Answer to Question #211241 in Electricity and Magnetism for ron

Question

The minimum frequency that causes photo electric effect in a metal is 0.5x10¹⁵Hz. What is the approximate value of work function?

Answer 1

Given,

The minimum frequency of the photo-electric effect $(f_o)=0.5\times 10^{15}Hz$

Approximate work function =?

Photoelectric effect equation $KE= hf-\phi$

For, the emission of the photo-electron, $KE=0$

$\Rightarrow \phi=hf_o$

$\Rightarrow \phi= 6.6\times 10^{-34}\times 0.5\times 10^{15}J$

$\Rightarrow \phi = 3.3\times 10^{-19}J$

Hence,the work function of the photo-electron will be $3.3\times 10^{-19}J$