photoelectric effect

Alt+F4

White light (ranging in wavelengths from 380 to 750 nm) is incident on a metal with work function Wo = 2.46 eV.
(a) What is the maximum kinetic energy of the electrons emitted from the surface?

KEmax = eV


E = hf = hc/lamda.

E = (6.626*10^-34)(3*10^8) / (750*10^-9) = 2.6504E-19

I know to get KEmax i need to do 2.35- something = 0


Thanks

Astronuc

Note that energy of the photon is 'inversely proportional' to wavelength, and directly proportional to frequency.

The KE_max(photoelectron) = E_max(photon) - W_o

Alt+F4

so i found emax which was 2.65E-19 right? so wat i would do is 2.65E-19 - 2.35???

mrjeffy321

Your E_max value is the energy contained within the photon of light.
For every photon absorbed (E_max worth of energy), some amount of that energy is spent removing the electron from the metal and the rest goes into the KE of the electron.

KE_max_electron = E_max - W_o
You are given a value for W_o in terms of electronvolts (a unit of energy) and you have previously calculated the E_max value, so you should be able to calculate from here the max KE value of the electron.

1 eV = 1.602176462 E-19 Joules