Photoelectric Effect –Practice Questions
hf = Φ + max kinetic energy c = fλ
hf = hc/λ kinetic energy = ½ m v2
1. Photoelectrons from a barium surface have 1.31 x10 -18 J of kinetic energy.
a. If the work function of barium is 4.02 x10 -19 J, what is the energy of
the light shining onto it?
b. What is the frequency of the light?
c. What is the wavelength of the light?
2. If barium has a threshold frequency of 6.07 × 10 14 Hz
a. Calculate the work function of the element in Joules and electron
volts
b. 385 nm light is shone onto the metal, what is its frequency and
energy (in Joules and electron volts)
c. What is the maximum kinetic energy of the photoelectrons it emits?
(in Joules and electron volts)
3. 1.97 x1015 Hz radiation is shone onto a metal and photoelectrons are
emitted.
a. What is the energy of the photons of light?
b. The maximum kinetic energy of the photons is 6.32 x10 -19 J. What
is the threshold energy (work function) required to remove an
electron?
c. What are the frequency and wavelength of the answer from c?
4. A photoelectron from a copper atom leaves at a velocity of 1.11 x10 6 ms-1.
a. It has a mass of 9.11 x10-31 kg, what is its kinetic energy?
b. The work function is 7.16 x10-19 J, what is the energy of light shone
onto it?
c. What is the frequency of the light?
5. A machine is illuminated with light of a frequency of 3.02 x 10 13 Hz.
a. What is the energy of each photon?
b. The machine can only detect 640 eV of light at a time, what is this
in J?
c. How many photons will have been detected?
6. A laser produces light 3.25 x1014 Hz.
a. What is the energy of each photon?
b. The laser gives of 2.46 x10-16 J before being turned off. How many
photons have been given off?
Photoelectric Effect –Practice Questions
hf = Φ + max kinetic energy c = fλ
hf = hc/λ kinetic energy = ½ m v2
1. Photoelectrons from a barium surface have 1.31 x10 -18 J of kinetic energy.
a. If the work function of barium is 4.02 x10 -19 J, what is the energy of
the light shining onto it?
b. What is the frequency of the light?
c. What is the wavelength of the light?
2. If barium has a threshold frequency of 6.07 × 10 14 Hz
a. Calculate the work function of the element in Joules and electron
volts
b. 385 nm light is shone onto the metal, what is its frequency and
energy (in Joules and electron volts)
c. What is the maximum kinetic energy of the photoelectrons it emits?
(in Joules and electron volts)
3. 1.97 x1015 Hz radiation is shone onto a metal and photoelectrons are
emitted.
a. What is the energy of the photons of light?
b. The maximum kinetic energy of the photons is 6.32 x10 -19 J. What
is the threshold energy (work function) required to remove an
electron?
c. What are the frequency and wavelength of the answer from c?
4. A photoelectron from a copper atom leaves at a velocity of 1.11 x10 6 ms-1.
a. It has a mass of 9.11 x10-31 kg, what is its kinetic energy?
b. The work function is 7.16 x10-19 J, what is the energy of light shone
onto it?
c. What is the frequency of the light?
5. A machine is illuminated with light of a frequency of 3.02 x 10 13 Hz.
a. What is the energy of each photon?
b. The machine can only detect 640 eV of light at a time, what is this
in J?
c. How many photons will have been detected?
6. A laser produces light 3.25 x1014 Hz.
a. What is the energy of each photon?
b. The laser gives of 2.46 x10-16 J before being turned off. How many
photons have been given off?
Numerical Answers

1. 116 nm
2. 1.14 × 10-19 J
3. 295 nm
4. 1.92 × 1015 Hz
5. 5160 photons
6. 1141 photons
7. 278 nm
8. 7.39 × 105 m/s
9. 279 nm
10. 1.32 × 1015 s-1
11. 292 kJ/mol
12. 5.51 × 1014 Hz
13. 1.51 kJ/mol
14. 2620 photons
15. 1.55 mm
16. 1.49 × 10-19 J