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Conceptual Questions[Dual Nature Of Light]

Q.1 If the intensity of light falling on the emitting substance of a photoelectric cell is increased then
what will be the effect on [a] current flowing from the cell [b] potential difference required to
stop the current?
A.1 If the intensity of the light falling on the metal surface is increased, it implies that the number of
photons falling on the metal surface per second per unit area are increased. Larger the number
of photons larger will be current. But the stopping potential for electrons will remain same, as
the kinetic energy of the electrons will not change with the intensity.

Q.2 Blue light can eject electrons from a photosensitive surface while orange light cannot. Will violet
and red light eject electrons from this surface?
A.2 As the frequency of violet light is more than the frequency of the blue light it will be able to eject
electrons from the metal surface. Also, since frequency of red light is less than that of the
orange light thus orange light can’t eject electrons from the metal surface.

Q.3 A good quality mirror reflects about 75% of the light incident on it. How will you find out,
whether 25% of the photons have not been reflected at all or all the photons are reflected but
with 25% reduced energy?
A.3 This can be detected easily as if the energy of the photons gets reduced then the wavelength of
the light is increased and the colour of the reflected light will be different from the colour of
incident light.

Q.4 Why are alkali metals most suitable for photosensitive surfaces?
A.4 The work function of alkali metals is very low. Thus, electrons can be ejected from their surface
even by the visible light. Thus, they are most suitable for photosensitive surfaces.

Q.5 Does each incident photon essentially eject a photoelectron?

A.5 No, it is not essential, photoelectric emission can take place only if the frequency of the incident
radiation is more than the threshold frequency of the metal surface.

Q.6 If frequency of the incident light falling on the metal surface is doubled, will the kinetic energy of
the emitted electrons will also be doubled?
A.6 No, the kinetic energy of the emitted electrons will be more than doubled, because incident
energy is doubled but the work function of metal is same.

Q.7 What is threshold frequency for the metal surface? Does it depend upon the intensity of the
intensity of the incident light?
A.7 The minimum frequency of incident photon beam required for the emission of electron from the
metal surface is called threshold frequency. It depends upon the nature of metal surface and is
independent of the intensity of the incident radiation.

Q.8 It is easier to remove an electron from sodium than from copper. What metal has higher value
of work function?
A.8 The minimum energy required to remove an electron from the metal surface without giving
them the kinetic energy is called work function. As it is easier to remove an electron from
sodium than from copper it implies that copper has higher work function.

Q.9 Is their any difference between matter waves and light waves?

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A.9 Yes, the velocity of light waves in vacuum is constant whereas the velocity of matter waves in
vacuum depends upon the wavelength of the matter waves.

Q.10 The work function of copper is 4eV. Will 2 photons each of energy 2.5eV together can eject an
electron from the metal surface?
A.10 One photon can eject only one electron from the metal surface by the process of the transfer of
energy. No, two photons of energy less than the threshold frequency can’t eject an electron
from the metal surface.

Q.11 Explain why saturation current in the photoelectric effect with light of one frequency and
intensity is independent of the anode potential?
A.11 The saturation current or the maximum current, which a photocell can generate, depends upon
the number of photoelectrons emitted per second by the metal surface. The number of
photoelectrons in turn depends upon intensity of the intensity light and is independent of anode
potential.

Q.12 On what factors stopping potential for the metal surface depends?
A.12 As electrons are stopped in their path the kinetic energy gets converted into the potential
energy. Thus, stopping potential depends on KE, which in turns depends upon the frequency of
the incident radiation.

Q.13 The work function of metal is 2eV. Explain this statement.

A.13 This implies that for photoelectric emission to take place from this surface the energy of incident
photon beam should be atleast 2eV.

Q.14 A source of light is at a distance of 1m from the cathode and the cut off potential is found to be
V0. If the source of light is placed 2m apart what will be new cut off potential?
A.14 If we double the distance of source from the metal surface, the intensity of light will reduce to
one fourth but the frequency will remain unchanged. Thus, cut off potential and maximum
kinetic energy are unchanged.

Q.15 How will the photoelectric current change with the change in wavelength of the incident
radiation?
A.15 Photoelectric current depends upon the intensity of incident light and is independent of the
wavelength of light used. Thus increasing or decreasing the wavelength will not change the
photoelectric current in the cell.

Q.16 An increase in frequency increases the velocity of the ejected photoelectrons. Explain.
A.16 With increase in frequency, the energy of the incident photon beam increases. Some part of this
energy is used for overcoming work function and remaining is given to the electron in the form
of KE. Thus, if we increase the frequency of the incident radiation, KE of electrons and thus their
speed will increase.

Q.17 What considerations led de-Broglie to suggest that materials particles can also show dual
character?
A.17 De-broglie suggested that the nature loves symmetry as light possess dual character and matter
and energy are interconvertible thus matter should also possess dual character.

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Q.18 Light of frequency 1.5 times the threshold frequency falls on photosensitive material. If the
frequency is halved and intensity is doubled, what happens to the photoelectric current?
A.18 If the frequency is halved it becomes less than the threshold frequency for the metal surface. In
such a case, no electrons will be emitted from the metal surface and the photoelectric current
becomes zero.

Q.19 A source of light is placed at a distance of 1m from the photocell and the cut off potential is
found to be V0. if the distance is doubled, what will be the cut off potential?
A.19 The cut off potential increases with increase in kinetic energy of the emitted electrons. By
increasing the distance of source the intensity of photon beam decreases and thus the
photoelectric current decreases but kinetic energy remains unchanged. Thus cut off potential will
also be unchanged.

Q.20 Why are De-Broglie waves with moving football not visible?
A.20 Since mass of the football is very large and it is moving with velocity v it’s de-Broglie
wavelength is given by  =h/mv. Since mass is large  is very small and can’t be seen.

Q.21 If the intensity of radiation is increased, how will stopping potential be affected?
A.21 The stopping potential increases with increase in frequency and is independent of the intensity
thus no effect of increase in intensity.

Q.22 How does maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electrons vary with the work function of the
metal surface?
A.22 If work function of the metal is more , then more energy is required to remove an electron from
the surface. Thus, the energy available as maximum kinetic energy of the electron gets reduced.

Q.23 The maximum energy of the electrons is 3eV, what is stopping potential?
A.23 Emax = eVs. Thus if the maximum kinetic energy is 3eV, stopping potential will be 3V.

Q.24 What is the main aim of Davisson and Germer experiment?

A.24 Davission and Germer experiment was performed to show that electrons possess dual character
just like light or energy.

Q.25 For a photosensitive material with threshold wavelength 0. will the photoelectrons be emitted if
the wavelength is more than the threshold wavelength?
A.25 No for photoelectric emission to take place the wavelength should be less than the threshold
wavelength or the frequency of incident radiation should be more than the threshold frequency.

Q.26 de-Broglie wavelength associated with the electron when the accelerating potential is V volt is .
If the accelerating potential is increased to 4V, what is de-Broglie wavelength?
A.26 The de-Broglie wavelength of the electron is inversely proportional to the square root of the
accelerating potential. Thus if potential is increased 4 times the wavelength becomes half.

Q.27 Number of photons increases with the increase in intensity and not with frequency. Why?
A.27 A single photon can eject only single electron from the metal surface. Thus, increasing the
intensity means that the number of photons striking the metal surface per unit area per unit
time is increasing. Thus, the number of electrons emitted also increases. Increasing the
frequency only increases the energy but number of photons striking the metal surface remains
unchanged. Thus electrons emitted also remains unchanged with frequency.

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Q.28 An electron and photon possess same amount of kinetic energy. Which one of them has greater
de-Broglie wavelength? Explain.
A.28 If E is kinetic energy of the particle then its de-Broglie wavelength is given by
h
=
2mE
This means de-Broglie wavelength is inversely proportional to square root of mass of the
particle. As protons are heavier as compared to electrons, their de-Broglie wavelength should be
less than the electrons.

Q.29 Red light however bright it is, cannot produce emission of electrons from the zinc surface, but
weak ultraviolet light can do so. Why
A.29 The threshold frequency of the Zinc surface is more than the frequency of incident red light,
thus no emission can take place using red light. But frequency of ultraviolet light is more than
the threshold frequency of the zinc surface thus emission will take place.

Q.30 The wavelength of the photon and de-Broglie wavelength of the electron have same value. Show
that the energy of the photon is 2mc/h times the kinetic energy of the electron.
A.30 The kinetic energy of electron is
1 2 1 p2 h2
E= mv  
2 2 m 2m2
The energy of photon is
hc
Ep =

Ep hc  2mc
 2

E h h
2m2
2mc
Energy of photon = [KE of electron]
h

Q.31 Every metal has a definite work function, does this imply that all the electrons came out with the
same kinetic energy if the incident radiation is monochromatic? Why is there energy distribution
of photoelectrons?
A.31 By work function we mean the minimum energy required to remove the electron from highest
level of conduction band to get out of the metal surface. Since all the emitted electrons doesn’t
belong to this level, the energy required for their emission is also different, but as the incident
energy is monochromatic the kinetic energy of lower conduction level electrons is less and the
electron possess energy distribution.

Q.32 Ultraviolet light is incident of two metals with work function W 1 and W2 [W1 > W2]. In which case
the kinetic energy of electrons will be greater? Why?
A.32 As work function of first metal is more, more energy is used in emission of the electrons from
the metal surface. Thus, maximum kinetic energy of the electrons will be less in first case. Thus,
metal with work function W2 emits electrons of greater kinetic energy.

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Q.33 The threshold frequency for the metal surface is f 0. If the frequency of the incident light has
frequency 2f0, then the maximum velocity of emitted electrons is v 1. If the frequency of incident
radiation is 5f0, then the maximum velocity of electrons is v2. Find the ratio v2/v1?
A.33 Increasing the frequency from 2f0 to 5f0, the maximum kinetic energy of the electrons becomes
4 times. Thus, the ratio of maximum velocities will be 2;1.

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