Name:  Year & Section: 12 

    
 
 
 
Subject: Physics  Topic: Nature of light  Date:  3-2-2022 
 
 
 
 
 
 
http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/photoelectric 
 
1. Describe the effect of wavelength and intensity on electron emission
  10 marks 
increasing the light intensity increases the rate at which electrons leave the metal, and the
electrons have more kinetic energy. 
So if you wavelength gets shorter , then given constant intensity you will have fewer
electrons 
Name of the metal  Wavelength required for Maximum current   Energy of the
electron emission  wavelength  
Sodium  4.8*10^-9  0.016  4.06*10^-18 
zinc  2.68*10^-7  0.016  7.41*10^-19 
Copper  1.41*10^-7  1.244  2.37*10^-19 
Platinum  1.68*10^-7  0.108  1.18*10^-18 
Calcium  1.68*10^-7  1.482  1.18*10^-18 
       
 
2. What effect does changing the color have?  
As electrons move from higher energy levels to lower energy levels a photon (particle of
light) will be given off. This is the process of emission. The photons will have different
wavelengths and frequencies, this makes photons of different energies produce different
colors of light. 
 
3. What effect does changing the brightness of the light have? 
the number of photons hitting the metal, increasing the rate at which electrons are emitted
but not changing the maximum kinetic energy of the electrons. 
 
 
4. Complete the table. 
 
Maximum KE Maximum KE
Work Function  Frequency  of  of 
Metal 
/J  used /Hz  Ejected Ejected
electrons /J  electrons /eV 
Sodium  3.65 x 10   -19
6 x 10  
14
3.28 x10^-20  5.2*10^-39 
Potassium  3.68 x 10-19  6^10*-54  0.32 x 10-19  2 x10^-39 
Lithium  4.64 x 10-19  1 x 1015  6 x10^-16  3.77 x10^-35 
Aluminium  6.56 x 10   -19
1 x 10^-53  0.35 x 10  
-19
6.6 x10^-73 
Zinc  6.88 x 10-19  1.2 x10^-53  1.12 x 10-19  7.5 x10^-73 
 Copper  7.36 x 10-19  1 x 1015  6.63 x10^-19  4.14 x10-38