Questions on photoelectric effect

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the photoelectric effect, specifically analyzing a monochromatic light beam of wavelength λ=500nm incident on a sodium surface with a work function of W=3.7e-19 J (2.3 eV). Key calculations include the momentum of a photon, frequency, energy, and the maximum kinetic energy of emitted electrons. The participants clarify that the cutoff potential is equivalent to the work function and emphasize the importance of correctly applying the energy equations: E = hf = K + W. Miscalculations regarding kinetic energy were addressed, confirming that kinetic energy must be positive.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the photoelectric effect
  • Familiarity with the equations: p = h/λ, E = hf, and E = K + W
  • Knowledge of the concepts of work function and cutoff frequency
  • Basic principles of wave-particle duality in quantum mechanics
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation and implications of the photoelectric effect using Einstein's equation
  • Learn about the significance of the cutoff frequency in photoemission
  • Explore the differences between work function and cutoff potential in detail
  • Investigate the applications of the photoelectric effect in modern technology, such as photovoltaic cells
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Students studying physics, educators teaching quantum mechanics, and researchers interested in the applications of the photoelectric effect in technology.

EdJr
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Hello!
First of all, this is my first post here. I hope it's on the right thread.
I managed to answer most of the questions, but I think at least some of them are wrong (for example, d)). Any help would be really appreciated.

Homework Statement


A monochromatic light beam of wavelength λ=500nm hits a clean sodium (Na) surface. The work function of sodium is W=3.7e-19 J = 2.3 eV.
a) What is the magnitude of the momentum of one photon of this beam?
b) What are the frequency and the energy of such photon?
c) What is the cutoff frequency of sodium? Graph it.
d) Will there be emission of electrons? If so, what is the maximum kinetic energy of an emitted electron?
e) What is the cutoff potential for a cesium plate illuminated by photons of wavelength λ=400nm, considering that the maximum kinetic energy of the photoelectrons is 2.23 eV?

Homework Equations


p = h/λ
f = c/λ
E = hf = K+W

The Attempt at a Solution


a)[/B] p = h/λ
p = h/500e-9
p = 1.32e-27 (kg*m)/s

b)
f = c/λ
f = c/500e-9
f = 6e14 Hz
E = hf
E ≈ 3.97e-19 J

c)
f = E/h
f = 3.7e-19/h
f ≈ 5.6e14 Hz
I think the graph is something like this, V0 being equal to W (I guess), and v0 being equal to f.

d) Since E = 3.97e-19 J is greater than W = 3.7e-19 J, there will be electron emission.
The kinetic energy will be:
E = K + W
3.97e-19 J = K + 3.7e19 J
K ≈ - 2.3 eV
I think this is wrong, because the kinetic energy shouldn't be negative, right? Is the formula wrong? Or am I using the wrong one?
(Edit: I think I just forgot the minus in the second exponent... The result, then, should be: 3.97e-19 J = K + 3.7e-19 J ≈ 2.7e-20 J ≈ 0.1685 eV)

e)
I'm not sure how to solve this one... Is the cutoff potential the same thing as the work function? If so, I'll run into the same problem as the previous one. If not, I have no idea how to solve this.

Thank you in advance!
 
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EdJr said:
3.97e-19 = K + 3,7e19
Good so far (apart from the typo and missing units)
EdJr said:
K ≈ - 2.3 eV
How did you get that?
Yes, kinetic energy should be positive. You have to add something positive to 3.7e-19 J to get 3.97e-19 J as the second number is larger.

EdJr said:
Is the cutoff potential the same thing as the work function?
Yes. (e) is like (d), just going in the opposite direction.
 
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Hello, E is the energy of the incident photon, and as you said is larger that the work function, the formula you used in (d) looks fine(regardless of sign mistakes), take a look at it you just recalculate
(e)Use E=W+K
You know the kinetic energy + you know the energy of photon so work it out !
I encourage you and sorry if I made any syntax mistake ...
 
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Thanks for the fast responses!

mfb said:
Good so far (apart from the typo and missing units)
How did you get that?
Yes, kinetic energy should be positive. You have to add something positive to 3.7e-19 J to get 3.97e-19 J as the second number is larger.
Oh, that was really silly on my part. The typo was exactly what led to the wrong result. I thought the missing units weren't required at that point, but good to know.
So, it should be 3.97e-19 J = K + 3.7e-19 J, with the result being ≈ 0.1685 eV... Right?

mfb said:
Yes. (e) is like (d), just going in the opposite direction.
Hmm, ok. So, I tried this here:
f = c/λ
f ≈ 7.49e14 Hz
E = hf
E ≈ 4.966e-19 J
E = K + W
4.966e-19 J = 2.23 eV + W
W ≈ 1.39e-19 J

Is that right?
I'm still thinking that the cutoff potential and the work function aren't the same thing, since I've read in several places about them as different variables. Anyway, I couldn't find a formula to calculate it.

Noctisdark said:
I encourage you and sorry if I made any syntax mistake ...
Thanks for the encouragement!
 
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EdJr said:
So, it should be 3.97e-19 J = K + 3.7e-19 J, with the result being ≈ 0.1685 eV... Right?
Right.
EdJr said:
W ≈ 1.39e-19 J
Right.
 

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