What is the effect of increasing the wavelength of incident light on the photoelectric effect?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
What is the effect of increasing the wavelength of incident light on the photoelectric effect?
More electrons are emitted
Fewer electrons are emitted
The kinetic energy of emitted electrons increases
The work function decreases
Increasing the wavelength decreases the frequency of the incident light, which can lead to fewer or no electrons being emitted if the frequency falls below the threshold frequency.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: What is the effect of increasing the wavelength of incident light on the photoelectric effect?
Solution: Increasing the wavelength decreases the frequency of the incident light, which can lead to fewer or no electrons being emitted if the frequency falls below the threshold frequency.
Steps: 6
Step 1: Understand that light can be described by its wavelength and frequency. Wavelength is the distance between two peaks of a wave, while frequency is how many waves pass a point in one second.
Step 2: Know that the frequency and wavelength of light are inversely related. This means that if you increase the wavelength, the frequency decreases.
Step 3: Learn about the photoelectric effect, which is when light hits a material and causes it to emit electrons.
Step 4: Identify the threshold frequency, which is the minimum frequency of light needed to emit electrons from a material.
Step 5: Realize that if the frequency of the incident light decreases (due to an increase in wavelength), it may fall below the threshold frequency.
Step 6: Conclude that if the frequency is below the threshold frequency, fewer or no electrons will be emitted from the material.