nm falls on a metal surface, the maximum K.E of emitted
electrons is 1.1eV. What is the maximum K.E of the photoelectrons when light of wavelength
300nm falls on the same Surface?
Soln:
Given,
Wavelenght of first light λ1 = 400nm =400 x 10-9m
Wavelenght of Second light λ2 = 300nm =300 x 10-9m
Maximum K.E of electron by first light K.Emax1 = 1.1eV
= 1.1 x 1.6 x 10-19J
= 1.76 x 10-19 J
Maximum K.E of electron by second light K.Emax2 = ?
We have, from Einstein’s Photo elecritc equation,
E = φ + K.E max
hf = φ + K.E max
c
h = φ + K.E max
λ
For first light,
For first light,
c
h = φ + K.E max1……….i
λ1
For, second light,
c
h = φ + K.E max2………..ii
λ2

Subtracting i from ii, we get,

c c
h - h = K.E max2- K.E max1
λ2 λ1

1 1
hc( - ) = K.E max2- K.E max1
λ2 λ1
1 1
-34 8
K.E max2 = 6.62 x 10 x 3 x 10 ( - )
3 x 10−7 4 x 10−7
= 2.13eV
Problem 2: Light of wavelength 5000A0 falls on a sensitive plate with
work function equal to 1.9eV, Find
i. The energy of photons in eV
ii. The kinetic energy of photoelectron emitted
Soln:
Wavelength (λ) = 5000A o

Work function (φ) = 1.90eV.

c
(i) Energy (E) = h
λ
−34 3∗108
= 6.65∗10 ∗
5∗10−7
= 3.49 * 10-19J
= 2.49eV.
(ii) E = φ + K.Emax
hf = φ + K.Emax
c
K.Emax = h − φ
λ
3∗108
−34
= 6.62∗10 ∗ −1.9∗1.6∗10−19
5∗10 −7
-19