In: Physics
What is the theoretical minimum frequency a photon must have in order to create a photoelectron? Show work to support your answer.
Certain amount of energy of photon required inorder to eject the electrons from the metal surface. This minimum energy or threshold energy of the photon can be achived at a certian frequency of the photon. This frequency is called as threshold frequency of the photon. If the photon has the energy as big as the metal work fuction,the photon energy can be transferred to the electrons and the electrons can be escaped from the metal with rest energy used from the photon energy
Energy of photon = work fuction + kinetic energy
hc/ = energy of photon at a given wavelength
= work fuction of metal surface
1/2 (m) v2 = kinetic eenrgy of ejected electrons
Therefore we can work from the following equation to eject photo electrons from the surface
hc/ = + 1/2 (m) v2