Question:medium

In a photoemissive cell with exciting wavelength $λ$, the fastest electron has a speed $v$. If the exciting wavelength is changed to $\frac34λ$, then the speed of the fastest emitted electron will be

Show Hint

In photoelectric effect, $K_\max = \frachcλ - φ$, so speed does not scale directly with $1/λ$.
Updated On: May 24, 2026
  • $v\left(\frac34\right)¹/2$
  • $v\left(\frac43\right)¹/2$
  • less than $v\left(\frac43\right)¹/2$
  • greater than $v\left(\frac43\right)¹/2$
Show Solution

The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

The problem is regarding the photoelectric effect, where electrons are ejected from a metal surface when illuminated by light of a certain wavelength. The key formula that governs this problem is the photoelectric equation given by Einstein:

\(E = \frac{1}{2}mv^2 + \phi\)

Where:

  • \(E\) is the energy of the incident photon,
  • \(\frac{1}{2}mv^2\) is the kinetic energy of the emitted electron,
  • \(v\) is the velocity of the emitted electron, and
  • \(\phi\) is the work function of the metal surface.

The energy of a photon is given by:

\(E = \frac{hc}{\lambda}\)

Where:

  • \(h\) is Planck's constant,
  • \(c\) is the speed of light, and
  • \(\lambda\) is the wavelength of the incident light.

Initially, the wavelength is \(\lambda\), and the speed of the fastest electron is \(v\). By applying the photoelectric equation:

\(\frac{hc}{\lambda} = \frac{1}{2}mv^2 + \phi\)

When the wavelength changes to \(\frac{3}{4}\lambda\), the energy of the photon increases:

\(\frac{hc}{\frac{3}{4}\lambda} = \frac{hc}{\lambda} \times \frac{4}{3}\)

The new equation for kinetic energy becomes:

\(\frac{hc}{\lambda} \times \frac{4}{3} = \frac{1}{2}m(v')^2 + \phi\)

By subtracting the two equations, we eliminate the work function:

\(\frac{hc}{\lambda} \left(\frac{4}{3} - 1\right) = \frac{1}{2}m\left((v')^2 - v^2\right)\)

Simplifying gives:

\(\frac{hc}{\lambda} \times \frac{1}{3} = \frac{1}{2}m\left((v')^2 - v^2\right)\)

Solving for \(v'\), the speed of the fastest electron with the new wavelength:

\((v')^2 = v^2 + \frac{2}{3}\frac{hc}{\lambda m}\)

And, knowing \(\frac{hc}{\lambda} = \frac{1}{2}mv^2 + \phi\), simplifies to:

\((v')^2 = v^2 + \frac{2}{3}\times\left[\frac{1}{2}v^2\right]\)

Simplifying further, we have:

\((v')^2 = v^2 \left(1 + \frac{1}{3}\right) = v^2 \times \frac{4}{3}\)

Finally,

\(v' = v \times \sqrt{\frac{4}{3}}\)

So, the speed of the fastest emitted electron is:

\(v' < v \times \left(\frac{4}{3}\right)^{1/2}\)

Correct Answer: less than \(v\left(\frac{4}{3}\right)^{1/2}\)

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