- #1
Karimz
- 4
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Hello. This is actually my first post in these forums and I've never really thought of posing my questions online but I've decided to give it a try.
Well about the Vacuum Photocell. I know what the setup looks like and all, but there's one thing I don't get. I'm going to say everything I know in here, so please feel free to correct me: There's a plate and a ring in the photocell surrounded by vacuum. Now if the plate is connected to the -ve terminal of a generator, it will be the -vely charged cathode while the ring becomes relatively positively charged. Supposing the UV radiation is of enough energy to extract the electrons from the plate, these electrons which leave the plate will be absorbed by the +vely charged ring and a complete circuit is achieved. What if the polarities are reversed though? What happens? The plate becomes +vely charged while the ring is now -vely charged. So now the radiation will extract electrons from this +ve plate which will be attracted/absorbed again by the plate when they leave it? Moreover, I don't really get the "cut-off potential" concept. What is really going on in the photocell, in other words? Have I misunderstood the whole concept?
Thanks in advance
Well about the Vacuum Photocell. I know what the setup looks like and all, but there's one thing I don't get. I'm going to say everything I know in here, so please feel free to correct me: There's a plate and a ring in the photocell surrounded by vacuum. Now if the plate is connected to the -ve terminal of a generator, it will be the -vely charged cathode while the ring becomes relatively positively charged. Supposing the UV radiation is of enough energy to extract the electrons from the plate, these electrons which leave the plate will be absorbed by the +vely charged ring and a complete circuit is achieved. What if the polarities are reversed though? What happens? The plate becomes +vely charged while the ring is now -vely charged. So now the radiation will extract electrons from this +ve plate which will be attracted/absorbed again by the plate when they leave it? Moreover, I don't really get the "cut-off potential" concept. What is really going on in the photocell, in other words? Have I misunderstood the whole concept?
Thanks in advance