COMEDK20269 May 2026Morning ShiftChemistryStructure of AtomActual
In the photoelectric emission, the energy of the emitted electron is:
Options
- Agreater than the energy of the incident photon
- Bproportional to the intensity of the incident photon
- Csame as that of the incident photon
- Dsmaller than the energy of the incident photon
Correct answer
D. smaller than the energy of the incident photon
Step-by-step solution
According to Einstein's photoelectric equation, the maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electron is given by: K_ = E - where E is the energy of the incident photon and is the work function of the material. Since the work function is always positive for any material, the maximum kinetic energy K_ is strictly less than the energy of the incident photon E . The actual kinetic energy of an emitted electron ranges from 0 to K_ . Therefore, the energy of the emitted electron is always smaller than the energy of the inc