How much energy is carried by one quantum of these electromagnetic waves?

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around problems related to electromagnetic waves and the photoelectric effect, specifically focusing on energy calculations associated with various wavelengths and work functions of metals.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss using Planck's formula to calculate energy from frequency for electromagnetic waves. There are inquiries about the conversion of energy from joules to electronvolts and the implications of calculated values in the context of the photoelectric effect.

Discussion Status

Several participants are actively engaging with the problems, attempting calculations and seeking clarification on conversion factors. There is a mix of approaches being explored, particularly regarding the application of Planck's constant and the interpretation of results in relation to the photoelectric effect.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working within the constraints of homework problems, which require specific answers in electronvolts and involve understanding the relationships between energy, frequency, and work functions of different metals.

mustang
Messages
169
Reaction score
0
Problem 6.
Radiation emitted from human skin reaches its peak at wavelength=960um.
How much energy is carried by one quantum of these electromagnetic waves? Answer in eV.
I have found that the frequency is 3.125*10^11 Hz.
Note: What do I do?

Problem 8. Light of wavelength 350 nm falls on a potassium surface, and the photoelectrons have a maximum kinetic energy of 1.3 eV.
What is the work function of potassium? Answer in eV.

Problem 17.
Light of wavelength 3*10^-7 m shines on the metal lithium, iron , and mercury which have work functions of 2.3 eV, 3.9 eV, and 4.5eV, respectively.
For those metals that do exhibit the photoelectric effect, what is the maximum energy of the photoelectrons?
where do I start? :happy:
 
Physics news on Phys.org
mustang said:
Problem 6.
Radiation emitted from human skin reaches its peak at wavelength=960um.
How much energy is carried by one quantum of these electromagnetic waves? Answer in eV.
I have found that the frequency is 3.125*10^11 Hz.
Note: What do I do?
Use Plack's Constant.


Problem 8. Light of wavelength 350 nm falls on a potassium surface, and the photoelectrons have a maximum kinetic energy of 1.3 eV.
What is the work function of potassium? Answer in eV.

Calculate the frequency, use Planck's constant to find the energy. Subtract 1.3eV from the energy you calculated, that is the work function.
Work function is the energy required to pull an electron from an atom and have 0 kinetic energy. For these equations, it goes like this:
light energy = work function + photoelectric kinetic energy.


Problem 17.
Light of wavelength 3*10^-7 m shines on the metal lithium, iron , and mercury which have work functions of 2.3 eV, 3.9 eV, and 4.5eV, respectively.
For those metals that do exhibit the photoelectric effect, what is the maximum energy of the photoelectrons?
where do I start? :happy:

Calculate the frequency, calculate the energy with Planck's constant. Take that energy and subtract 2.3 eV for lithium. Subtract 3.9 eV for iron. Subtract 4.5 eV for mercury. Do each of those subtractions separately. If the resulting number is negative, photoelectrons do not come from that metal. Due to the wording of the question ("For those metals that do exhibit the photoelectric effect"), I would suspect mercury does not let go of electrons. That's just suspicion though.
 
Last edited:
In regards for problem 6.

So for problem 6.
I would use the Plack's formula: E=hf
Where the f=3.125*10^11Hz and the h=6.63*10^-34 and solve for E?
 
mustang said:
So for problem 6.
I would use the Plack's formula: E=hf
Where the f=3.125*10^11Hz and the h=6.63*10^-34 and solve for E?

Yes. And then convert the answer, in J, to eV.
 
Problem 6.

For problems 6 I multiplied f with h and got 2.071875*10^-22 .If this is right what is the number (1.6*10^-6, I think) to convert this answer into eV.
 
mustang said:
For problems 6 I multiplied f with h and got 2.071875*10^-22 .If this is right what is the number (1.6*10^-6, I think) to convert this answer into eV.

1 J = 1.6e-19 eV
 
Correction:
[tex]1 eV = 1.6 \times 10^{-19}J[/tex]
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
8K
Replies
2
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K