Department of Basic Sciences,

Indian Institute of Information Technology, Nagpur

Applied Sciences: ASL 101

4. Photoelectric Effect

Dr. Aatish S Daryapurkar

asdaryapurkar@iiitn.ac.in
09867245331
Dr. Aatish S. Daryapurkar, IIIT Nagpur
Photoelectric Effect
In 1887 – Heinrich Hertz – Unexpected observation
In 1888 – Hallwachs – Experimental study
In 1899 – Lenard – carriers are electrons
In 1905 – Albert Einstein – published the paper to explain experimental
Radio
data from the photoelectric effect – Noble prize
Microwave
“When an electromagnetic radiation of sufficiently high frequency is incident on Infrared
a clean metal surface, electrons are emitted from it. This phenomenon is Visible
known as photoelectric effect and emitted electrons are called as UV
photoelectrons.” X-rays
Electromagnetic radiation from IR to gamma rays produce this effect. γ - rays

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Sodium – Smaller than - 5455 A° Cesium – Smaller than - 6438 A°
Dr. Aatish S. Daryapurkar, IIIT Nagpur
 Photoelectric Effect

Dr. Aatish S. Daryapurkar, IIIT Nagpur

Experimental study of Photoelectric Effect
S
D

A B
C
- +

- + + -

The photoelectric effect is observed to depend on the factors such as,

1. The frequency of the incident radiation
2. The intensity of the incident radiation
3. The potential difference between electrodes
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4. The nature of the emitting surface
Dr. Aatish S. Daryapurkar, IIIT Nagpur
 Observations /Factors affecting photoelectric current

1. Effect of frequency of the incident radiation on emission of photoelectrons.

2. Effect of the intensity of the incident radiation on the photoelectric current.

3. Effect of retarding potential difference on the photoelectric current.

Kinetic energy = eV0

Dr. Aatish S. Daryapurkar, IIIT Nagpur

 Observations /Factors affecting stopping potentials

4. Effect of frequency on the stopping potential

Where,
V= stopping potential
ν = Frequency of light corresponding to the
wavelength
W = work function of the metal in the tube
h = Planck’s constant
V = ν (h/e) - W/e e = charge on electron = 1.6x 10-19 coulomb.

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5. The emission of photoelectrons is an instantaneous process
Dr. Aatish S. Daryapurkar, IIIT Nagpur
 Failure of classical physics to explain PE

1. The existence of the threshold frequency

2. The non-dependence of the maximum KE. of the

photoelectrons on the intensity of the incident radiation

3. Absence of time lag between the irradiation of a surface

and the start of the emission

Dr. Aatish S. Daryapurkar, IIIT Nagpur

 1905- Einstein’s explanation for the PE

1. A radiation of frequency v consist of a stream of discrete quanta each of

energy hv. These quanta are called as photons. The photons move through
space with the speed of light.

2. When a photon of energy hv is incident on a metal surface, the entire energy

of the photon is absorbed by a single electron without any time lag. The
probability of its absorbing two or more photons at the same time is negligible.

Dr. Aatish S. Daryapurkar, IIIT Nagpur

 1905- Einstein’s explanation for the PE

1 2
ℎ𝜈 = 𝑚𝑣𝑚𝑎𝑥 + 𝑊𝑜 Equation 1
2
1 2
𝑚𝑣𝑚𝑎𝑥 = ℎ𝜈 − 𝑊𝑜
2

0 = ℎ𝜈𝑜 − 𝑊𝑜 Equation 2

ℎ𝜈𝑜 = 𝑊𝑜 Equation 3

1 2
𝑚𝑣𝑚𝑎𝑥 = ℎ(𝜈 − 𝜈𝑜 ) Equation 4 9
2
Dr. Aatish S. Daryapurkar, IIIT Nagpur
 Application of Photoelectric Effect

CCD in Digital Camera

✓ Camera have a charge coupled device (CCD) that converts

photons of light into a small current that are detected in circuit
✓ The CCD is segmented in to small pixcel to create an image.
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Dr. Aatish S. Daryapurkar, IIIT Nagpur

 Application of Photoelectric Effect

Photomultiplier Tube

Coating of
Photosensitive
Material

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Dr. Aatish S. Daryapurkar, IIIT Nagpur

Application of Photoelectric Effect

Application of Photoelectric cell

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Dr. Aatish S. Daryapurkar, IIIT Nagpur

 Problem:
A metallic surface when illuminated with light of wavelength 𝞴1 , emits electrons with
a maximum energy E1, and when illuminated with light of wavelength 𝞴2, where 𝞴2<
𝞴1, it emits electron with energy upto a maximum value upto E2.
Prove that Planck’s constant and work function of the metal plate are given by the
following formula.

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Dr. Aatish S. Daryapurkar, IIIT Nagpur

 The maximum Kinetic Energy E1 is given by,

𝐸1 = ℎ𝜈1 − 𝑊0 Equation 1

ℎ𝑐
𝐸1 = − 𝑊0 Equation 2
𝜆1
The maximum Kinetic Energy E2 is given by,
ℎ𝑐 Equation 3
𝐸2 = − 𝑊0
𝜆2
1 1 𝜆1 − 𝜆2 Equation 4
𝐸2 − 𝐸1 = ℎ𝑐 − = ℎ𝑐
𝜆2 𝜆1 𝜆1 𝜆2

(𝐸2 − 𝐸1 )𝜆1 𝜆2 Equation 5

ℎ= 14
𝑐(𝜆1 − 𝜆2 )
Dr. Aatish S. Daryapurkar, IIIT Nagpur
 𝐸1 𝜆1 = ℎ𝑐 − 𝑊0 𝜆1 Equation 6

𝐸2 𝜆2 = ℎ𝑐 − 𝑊0 𝜆2 Equation 7

𝐸2 𝜆2 − 𝐸1 𝜆1 = 𝑊0 (𝜆1 − 𝜆2 ) Equation 8

𝐸2 𝜆2 − 𝐸1 𝜆1 Equation 9
𝑊0 =
(𝜆1 − 𝜆2 ) 15

Dr. Aatish S. Daryapurkar, IIIT Nagpur