Science is a complex and challenging subject, as it involves so many principles and concepts that are difficult to memorize. Those student who opt for science have to face many challenges and work hard to get good marks in the exam. In this lesson, students will learn about Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation. The best solution of the problem is to practice as many Physics Class 12 Chapter 11 Important Questions as possible to clear the doubts.
Q 1:- What is photoelectric effect? What are photoelectrons?
Ans:- The phenomenon of emission of electrons from the surface of a metal, when radiations of a frequency equal to or greater than the threshold frequency for that metal is incident on it, is called photoelectric effect. The electrons so ejected are called photoelectrons.
Q 2:- Define the term 'photoelectric work function' of a metal.
Ans:- Photoelectric work function of a metal is the minimum amount of energy required to just eject an electron from the surface of a metal.
Q 3:- Define the term 'stopping potential' in relation to photoelectric effect.
Ans:- The least value of negative (retarding) potential given to the collector plate with respect to the photosensitive emitter plate so as to stop even the fastest moving photoelectron from reaching the collector plate is called the stopping potential. Thus, at stopping potential, photoelectric current becomes zero.
Stopping potential (V0) is a measure of maximum kinetic energy of the photoelectrons. In fact,
eV0 = Kmax
Q 4:- How does the 'stopping potential' in
Photoelectric emission depend upon:
(a) the intensity of the incident radiation in a photocell, and
(b) the frequency of incident radiation?
Ans:-
- (a) The stopping potential for a given photosensitive material is independent of the intensity of the incident radiation.
- (b) For frequencies greater than threshold frequency of a photosensitive material, the stopping potential linearly increases with increase in frequency of incident radiation.
Q 5:- Briefly explain the term 'threshold frequency for a photosensitive metal'.
Ans:- Threshold frequency (v0) for a given photosensitive metal is that minimum frequency for the metal below which no photoelectric emission is possible, no matter how intense the radiation may be or for how long it is incident on the surface.
Value of threshold frequency varies from metal to metal and is correlated to the work function ф0 of the metal as per relation
ф0=hv0.
Q 6:- For a given photosensitive material and with a source of constant frequency (v > v0) of incident radiation, how does the photocurrent vary with the intensity of incident light?
Ans:- For a given photosensitive material and with a source of constant frequency v, which is greater than the threshold frequency, the value of saturation photocurrent is directly proportional to intensity of light and increases linearly with increase in intensity of incident light.
Q 7:- Is photoelectric emission from the surface
of a given metal possible at all frequencies/
wavelengths? Give reason for your answer.
Ans:- No, photoelectron emission is not possible for all frequencies/wavelengths of incident radiation on a metal surface. For causing photoelectric emission, the energy of incident radiation photon must be at least equal to the work function of the given metal.
Read also: Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter Class 12 Physics Notes Chapter 11
Q 8:- Do nonmetals show photoelectric effect?
Why?
Ans:- No, nonmetals do not ordinarily show photoelectric effect because they do not have free (conduction) electrons. Nonmetals have only bound electrons, which cannot be ejected easily.
Q 9:- How does the maximum kinetic energy of electrons emitted from a metal vary with its work function?
Ans:- For radiation of a given high frequency incident on a metal surface, the maximum kinetic energy of emitted photoelectrons is less if work function of metal is high and vice versa. It is in accordance with Einstein's photoelectric equation hv = ф0 + Kmax
Q 10:- A neutron and an α-particle have same momenta. Which has higher wavelength? Give reason. Given that mass of an α-particle is four times the mass of a neutron.
Ans:- Since neutron and α-particle have same value of momenta p, hence their de Broglie wavelengths (λ = h/p) are exactly equal.
Q 11:- If the intensity of the incident radiation in a photocell is increased, how does the stopping potential vary?
Ans:- The value of stopping potential remains unchanged because stopping potential does not depend on the intensity of the incident radiation.
Q 12:- Why are alkali metals the most suited for how photoelectric emission?
Ans:- Atoms of alkali metals have only one electron in the valence orbit, which can be easily made free. So, the work function of alkali metals is very small. Therefore, alkali metals can cause photoelectric emission for even visible light and are, thus, the most suited for photoelectric emission.
Q 13:- Two monochromatic radiations, blue and
violet, of the same intensity, are incident on a photosensitive surface and cause photoelectric emission. Would:
(a) the number of electrons emitted per second, and
(b) the maximum kinetic energy of the electrons, be equal in the two cases. Justify your answer.
Ans:-
(a) As intensity of both radiations, blue and violet, is same, hence the number of electrons emitted per second from the surface will be exactly equal for both radiations. It is because number of photoelectrons ejected per unit time depends on intensity of incident light but is independent of its frequency.
(b) The maximum kinetic energy of ejected photoelectrons increases linearly with increase in frequency of incident light and frequency of violet ligh is more than that of blue light. Hence, maximum kinetic energy of ejected electrons is more for violet light.
Q 14:- Red light, however bright it is, cannot cause the emission of photoelectrons from a clean zinc surface. However, even weak ultraviolet radiation can do so. Why?
Ans:- Threshold frequency of zinc lies in ultraviolet region because work function of zinc is comparatively large. Consequently, red light, whose frequency is less than the threshold
frequency cannot cause photoelectron emission from a zinc surface. Ultraviolet radiation of frequencies greater than threshold frequency can cause emission of photoelectrons irrespective of its intensity.
Q 15:- Electrons are emitted by a photosensitive surface when it is illuminated by green light but no emission takes place by yellow light. Will the electrons be emitted when the surface is illuminated by (a) red light, and (b) blue light?
Ans:- We know that for constituent colours of white light, the frequency gradually increases from red side to blue-violet side. As the given photosensitive material allows electron emission for green light but not for yellow light, the threshold frequency lies in green region.
(a) As frequency of red light is even less than that of yellow light, no photoelectric emission is possible with red light.
(b) As frequency of blue light is even greater than that of green light, photoelectric emission will definitely take place for blue light.
Read also: Class 12 Physics Chapter 11 MCQs with Answer Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter with Answer
Q 16:- Every metal has a definite work function. If incident radiation is monochromatic, then why do all the photoelectrons not come out with the same energy?
Ans:- Because of the energy distribution of free electrons in a metal, the energy required to eject an electon from the metal surface is different for different electrons. Work function of a metal is the least energy required by an electron to come out of the metal. Thus, although incident light is monochromatic (of same frequency and hence energy), the ejected photoelectrons have different values of kinetic energy.
Q 17:- Is it essential that each incident photon on a photosensitive metal surface should eject a
photoelectron? Explain in brief.
Ans:- The number of photoelectrons being emitted by a metal surface is proportional to the intensity of light (or the number of incident photons) but we cannot claim that each incident photon will cause ejection of a photoelectron. An electron is ejected when an incident photon is absorbed by a stationary free electron such that energy provided by the photon is absorbed by a
stationary free electron so that energy provided by the photon is sufficient to eject the electron. As absorption of a photon by an electron in metal is statistical phenomenon, we are not sure about emission of electron for each incident photon.
Q 18:- A source of light of frequency greater than the threshold frequency is placed at a distance of 1 m from the emitter plate of a photoelectric cell. The stopping potential is found to be V. If the distance of the light source from the emitter is reduced, explain giving reason, what change will you observe in the (a) photoelectric current, and (b) stopping potential.
Ans:- When source of light is brought closer to the emitter plate of a photoelectric cell, the frequency of light remains unchanged but intensity of light incident on the emitter plate increases in accordance with inverse square law. As a result:
(a) the number of photoelectrons ejected per unit time and consequently, the photoelectric current increases.
(b) the maximum energy of ejected photoelectrons and hence, the value of stopping potential remains unchanged.
Q 19:- In Davisson and Germer's experiment, state
tlhe observations which led to:
(a) show the wave nature of electrons, and
(b) confirm the de Broglie relation.
Ans:- (a) In Davisson and Germer's experiment, it was observed that electrons are diffracted by crystals. As only a wave can exhibit diffraction, it shows that moving electrons behave as waves.
(b) While studying the variation of the intensity of the scattered electrons with angle of scattering, Davisson and Germer observed a sharp peak for a certain angle. It was on account of constructive interference of electrons scattered from different layers of lattice of the crystal. From the electron diffraction experiment, the wavelength of electron waves was measured, which was found to be in an excellent agreement with de Broglie's theoretical value. Thus, the experiment confirmed the de Broglie relation.