Class XII Physics Important Questions DUAL NATURE OF MATTER & RADIATION

1 The photoelectric cut-off voltage in a certain photoelectric experiment is 1.5 V. What is the maximum kinetic
energy of photoelectrons emitted?
2 The work function of a certain metal is 4.2 eV. Will this metal give photoelectric emission for incident
radiation of wavelength 330 nm?
3 Two metals A and B have work functions 4 eV and 10 eV respectively. Which metal has the higher threshold
wavelength
4 Work function of aluminium is 4.2 eV. If two photons, each of energy 2.5 eV, are incident on its surface, will
the emission of electrons take place? Justify your answer.
5 In a photoelectric effect, the yellow light is just able to emit electrons, will green light emit photoelectrons?
What about red light?
6 Electrons are emitted from a photosensitive surface when it is illuminated by green light but electron
emission does not take place by yellow light. Will the electrons be emitted when the surface is illuminated by
(i) red light, and (ii) blue light?
7 The work function of the following metals is given: Na = 2.75 eV; K = 2.30 eV, Mo = 4.17 eV, Ni = 5.15 eV.
Which of these metals will not give a photoelectric emission for a radiation of wavelength 3300 Å from a He–
Cd laser placed 1 m away from the photocell? What happens if the laser is brought nearer and placed 50 cm
away?
8 Calculate the (a) momentum and (b) de Broglie wavelength of the electrons accelerated through a potential
difference of 56 V.
9 The wavelength of light from the spectral emission line of sodium is 589 nm. Find the kinetic energy at which
(a) an electron and (b) a neutron, would have the same de Broglie wavelength.
10 What is the de Broglie wavelength of: (a) a bullet of mass 0.040 kg travelling at a speed of 1.0 km/s. (b) a ball
of mass 0.060 kg moving at a speed of 1.0 m/s. (c) a dust particle of mass 1.0×10–9 kg drifting with a speed of
2.2 m/s.
11 Show that the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation is equal to the de Broglie wavelength of its quantum
(photon).
12 Name the phenomenon which shows the quantum nature of electromagnetic radiation
Define intensity of radiation on the basis of photon picture of light. Write its SI unit.
13 The figure shows the variation of stopping potential V0 with the
frequency n of the incident radiations for two photosensitive metals P
and Q. Which metal has smaller threshold wavelength? Justify your
answer.

14 Write the basic features of photon picture of electromagnetic radiation on which Einstein’s photoelectric
equation is based.
15 Define the term ‘stopping potential’ in relation to photoelectric effect.
The stopping potential in an experiment on photoelectric effect is 1.5 V. What is the maximum kinetic energy
of the photoelectrons emitted?
16 State de-Broglie hypothesis.Write the expression for the de Broglie wavelength associated with a charged
particle having charge ‘q’ and mass ‘m’, when it is accelerated by a potential V.
17 The figure shows a plot of three curves a, b, c showing the variation
of photocurrent vs. collector plate potential for three different
intensities I1, I2, and I3 having frequencies n1, n2 and n3 respectively
incident on a photosenitive surface. Point out the two curves for
which the incident radiations have same frequency but different
intensities.
18 a)The maximum kinetic energy of a photoelectron is 3 eV. What is its stopping potential?
The stopping potential in an experiment on photoelectric effect is 2 V. b)What is the maximum kinetic energy
of the photoelectrons emitted?
c) What is the stopping potential of a photocell, in which electrons with a maximum kinetic energy of 6 eV are
emitted ?
19 The graph shows the variation of stopping potential with
frequency of incident radiation for two photosensitive
metals A and B. Which one of the two has higher value of
work-function? Justify your answer

20 An electron and a proton have the same kinetic energy. Which one of the two has the larger de Broglie
wavelength and why?
21 Plot a graph showing variation of de-Broglie wavelength λ versus where √v is
accelerating potential for two particles A and B carrying same charge but of
masses m1, m2 (m1 > m2). Which one of the two represents a particle of smaller
mass and why?

22 Show the variation of photocurrent with collector

plate potential for different frequencies but same
intensity of incident radiation.

23 Write Einstein’s photoelectric equation and point out any two characteristic properties of photons on which
this equation is based.
24 Write three characteristic features in photoelectric effect which cannot be explained on the basis of wave
theory of light, but can be explained only using Einstein’s equation.
25 A proton and an electron have same velocity. Which one has greater de Broglie wavelength and why?

26 Plot a graph showing the variation of photoelectric current with intensity of light. The work function for the
following metals is given: Na: 2.75 eV and Mo: 4.175 eV. Which of these will not give photoelectron emission
from a radiation of wavelength 3300 Å from a laser beam? What happens if the source of laser beam is
brought closer?
27 Plot a graph showing the variation of stopping potential with the frequency of incident radiation for two
different photosensitive materials having work functions W1 and W2 (W1>W2). On what factors does the (i)
slope and (ii) intercept of the lines depend?
28 Explain briefly the reasons why wave theory of light is not able to explain the observed features of photo-
electric effect.
Write Einstein’s photoelectric equation. State clearly the three salient features observed in photoelectric
effect which can explain on the basis of this equation.
29 Using photon picture of light, show how Einstein’s photoelectric equation can be established. Write two
features of photoelectric effect which cannot be explained by wave theory.
30 Define the terms (i) ‘cut-off voltage’ and (ii) ‘threshold frequency’ in relation to the phenomenon of
photoelectric effect. Using Einstein’s photoelectric equation show how the cut-off voltage and threshold
frequency for a given photosensitive material can be determined with the help of a suitable plot/graph.
31 a)An α-particle and a proton are accelerated from rest by the same potential. Find the ratio of their de-
Broglie wavelengths.
b)A proton and an α-particle have the same de-Broglie wavelength. Determine the ratio of (i) their
accelerating potentials (ii) their speeds.
32 Describe an experimental arrangement to study photoelectric effect. Explain the effect of (i) intensity of light
on photoelectric current, (ii) potential on photoelectric current and (iii) frequency of incident radiation on
stopping potential.
33 Derive Einstein’s photoelectric equation 1/2mv2max=h(v−v0)