Photoelectric current: why does it decrease?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the relationship between wavelength and photoelectric current, specifically addressing the phenomenon where a decrease in wavelength, while maintaining constant intensity, results in a decrease in photoelectric current. Participants clarify that while shorter wavelengths can release electrons from deeper within a material, the overall number of emitted electrons may decrease due to insufficient energy for those electrons to escape the surface. The critical wavelength mentioned is 240 nm, which yields maximum photoelectric current under the specified conditions.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the photoelectric effect
  • Knowledge of photon energy and wavelength relationships
  • Familiarity with electron emission from metal surfaces
  • Basic principles of electromagnetic radiation
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the photoelectric effect and its mathematical formulation
  • Learn about the relationship between photon energy and wavelength in electromagnetic radiation
  • Explore experiments involving stopping potentials in photoelectric experiments
  • Investigate the effects of material properties on electron emission efficiency
USEFUL FOR

Students of physics, researchers in materials science, and anyone studying the principles of the photoelectric effect and its applications in modern technology.

BasilBassam
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In my book it is stated.When you keep the intensity constant and decrease the wavelength the photoelectric current decreases but I can't understand why?

I thought it would stay the same since photoelectric current depends on the intensity of photons as more number oh photons means more e- released
 
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Are you talking about stopping potentials experiments? As in when EM radiation falls on a plate A and a potential difference is applied across plates A and B such that B is more negative?
 
Should that not be the other way around?

The electrons are not just being released from the surface. The ones further inside need to have more energy to escape the surface. If the wavelength of light is shorter electrons from further inside will make it out.
 
The experiment is you supply light (photons) on a metal surface to release e-
then they said 240 nm wavelength of radiation gives Max Photoelectric current.After that they said Intensity is constant and wavelength is reduced causing the current to decrease but I simply can't understand why
 

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