Photoelectric

The Photoelectric Effect

“The phenomenon of metals releasing electrons when they are 
exposed to the light of the appropriate frequency is called
the photoelectric effect, and the electrons emitted during the
process are called photoelectrons”
• The photoelectric effect is an important concept that enables us to clearly
understand the quantum nature of light and electrons.
• photoelectric effect was explained by Albert Einstein

“Photoelectric effect occurred as a result of light energy being carried in

discrete quantized packets”

• Each photon of energy E is

E = hν

• Where E = Energy of photon in joule

• h = planks constant (6.626 × 10-34 J.s)
• ν = frequency of photon in Hz
Minimum Condition for Photoelectric
Effect
1. Threshold Frequency (γth)- minimum frequency of light to eject
electron
If γ = frequency of incident photon and γth= threshold frequency, then,
• If γ < γTh, there will be no ejection of photoelectron and, therefore, no
photoelectric effect.
• If γ = γTh, photoelectrons are just ejected from the metal surface, in this case,
the kinetic energy of the electron is zero
• If γ > γTh, then photoelectrons will come out of the surface along with kinetic
energy
Minimum Condition for Photoelectric
Effect
2. Threshold Wavelength (λth)
•For wavelengths above this threshold, there will be no
photoelectron emission.
• For λ = wavelength of the incident photon, then
• If λ < λTh, then the photoelectric effect will take place and ejected
electron will possess kinetic energy.
• If λ = λTh, then just photoelectric effect will take place and kinetic
energy of ejected photoelectron will be zero.
• If λ > λTh, there will be no photoelectric effect.
Minimum Condition for Photoelectric
Effect
3. Work Function or Threshold Energy (Φ)
The minimal energy of thermodynamic work that is needed to remove
an electron from a conductor. 

Φ = hγth = hc/λth

If E = energy of an incident photon, then

• If E < Φ, no photoelectric effect will take place.
• If E = Φ, just photoelectric effect will take place but the kinetic energy of
ejected photoelectron will be zero
• If E > photoelectron will be zero
• If E > Φ, the photoelectric effect will take place along with possession of the
kinetic energy by the ejected electron.
• Principle of Photoelectric Effect
• The law of conservation of energy forms the basis for the photoelectric effect
KE = - U
= - q V
= - (- e)*(1V)
= + (e)*(1V) = 1.6 x 10-19 J
= 1eV

*Notes:
Joules: good for macroscopic energy conversions
But when talking about energy of single electrons Joules is
inconvenient… (too big)
Define new energy unit (the electron-volt (eV))
= kinetic energy gained by an electron when accelerate
through 1 volt of potential difference
Photoelectric Effect Formula
The energy of photon = energy needed to remove an electron, Φ
+
kinetic energy of the emitted electron

hf = W + E

• h is Planck’s constant.
hfo
• f is the frequency of the incident photon.
• W is a work function.
• E is the maximum kinetic energy of ejected electrons: 1/2 mv².
Factors affecting Photoelectric Effect
With the help of Phet simulation, we will now study the dependence of
the photoelectric effect on the following factors.

•The intensity of incident radiation.

•A potential difference between metal plate and collector.
•Frequency of incident radiation.
http://phet.colorado.edu/new/simulations/sims.php?
sim=Photoelectric_Effect
Or watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGwWSY2vTCk
 e’s

I
First experiment- I vs. V high intensity, low intensity
I vs. V two different colors

write down what happens

10
 Hot plate.
A few electrons get
enough energy to just
barely “splash” out.

What is the current

vs battery voltage?
Current

Current
A B
0 Voltage
0 Voltage

Current
Current

D 0 Voltage
0 Voltage 11
 What’s happening here?
Each electron that pops out is accelerated more so hits
far plate with higher velocity,
BUT # of electrons = constant
sec
So current is constant!

Current
C

NOT V=IR !!

0 Battery Voltage
reverse V, Vacuum tube diode. Works.
no electrons - early electronic device.
flow.
12
 HIGH intensity

e’s

voltage to turn around

I
most energetic electron
“stopping potential”

do low I exper.
0 Battery Voltage 13
Which graph represents low and high intensity curves?

I
I
A B

0 Batt. V 0 Batt. V

I
C I D

0 Batt. V
0 Batt. V

F I
0 Batt. V
14
 HIGH intensity LOW intensity

e’s

I
Fewer electrons pop off metal
Current decreases.
Current proportional to light intensity.

I
ans. B

0 Battery Voltage 15
 HIGH intensity LOW intensity

e’s

I
Same KE electrons
popping off metal.
So same “stopping

I
potential”.

0 Battery Voltage 16
 look at sim for few different
colors, small forward V

Predict what happens to

the initial KE of the
electrons as the frequency
of light changes? (Light
intensity is constant)
e’s

Initial KE
Predict shape
of the graph

0 Frequency of light

17
 Initial KE

Initial KE
A B

0 Frequency 0 Frequency

Initial KE

Initial KE
C D

0 Frequency 0 Frequency

E. something different 18
Correct answer is D.
do sim showing graph

There is a minimum frequency

below which the light cannot
kick out electrons…
even if wait a long time
e’s

I
As the frequency of light increases
Initial KE

(shorter ), the KE of electrons

being popped off increases.
(it is a linear relationship)
what happens if change metal?
do experiment
0 Frequency of light 19
Summary of Photoelectric experiment results.
(play with sim to check and thoroughly understand)

•1. Current linearly proportional to intensity.

•2. Current appears with no delay.

•3. Electrons only emitted if frequency of light exceeds threshold. (same as

“if wavelength short enough”).

4. Maximum energy that electrons come off with increases linearly with
frequency (=1/wavelength) (Max. energy = -stopping potential)

5. Threshold frequency depends on type of metal.