Threshold Frequency & Work Function (AQA A Level Physics): Revision Note

Threshold Frequency

• The photoelectric effect is the phenomenon in which electrons are emitted from the surface of a metal upon the absorption of electromagnetic radiation

• Electrons removed from a metal in this manner are known as photoelectrons

• The photoelectric effect provides important evidence that light behaves as a particle

  • Light is quantised or carried in discrete packets

• This is shown by the fact each electron can absorb only a single photon

• This means only the frequencies of light above a threshold frequency will emit a photoelectron

The photoelectric effect: photoelectrons are emitted from the surface of a metal when light shines on to it

Threshold Frequency & Wavelength

• The threshold frequency is defined as:

The minimum frequency of incident electromagnetic radiation required to remove a photoelectron from the surface of a metal

• The threshold wavelength, related to threshold frequency by the wave equation, is defined as:

The longest wavelength of incident electromagnetic radiation that would remove a photoelectron from the surface of a metal

• Frequency and wavelength are related by the equation:

• Since photons are particles of light, v = c (speed of light)

• Threshold frequency and wavelength are properties of a material, and vary from metal to metal

Threshold frequencies and wavelengths for different metals

The Work Function

• The work function Φ, or threshold energy, of a material, is defined as:

The minimum energy required to release a photoelectron from the surface of a metal

• Consider the electrons in a metal as trapped inside an ‘energy well’ where the energy between the surface and the top of the well is equal to the work function Φ

• A single electron absorbs one photon

• Therefore, an electron can only escape from the surface of the metal if it absorbs a photon which has an energy equal to Φ or higher

In the photoelectric effect, a single photon may cause a surface electron to be released if it has sufficient energy

• Different metals have different threshold frequencies and hence different work functions

• Using the well analogy:

  • A more tightly bound electron requires more energy to reach the top of the well

  • A less tightly bound electron requires less energy to reach the top of the well

• Alkali metals, such as sodium and potassium, have threshold frequencies in the visible light region

  • This is because the attractive forces between the surface electrons and positive metal ions are relatively weak

• Transition metals, such as zinc and iron, have threshold frequencies in the ultraviolet region

  • This is because the attractive forces between the surface electrons and positive metal ions are much stronger

Stopping Potential

• Stopping potential, V_s, is defined as:

The potential difference required to stop photoelectron emission from occurring

• The photons arriving at the metal plate cause photoelectrons to be emitted

  • This is called the emitter plate

• The electrons that cross the gap are collected at the other metal plate

  • This is called the collector plate

This set up can be used to determine the maximum kinetic energy of the emitted photoelectrons

• The flow of electrons across the gap results in an electromotive force (e.m.f.) between the plates that causes a current to flow around the rest of the circuit

  • Effectively, it becomes a photoelectric cell producing a photoelectric current

• If the e.m.f. of the variable power supply is initially zero, the circuit operates only on the photoelectric current

• As the supply is turned up, the emitter plate becomes more positive (because it is connected to the positive terminal of the supply)

• As a result, electrons leaving the emitter plate are attracted back towards it

  • This is because the potential difference (p.d.) across the tube opposes the motion of the electrons between the plates

• If any electrons escape with enough kinetic energy, they can overcome this attraction and cross to the collector plate

  • And if they don't have enough energy, they can't cross the gap

• By increasing the e.m.f. of the supply, eventually, a p.d. will be reached at which no electrons can cross the gap – this is the stopping potential, V_s

• At this point, the energy needed to cross the gap is equal to the maximum kinetic energy  of the electrons

• Therefore, the maximum kinetic energy of the photoelectrons is: 

• Where:

  • = maximum kinetic energy of photoelectrons (i.e. surface electrons)

  • e = charge on an electron

  • V_s = stopping potential

Intensity and Stopping Potential

• Increasing the intensity of the incident radiation on the plate increases

  • The number of photons incident on the metal plate

  • The number of photoelectrons emitted from the plate, i.e. the photoelectric current

• For a given potential difference, increasing the intensity increases the photoelectric current but the stopping potential remains the same

  • This shows that the intensity does not affect the kinetic energy of the photoelectrons

• The maximum kinetic energy of the photons (and photoelectrons) depends only on

  • The frequency (or wavelength) of the incident photons

  • The work function of the metal

• However, if the frequency or wavelength is changed whilst keeping the intensity constant, the photoelectric current will not be constant

• For example, increasing the frequency of the incident radiation whilst keeping the intensity constant will cause the photoelectric current to decrease. This is because: 

  • Increasing the frequency of a source means the energy of each photon increases

  • Keeping intensity the same means the energy transferred per unit area in a given time is constant

  • So, a higher frequency source must emit fewer photons per unit area in a given time than a lower frequency source (of the same intensity)

  • If there are fewer photons incident on a given area each second, the number of electrons emitted each second must decrease

The stopping potential remains constant even at different intensities, which shows that intensity does not affect the kinetic energy of the photoelectrons