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Examination [AISSCE-2013-14]
Comparing the mass of the electron with the mass of ionised hydrogen atom
(proton) we see that it is lighter by a factor of 1836. This indicates that
electrons are easier to accelarate than ions.
(a) Thermo ionic emission : by heating the metal sufficient thermal energy
can be given to free electrons to overcome the attractive pull of the metal
surface.
We shall next study the photoelectric effect. Einstein explained it on the basis
of Max Plancks Quantam idea. This laid the foundation of the Quantam
theory. Therefore, the photoelectric effect is of special interest.
Photoelectric Effect
Hallwach discovered that an insulated zinc plate connected to a gold leaf
electroscope and charged negatively losts its charge, when a beam of
ultraviolet light was directed on the plate. Hallwach suggested that the metal
surface loses negative charge due to ejection of electrons from its surface by
the ultraviolet light. The effect was termed as Photoelectric effect. The
electrons so emitted were called Photoelectrons. J.J.Thomson showed that
the Photoelectrons were not different from the ordinary electrons.
Experimental Study
The phenomenon of photoelectric effect is studied by using an experimental
arrangement shown in figure 1.
Explanation 1 : Free electrons in the metallic anode can absorb energy from
the electromagnetic waves impinging on them. After sufficient energy has
been absorbed free electrons inside the metal should be able to overcome the
combined potential barrier offered by the metal surface and the retarding
potential across the phototube.
Now, when the photocurrent is measured by varying (a) the intensity of light,
(b) its frequency and (c) the retarding potential between the anode and the
cathode, effects are observed which cannot be reconciled with the classical
wave properties of light and its absorption by electrons.
The maximum kinetic energy with which the electrons leave the anode can be
measured by adjusting the retarding potential till the photocurrent in the
external circuit is reduced to zero. Then electrons are not able to reach the
anode. If V is the cut-off voltage, the maximum kinetic energy of electrons in
the phototube is eV.
When a careful study is made of photoemission by varying the above
mentioned parameters in the experiment, the following important conclusions
are reached :
(iii) For a given metal, photoelectrons are not emitted if the incident light is of
frequency less than a critical value, called the threshold frequency, no matter
how high its intensity.
(iv) The maximum kinetic energy with which photoelectrons are emitted from a
particular metal and the frequency of the incident light are related linearly. The
relation can be expressed as :
Millikan also has the credit of making the first accurate measurement of cut-off
voltages for sodium metal by using monochromatic light of known frequencies.
He published the graph of photocurrent versus voltage and the graph of cut-
off voltage versus frequency of light. We can estimate the slope of the straight
line. It is
We get,
The Photon :
Einstein took Plancks idea of the quantam of energy seriously and proposed
that a monochromatic electromagnetic wave of frequency consists of discrete
quanta each having energy
E = h ---- (3)
Where h is the Planck constant. The quanta of light were appropriately called
photons. Each photon travels with the velocity of light. According to Einsteins
special theory of relativity energy, E and momentum, p of particles moving
with the speed of light are related
E = pc ---- (4).
Comparing eqs (3) and (4), the momentum of the photon is seen to be related
to the wavelength of light as
----- (5)
Quantum Interpretation :
The kinetic energy of the emitted electron will be maximum if the free electron,
which is released from the atom belongs to the group which has the maximum
energy inside the metal. By using the Einstein relation for the energy of
photons of frequency , we can write the photoelectric emission equation, eq
(6) as
-------- (7)
Where is the angle of scattering of the X-rays photon and m is the mass of
electron.
Hence, the world came to know about the dual nature of light. That is, a
monochromatic beam of light of frequency , hence possessing wave
attributes, manifests in some experiments as though it is a stream of quanta
called photons.
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