Question:medium

Threshold wavelength of a metal is \(4000\ \text{Å}\). If light of wavelength \(3000\ \text{Å}\) irradiates the surface, the maximum kinetic energy of photoelectron is

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\(hc = 1240\ \text{eV·nm}\) is a useful constant. Here, \(K_{\text{max}} = 1240\left(\frac{1}{300} - \frac{1}{400}\right) = 1240 \times \frac{1}{1200} \approx 1.03\ \text{eV}\).
Updated On: Jun 19, 2026
  • \(1.7\ \text{eV}\)
  • \(1.6\ \text{eV}\)
  • \(1.5\ \text{eV}\)
  • \(1.0\ \text{eV}\)
Show Solution

The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

To find the maximum kinetic energy of the photoelectron, we need to use the photoelectric equation:
\(E_k = h\nu - \phi\),
where \(E_k\) is the kinetic energy of the emitted photoelectron, \(h\nu\) is the energy of the incident photon, and \(\phi\) is the work function of the metal.

  1. First, we convert the given wavelengths into energy using the formula: \(E = \frac{hc}{\lambda}\), where \(h\) is Planck's constant and \(c\) is the speed of light.
  2. The threshold wavelength \(\lambda_0\) is \(4000\ \text{Å}\). The energy of photons with this wavelength (work function) is calculated as:
    \(\phi = \frac{hc}{\lambda_0} = \frac{6.626 \times 10^{-34}\ \text{J}\cdot\text{s} \times 3 \times 10^8\ \text{m/s}}{4000 \times 10^{-10}\ \text{m}}\)
  3. Calculate: \(\phi = 4.97 \times 10^{-19}\ \text{J}\) which is equal to \(3.1\ \text{eV}\) (since 1 eV = \(1.6 \times 10^{-19}\ \text{J}\)).
  4. The wavelength of the incident light \(\lambda\) is \(3000\ \text{Å}\). Its energy \(E\) is calculated as:
    \(E = \frac{hc}{\lambda} = \frac{6.626 \times 10^{-34}\ \text{J}\cdot\text{s} \times 3 \times 10^8\ \text{m/s}}{3000 \times 10^{-10}\ \text{m}}\)
  5. Calculate: \(E = 6.63 \times 10^{-19}\ \text{J}\) which is approximately \(4.14\ \text{eV}\).
  6. Now substitute the values into the photoelectric equation:
    \(E_k = 4.14\ \text{eV} - 3.1\ \text{eV}\)
  7. Solve for \(E_k\):
    \(E_k = 1.04\ \text{eV}\), which can be rounded off to \(1.0\ \text{eV}\) based on given options.

Therefore, the maximum kinetic energy of the photoelectron is \(1.0\ \text{eV}\). Thus, the correct answer is \(1.0\ \text{eV}\).

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