How does wavelength affect the photoelectric effect?

1 Answer
Mar 12, 2016

Explanation:

Borrowing some material for this answer:

A single photon, whose wavelength is lower than the threshold wavelength for a specific metal, has the required energy to eject one electron thus creating the observed photoelectric effect.

Einstein used Planck's famous expression E = hnuE=hν, to explain other experimental results of photoelectric effect.

EE being energy, nuν, the frequency of radiated energy and hh is Planck's Constant. We know that speed of light in vacuum cc is related to its frequency nuν and wavelength lambdaλ

c=nulambdac=νλ

Einstein put forward the following equation:

(hc)/lambda_text{ incident}=phi+KE_max

where h is Planck's constant, lambda_text{ incident} wavelength of incident light, phi work function of the metal and KE_max the maximum kinetic energy of the ejected electron(s).

![chemistry-batz.wikispaces.com](useruploads.socratic.org)
For photoelectric effect to occur, the energy of the photon must be greater than the work function.
phi=(hc)/lambda_text{ cut-off}

As the wavelength of the incident light decreases but is lower than the cut-off wavelength, the maximum kinetic energy of the photo electrons increases.