Ch-11:

Dual Nature of
Radiation & Matter
Lect 02
 Today’s Goal

Photoelectric Effect:
Part-II
We have studied
Q) The Work Function of a substance is 4.0 eV.The longest
wavelength of light that can cause photoelectron emission
from this substance is approximately [JEE 1998]

a) 540 nm
b) 400 nm
c) 310 nm
d) 220 nm
Q) A metal surface is illuminated by light of two different
wavelengths 248 nm and 310 nm.The maximum speeds of
the photoelectrons corresponding to these wavelengths μ1
and μ2 respectively.If μ1: μ2=2:1 and hc=1240eV nm,the work
function of metal is nearly [JEE 2014]

a) 3.7 eV
b) 3.2 eV
c) 2.8 eV
d) 2.5 eV
Photo Current
➢ Light of short wavelength is
made to fall on Metal Plate ‘C’
(Cathode or Emitter)

➢Electrons are emitted by ‘C’

and collected by plate ‘A’
(Anode or Collector)

➢Potential difference between

‘C’ & ‘A’ can be maintained
with external battery & rheostat
➢ Anode is given a positive potential w.r.t cathode &
e- moves towards Anode,passes through external
circuit & back to cathode

➢A current flows called photocurrent

➢ The space between C & A contains a number of e-
making ‘space charge’. This negative charge repels the
fresh electron coming from Cathode.On Increasing
Anode potential (+ve), more e- are attracted towards ‘A’
& photocurrent increases.

➢ After a certain limit,the photocurrent becomes

constant & do not increase on increasing Anode
potential as all the e- ejected from ‘C’ now reach ‘A’.
This current is called Saturation Current.
➢ On the other hand, if Anode is given –ve potential
w.r.t cathode ,e- are repelled & photocurrent decreases.

➢ If we keep decreasing Anode potential (making it

more & more –ve), a stage comes when no e- can reach
‘A’ & photocurrent becomes Zero.This Anode
potential which STOPS any e- from reaching Anode is
called STOPPING POTENTIAL or STOPPING
VOLTAGE (Vo)
Plot of Photocurrent I v/s Anode Potential
Stopping Potential
“The smallest magnitude of Anode Potential which just
stops the photocurrent,is called the stopping potential”
Stopping Potential v/s frequency of incident
radiation
Stopping Potential v/s wavelength of
incident radiation
Intensity,PhotoCurrent and Stopping
Potential
 Web Version of PW App : https://physicswallah.live/

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