Photoelectric Effect: Find K.E. of Photoelectron in Air, Cs-137

The problem is a bit silly because it does not give you any information to solve it. In summary, the problem involves finding the kinetic energy of a photoelectron in eV, but the necessary information to solve it is not provided.
  • #1
Espid
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1

Homework Statement


The gamma photon emitted by the nucleus of the cesium isotope with 137 mass number is absorbed with photoeffect. The absorbing medium is air, assume the work function to be 34 ev. What will be the kinetic energy of the photoelectron in eV?

Homework Equations


hf=K+Φ

The Attempt at a Solution


The equation is simple to use but I don't understand how I can find out the frequency of the gamma ray from the problem statement.

Thank you in advance.
 
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  • #3

1. What is the photoelectric effect?

The photoelectric effect is the phenomenon where electrons are emitted from a material when it is exposed to light of a certain frequency or higher. This effect was first observed by Heinrich Hertz in 1887 and was later explained by Albert Einstein in 1905 through his theory of quantum mechanics.

2. How is the photoelectric effect used to find the kinetic energy of a photoelectron?

The kinetic energy of a photoelectron can be found by using the equation: KE = hf - φ, where KE is the kinetic energy, h is Planck's constant, f is the frequency of the incident light, and φ is the work function of the material. In this case, the work function would be the minimum energy required to remove an electron from the material.

3. What is Cs-137 and how is it related to the photoelectric effect?

Cs-137, or Cesium-137, is a radioactive isotope that emits gamma rays. These gamma rays can cause the photoelectric effect to occur in materials that they interact with. This can be used to study the photoelectric effect and determine the kinetic energy of the photoelectrons emitted.

4. How does the photoelectric effect work in air?

In air, the photoelectric effect occurs when photons of light collide with atoms or molecules, causing electrons to be emitted. These emitted electrons can then interact with other atoms or molecules in the air, creating a cascade effect. This process continues until the electrons are absorbed or lose enough energy to no longer cause further ionization.

5. Can the photoelectric effect be used for any other applications?

Yes, the photoelectric effect has many practical applications. It is commonly used in photovoltaic cells to convert light energy into electrical energy. It is also used in photoelectric sensors, such as those found in automatic doors or motion detectors. Additionally, the photoelectric effect is used in photoelectron spectroscopy to study the electronic structure of materials.

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