Advertisements
Advertisements
Question
Define the work function of a metal. Give its unit.
Solution
The minimum energy needed for an electron to escape from the metal surface is called the work function of that metal. Its unit is electron volt (eV).
APPEARS IN
RELATED QUESTIONS
Find the maximum frequency of X-rays produced by 30 kV electrons.
The work function of caesium metal is 2.14 eV. When light of frequency 6 × 1014 Hz is incident on the metal surface, photoemission of electrons occurs. What is the
(a) maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electrons,
(b) Stopping potential, and
(c) maximum speed of the emitted photoelectrons?
How will the thermionic current vary if the filament current is increased?
Would you prefer a material with a high work-function or a low work-function to be used as a cathode in a diode?
The cathode of a diode valve is replaced by another cathode of double the surface area. Keeping the voltage and temperature conditions the same, will the place current decrease, increase or remain the same?
Answer the following question.
Define the term "Threshold frequency", in the context of photoelectric emission.
Emission of electrons by the absorption of heat energy is called ____________ emission.
Why do metals have a large number of free electrons?
Photoelectric emission is observed from a metallic surface for frequencies ν1 and ν2 of the incident light (ν1 > ν2). If the maximum value of kinetic energy of the photoelectrons emitted in the two cases are in the ration 1 : n then the threshold frequency of the metallic surface is ______.
The work function of a metal is 2.31 eV. Photoelectric emission occurs when the light of frequency 6.4 × 1014 Hz is incident on the metal surface. Calculate
- the energy of the incident radiation,
- the maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electron and
- the stopping potential of the surface.