Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 2]PhysicsPhotoelectric Effect and Wave–Particle Duality
When nonmonochromatic light is utilized in a photoelectric effect experiment, the stopping potential
Options
- Adepends on the mean wavelength
- Bdepends on the shortest wavelength
- Cdoes not depend on the wavelength
- Ddepends on the longest wavelength
Correct answer
B. depends on the shortest wavelength
Step-by-step solution
According to Einstein's photoelectric equation, the maximum kinetic energy of emitted photoelectrons is given by K_ = hc - , where is the wavelength of the incident light and is the work function of the material. The stopping potential V₀ is related to the maximum kinetic energy by eV₀ = K_ . When nonmonochromatic light is used, it consists of a range of wavelengths. The photoelectrons with the maximum kinetic energy are those emitted by the incident photons with the highest energy. Since the energy of a photon is