Physlet Illustration: Photoelectric Effect

 

 

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Photon Energy = eV                   
Metals:      Cesium      Sodium      Calcium      Magnesium      Zinc      Tin      Copper
In this simulation a photon is incident upon a metal surface.  The user may change the metal and vary the energy of the photon between 1.0 and 6.0 eV.  What is the work function of the metal?   

Hints:

  1. What happens to the photon when the energy is less than the work function?
  2. What happens to the photon when the energy is greater than the work function? 
  3. What happens to the electron when the energy is less than the work function?
  4. What happens to the electron when the energy is greater than the work function?
  5. Increase the photon energy until the photon is absorbed and the electron ejected.

Reference

See Walker, Sections 30-2

Illustration written by Chuck Niederriter