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PHYSICS, M7 2024 HSC 16 MC

The graph shows the relationship between the maximum kinetic energy of emitted photoelectrons and the incident photon energy for four different metal surfaces.
 

Light of frequency is incident on the metals.

From which metals are photoelectrons emitted?

  1. , only
  2. , only
  3. All of the metals
  4. None of the metals
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→ The photon energy for a light frequency of is:

→ The energy of the light frequency in electron volts.

→ Photoelectrons will only be emitted if the energy of the incident photons is enough to overcome the work function of the metals. On the graph above, the work function of each metal is the same value as the x-intercepts of their respective graphs.

→ Therefore photoelectrons will be emitted from potassium and lithium as the energy of the incident photons is greater than the work functions of these metals.

♦ Mean mark 47%.

PHYSICS, M7 2021 VCE 15

A photoelectric experiment is carried out by students. They measure the threshold frequency of light required for photoemission to be 6.5 × 10 Hz and the work function to be 3.2 × 10 J.

Using the students' measurements, what value would they calculate for Planck's constant? Outline your reasoning and show all your working. Give your answer in joule-seconds.   (3 marks)

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PHYSICS, M7 2023 HSC 23b

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is sensitive to wavelengths from  6.0 10 m  to  2.8 10 m.

What is the minimum photon energy that it can detect?  (3 marks)

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→ The minimum photon energy corresponds to the minimum frequency.

→ Minimum frequency occurs at the maximum wavelength as frequency and wavelength are inversely proportional.

 
   
   
   

PHYSICS, M7 EQ-Bank 32

Applying the law of conservation of energy, explain why  .   (3 marks)

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→ The law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or transformed into different forms. 

→ The initial energy of a photon is equal to .

→ If this photon strikes a metal surface, a photoelectron may be released. Some energy is required to remove the electron from the metal surface which is equal to the work function () of the metal.

→ The electron will also possess kinetic energy, .

→ Applying the law of conservation of energy, the energy before equals the energy after, or  .

→ Rearranging this gives  .

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→ The law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or transformed into different forms. 

→ The initial energy of a photon is equal to .

→ If this photon strikes a metal surface, a photoelectron may be released. Some energy is required to remove the electron from the metal surface which is equal to the work function () of the metal.

→ The electron will also possess kinetic energy, .

→ Applying the law of conservation of energy, the energy before equals the energy after, or  .

→ Rearranging this gives  .

PHYSICS, M7 2017 HSC 21

A laser emits light of wavelength 550 nm.

  1. Calculate the frequency of this light.   (2 marks)
  1. The electrons in a specific metal must absorb a minimum of    in order to be ejected from its surface.
  2. Explain why electrons will not be ejected from this metal when photons of wavelength 550 nm strike its surface. Support your answer with relevant calculations.   (3 marks)

 

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a.   

b.   
   

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a.
 
   
   

 

b.
   
   

 
→ The work function of the metal sample is  .

→ Since the incident photon energy of    is less than  , they are unable to eject electrons from the metal.