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Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation is an important topic from JEE Main / JEE Advanced Exam
Point of view. Every year there are 1-2 questions asked from this topic. This short notes on Dual Nature
of Matter and Radiation will help you in revising the topic before the JEE Main & IIT JEE
Advanced Exam.

Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation

Electron Emission
The electrons in metals which are free to move known as free electrons. These electrons do not get
ejected out of the surface of metal on their own due potential barrier or work function of the metal. But
when a free electron gets extra energy then these electrons overcome the potential barrier and is ejected
out. There are different ways in which electron emission take place.

Photoelectric effect
When electromagnetic radiations of suitable wavelength are incident on a metallic surface then electrons
are emitted, this phenomenon is known as the photoelectric effect. And the emitted electrons are known
as photoelectrons.

Experimental study of photoelectric Effect- When the light of frequency v and intensity I fall on the
cathode, electrons are emitted from it. The electrons are collected by the anode and a current flows in
the circuit. This current is known as photoelectric current.

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The main points of observation are:

(a) At zero anode potential, a current exists. It means that electrons are emitted from the cathode with
some kinetic energy.

(b) As anode potential is increased, current increase. This implies that different electrons are emitted
with different kinetic energies.

(c) After a certain anode potential, current acquires a constant value called saturation current.

(d) At a certain negative potential, the photoelectric current becomes zero. This is called stopping
potential (V0). Stopping potential is a measure of maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electrons. Let
KEmax be the maximum kinetic energy of an emitted electron, then KEmax = eV0

(1) Variation of photoelectric current with the potential difference:

(2) Variation of current with intensity- The photoelectric current is found to be directly proportional
to the intensity of incident radiation

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(3) Effect of frequency- The Stopping potential is vary with the frequency of incident light linearly.
Greater the frequency of incident light, greater the stopping potential.

Einstein's Photoelectric Equation

Einstein's photoelectric equation is,

where hv is the energy transferred to the electron, ϕ is the energy needed to escape or work function of
the metal, the remaining energy is the kinetic energy of the electron.

The kinetic energy of the electron is, KEmax = eV0 (where V0 is stopping potential)

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De-Broglie Waves
According to De-Broglie, every moving particle associated with a wave known as De-Broglie waves
and the wavelength associated with a moving particle is known as De-Broglie.

De Broglie wavelength associated with moving particles

If a particle of mass m moving with velocity v

The kinetic energy of the particle is,

the momentum of the particle is

the wavelength associated with the particles is

De Broglie wavelength associated with the charged particles

Let a charged particle having charge q is accelerated by potential difference V.

The kinetic energy of this particle

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Momentum of particle

The De Broglie wavelength associated with the charged particle

Davisson and Germer Experiment

Davisson and Germer experiment confirmed the wave-nature of electrons.

In this experiment when the electron beam is incident on a nickel target the electron scattered in all
direction acting like waves. The detector detects the maximum intensity at a certain angle. And this
maximum intensity is due to constructive interference, which confirmed the wave nature of light.

The De-Broglie wavelength (λ) associated with the electron is

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