Question

According to Einstein's photoelectric equation, the graph between the kinetic energy of photoelectrons ejected and the frequency of incident radiation is

• A.
• B.
• C.
• D.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

To solve this question, we'll need to delve into Einstein’s photoelectric equation which relates the kinetic energy of photoelectrons and the frequency of the incident light. The equation is given by:

K.E. = h\nu - \phi,

where:

• K.E. is the kinetic energy of the emitted photoelectrons,
• h is Planck’s constant,
• \nu is the frequency of the incident light,
• \phi is the work function of the material.

From the equation, it is clear that the kinetic energy of the photoelectrons increases linearly with the frequency of the incident radiation, above a certain threshold frequency. This threshold is determined by the work function \phi. Below this threshold frequency, no photoelectrons are emitted regardless of the intensity of the incident light.

Now, let’s look at the graphical representation options provided and identify the correct one.

The graph between the kinetic energy of the photoelectrons and the frequency of incident radiation should be a straight line with a positive slope starting at frequency \nu_0 (threshold frequency), where \nu_0 = \frac{\phi}{h}.

The correct graph from the options aligns with our understanding: it shows a straight line that starts at the threshold frequency and increases with a slope equal to Planck's constant h.

Therefore, the correct answer is the third option, which accurately represents the relationship according to Einstein’s photoelectric equation.