Need to understand about the photoelectric effect

AI Thread Summary
The discussion clarifies the relationship between frequency, intensity, and the photoelectric effect. Frequency (f) relates to the energy of photons (E = hf) and is determined by the light's color, while intensity refers to the number of photons impacting a surface per unit area. Increasing frequency raises the energy of ejected electrons but does not increase their number if intensity remains constant; instead, fewer electrons are emitted. Intensity can be increased by raising the number of photons, which results in more electrons being ejected without affecting their speed. The conversation also touches on the necessity of a battery in circuits to create a voltage that facilitates electron movement between electrodes.
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Hello my question involves what exactly is the frequency and intensity of the light. The E = hf applies to the photon particle aspect of light right? So where is f from, the wave aspect? Also increase f, which increases E makes the electrons eject faster in terms of kinetic energy right, but not increase in numbers. The intensity is what increases the number of electrons ejected but not speed? So is intensity part of the wave aspect? And how is it all related?
 
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sssddd said:
Hello my question involves what exactly is the frequency and intensity of the light.

it is what is set by the device emitting it. intensity is the power of radiation crossing a perpendicular surface (to the wave direction) per unit area. power is the time rate of change of the energy passing that surface.

The E=hf applies to the photon particle aspect of light right? So where is f from, the wave aspect?

f is determined by the color of the light. if it's white, there will be lot'sa different frequencies and lot'sa different electron energies.

Also increase f, which increases E makes the electrons eject faster in terms of kinetic energy right, but not increase in numbers.

if the intensity is constant, the number of electrons (per unit time) ejected will have to decrease (but there would be more average energy per electron) if f increases.

The intensity is what increases the number of electrons ejected but not speed?

all other parameters held constant, yes. but if the frequency changes and intensity held constant, the number of electrons emitted per unit time will change (inversely).
 
ok sounds like I'm on the right track. Just a little more, if frequency is constant. Increase in intensity the same as increase in power will eject more electrons. How does that work, more energy per length of time is distributed over each electrons, so more electrons ejected right. Now how does intensity connect with the wave aspect.

Also with frequency, could you please clarify a little more about the whole color thing, I thought color was waves and not particle. How does colors tie to the particle aspect. And if intensity is constant, and frequency increases, which is more energy per electron, how does frequency affect the numbers when intensity is constant. You said it decrease?

Oh by the way new question when this is tested in a circuit, why do u need a battery? Does the battery create a voltage that help electrons ejected go from cathode to anode bteween two plates like a capacitor? It will end up like a capacitor right
 
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sssddd said:
ok sounds like I'm on the right track. Just a little more, if frequency is constant. Increase in intensity the same as increase in power will eject more electrons. How does that work, more energy per length of time is distributed over each electrons, so more electrons ejected right. Now how does intensity connect with the wave aspect.

increase the number of photons (of the same energy) and more energy is crossing your surface therefore intensity increases.

Also with frequency, could you please clarify a little more about the whole color thing, I thought color was waves and not particle. How does colors tie to the particle aspect.

it's a "wave-particle duality". this is what it is all about. waves with frequencies of f are associated with particles with energy of E = h f.

And if intensity is constant, and frequency increases, which is more energy per electron, how does frequency affect the numbers when intensity is constant. You said it decrease?

if the intensity is constant and the frequency increases, the number of photons is less.

Oh by the way new question when this is tested in a circuit, why do u need a battery? Does the battery create a voltage that help electrons ejected go from cathode to anode bteween two plates like a capacitor? It will end up like a capacitor right

you need an adjustable DC voltage source to oppose the electrons emitted and you increase the voltage until the current from emission just barely gets to zero. the electon charge times the voltage is the energy of the electron. that gives you the "E" and the color gives you the "f" and from enough points (different colors, different energies) you can get "h".
 
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