Photoelectric Effect Flashcards
Define photoelectric effect
The process whereby electrons are ejected from a metal surface when light of a suitable frequency is incident on the surface
Define threshold frequency
The minimum frequency of light needed to emit electrons from a certain metal surface
Define work function
The minimum amount of energy than an electron needs in a metal to be ejected from the surface of the metal
Define an atomic absorption spectrum
It is formed when certain frequencies of electromagnetic radiation passes through a medium
What is an atomic emission spectrum
It is formed when certain frequencies of electromagnetic radiation are emitted due to an atoms electrons making a transition from a high energy state to a lower energy state
Why do electrons need energy to be ejected from the surface of the metal?
The protons are exerting attractive forces upon the electrons, hence why energy is required
When will an electron be released from the metal surface
1.If the energy of the photon is bigger or equal to the work function of the metal
2. If the frequency of light is bigger than or equal to the threshold frequency
What happens if the light shined on the metal is greater than the work function
The extra energy will be converted to kinetic energy
What will happen if the energy of the photon and the work function are equal
The electron will break away fromthe metal but it will remain on the metal’s surface as it does not have enough energy to move away
What represents the gradient and the y - intercept
The gradient is represented by h Planck’s constant and the y intercept is represented by work function
