The work function of a material is 3.5 eV. If the material is illuminated with monochromatic lig

step 1 In this question, it is about photoelectric effect. So you have a material. The work function is

The work function of a material is 3.5 eV. If the material...

The work function of a material is $3.5 \mathrm{eV}$. If the material is illuminated with monochromatic light $(\lambda=300 \mathrm{nm}),$ what are (a) the stopping potential and (b) the cutoff frequency?

Key Concepts

Cutoff Frequency

The cutoff frequency is the minimum frequency of incident light required to initiate photoelectron emission. It is determined by setting the photon's energy equal to the work function of the material. This concept defines the threshold condition: photons with frequencies below this value do not have sufficient energy to eject electrons from the surface.

Stopping Potential

The stopping potential is the electric potential required to stop the most energetic photoelectrons emitted from a material under illumination. It is related to the maximum kinetic energy of the electrons by the equation eV = Kmax. Calculating the stopping potential allows one to quantify the excess energy of the photons after overcoming the work function.

Work Function

The work function is the minimum energy required to remove an electron from the surface of a material. It is a characteristic property of the material and is typically expressed in electron volts (eV). In the context of the photoelectric effect, only photons with energy equal to or greater than this work function can cause electron emission.

Photoelectric Effect

The photoelectric effect is the phenomenon in which electrons are emitted from a material when it is exposed to light or electromagnetic radiation with a frequency above a certain threshold. This effect illustrates the particle nature of light, where each photon transfers its energy to an electron, and if this energy exceeds the material’s work function, the electron is ejected.

Photon Energy

Photon energy quantifies the energy carried by a single photon and is given by the formula E = hc/?, where h is Planck’s constant, c is the speed of light, and ? is the wavelength of the light. This concept is crucial in determining whether the incident photons have enough energy to overcome the material’s work function.

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