 HOTS QUESTIONS ON DUAL NATURE

HIMANSHU MAHAJAN (PHYSICS EDUCATOR) 9891574257 , 7042574657

1) Monochromatic light of frequency 6.0 × 1014 Hz is produced by a laser. The power emitted is 2.0 ×10−3
W. (i) What is the energy of each photon in the light ? (ii) How many photons per second, on the
average, are emitted by the source ?
2) A monochromatic source, emitting light of wavelength, 600 nm, has a power output of 66 W. Calculate
the number of photons emitted by this source in 2 minutes.
3) The work function of caesium is 2.14 eV. Find (a) the threshold frequency for caesium, and (b) the
wavelength of the incident light if the photocurrent is brought to zero by a stopping potential of 0.60 eV.
4) The following table gives the values of work function for a few photosensitive metals :

If each of these metals is exposed to radiations of wavelength 300 nm, which of them will not emit
photoelectrons and why ?
5) Photoelectrons are emitted from a metal surface when uV light of wavelength λ = 300 nm is incident on
it. The minimum negative potential required to stop the emission of electrons is 0.54 V. Calculate :
(i) the energy of the incident photons
(ii) the maximum kinetic energy of the photoelectrons emitted
(iii) the work function of the metal
Express all answers in eV.
6) For photoelectric effect in sodium, Fig. shows the plot of cut-off voltage versus frequency of incident
radiations. Calculate :
(i) the threshold frequency.
(ii) the work function for sodium.

7) Using the graph shown in fig. for stopping potential vs. the incident frequency of photons, calculate
Planck’s constant.

8) If photoelectrons are to be emitted from a potassium surface with a speed of 6 × 106 𝑚𝑠 −1 , what
frequency of radiation must be used ? (Threshold frequency for potassium is 4.22 × 1014 Hz, h = 6.6 ×
10−34 Js and 𝑚𝑒 = 9.1 × 10−31 kg).
9) By how much would the stopping potential for a given photosensitive surface go up if the frequency of
the incident radiations were to be increased from 4 × 1015 Hz to 8 × 1015 Hz ? Given h = 6.4 × 10−34 Js, e
= 1.6 × 10−19 and c = 3 × 108 ms−1 .
10) Monochromatic light of frequency 5.0 × 1014 Hz is produced by a laser. The power emitted is 3.0 × 10−3
W. Estimate the number of photons emitted per second on an average by the source.
(1)
11) The work function, for a given photosensitive surface equals 2.5 eV. When light of frequency, v, falls on
this surface, the emitted photoelectrons are completely stopped by applying a retarding potential of 4.1
V. What is the value of v ?
12) When light of frequency 2.4 × 1015 Hz, falls on a photosensitive surface, the retarding potential needed
to completely stop the emitted photoelectrons, is found to be 6.8 V. What is the work function (in eV) of
the given photosensitive surface ?
13) When a given photosensitive material is irradiated with light of frequency v, the maximum speed of the
2
emitted photoelectrons equals 𝑣max . The square of 𝑣max , i.e., 𝑣max , is observed to vary with v, as per the
graph shown in fig. Obtain expressions for (i) Planck’s constant, and (ii) the work function of the given
photosensitive material, in terms of the parameters l ,n and the mass, m, of the electron.

14) Sketch the graphs, showing the variation of stopping potential with frequency of incident radiations for
two photosensitive materials A and B having threshold frequencies v′0 > v0 , respectively.
(i) Which of the two metals, A or B has higher work function ?
(ii) What information do you get from the slope of the graphs ?
(iii) What does the value of the intercept of graph ‘A’ on the potential-axis represent ?
15) Figure shows the variations of stopping potential V0 with the frequency v of the incident radiation for
two photosensitive metals P and Q :

(i) Explain which metal has smaller threshold wavelength.

(ii) Explain, giving reason, which metals emits photo electrons having smaller kinetic energy, for the
same wavelength of incident radiation.
(iii) If the distance between the light source and metal P is doubled, how will the stopping potential
change ?
16) Figure shows variation of stopping potential (V0 ) with the frequency (v) for two photosensitive
materials M1 and M2 .

(i) Why is the slope same for both lines ?

(ii) For which material will the emitted electrons have greater kinetic energy for the incident radiations
of the same frequency ? Justify your answer.
17) Figure (a) shows the variation of the stopping potential V0 with the frequency (v) of the incident
radiations for two different photosensitive materials M1 and M2 .
(2)
 (i) What are the values of work functions for M1 and M2 ?
(ii) The values of the stopping potential for M1 and M2 for a frequency v3 (> v02 ) of the incident
V1 − V2
radiations are V1 and V2 respectively . Show that the slope of the lines equals v02 −v01
.

FIG. (A) FIG. (B)

18) Plot a graph showing the variation of stopping potential with the frequency of incident radiation for two
different photosensitive materials having work functions W1 and W2 (W1 > W2 ). On what factors does
the (i) slope and intercept of the lines depend?
19) Write Einstein’s photoelectric equation and mention which important features in photoelectric effect
can be explained with the help of this equation.
The maximum kinetic energy of the photoelectrons gets doubled when the wavelength of light
incident on the surface changes from λ1 to λ2 . Derive the expressions for the threshold wavelength λ0
and work function for the metal surface.
20) A beam of monochromatic radiation is incident on a photosensitive surface. Answer the following
questions giving reasons :
(i) Do the emitted photoelectrons have the same kinetic energy ?
(ii) Does the kinetic energy of the emitted electrons depend on the intensity of incident radiation?
(iii) On what factors does the number of emitted photoelectrons depend ?
21) Light of intensity ‘I’ and frequency ‘v’ is incident on a photosensitive emission. What will be the effect on
anode current when (i) the intensity of light is gradually increased, (ii) the frequency of incident
radiation is increased, and (iii) the anode potential is increased ? In each case, all other factors remain
the same. Explain, giving justification in each case.
22) State how in a photo-cell, the work function of the metal influence the kinetic energy of emitted
electrons.
(a) If the intensity of incident radiation is doubled , what changes occur in
(i) the stopping potential and
(ii) the photoelectric current ?
(b) If the frequency of the incident radiation is doubled, what changes occur in the
(i) stopping potential and
(ii) photoelectric current ?
23) If the frequency of the incident radiation on the cathode of a photo-cell is doubled, how will the
following change :
(i) kinetic energy of the electrons ?
(ii) Photoelectric current ?
(iii) Stopping potential ?
Justify your answer.
24) Radiation of frequency 1015 Hz is incident on three photo-sensitive surfaces A, B and C. Following
observations are recorded :
Surface A : No photo-emission occurs.
Surface B : Photo-emission occurs but the photo-electrons have zero kinetic energy.
Surface C : Photo-emission occurs and photo-electrons have some K.E.
Based on Einstein’s photo-electric equation, explain the three observations.
25) Radiations of frequency 1015 Hz are incident on two photo-sensitive surfaces P and Q . Following
observations are made :
(i) Surface P : Photo-emission occurs but the photo-electrons have zero kinetic energy, and
(3)
 (ii) Surface Q : Photo-emission occurs and photo-electrons have some kinetic energy.
Which of these has a higher work function ? If the incident frequency is slightly reduced, what will
happen to photo-electron emission in the two cases?
26) A proton and an alpha particle are accelerated through the same potential. Which one of the two has (i)
greater value of de-Broglie wavelength associated with it, and (ii) less kinetic energy ? Justify your
answer.
27) An electron and a proton are accelerated through the same potential. Which one of the two has (i)
greater value of de-Broglie wavelength associated with it and (ii) less momentum ? Justify your answer.
28) An electron, α-particle and a proton have the same kinetic energy. Which of these particles has the
shortest de-Broglie wavelength ?
29) An α-particle and a proton are accelerated through the same potential difference. Calculate the ratio of
linear momenta acquired by the two.
30) Mention the significance of Davisson-Germer experiment. An α-particle and a proton are accelerated
from rest through the same potential difference V. Find the ratio of de-Broglie wavelengths associated
with them.
31) The two lines A and B shown in the graph plot the de-Broglie wavelength (λ) as a function of 1/ √𝑉 (V is
the accelerating potential) for two particles having the same charge. Which of the two represents the
particle of heavier mass ?
32) A proton and an α-particle have the same de-Broglie wavelength. Determine the ratio of (i) their
accelerating potentials (ii) their speeds.
33) What reasoning led de-Broglie to put forward the concept of matter waves ? The wavelength, λ, of a
photon, and the de-Broglie wavelength associated with a particle of mass ‘m’, has the same value, say λ.
2λ mc
Show that the energy of photon is times the kinetic energy of the particle.
h
34) Calculate the ratio of the accelerating potentials required to accelerate (i) a proton and (ii) an α-particle
to have the same de-Broglie wavelength associated with them.
( Given : Mass of proton =1.6 × 10−27 kg ; Mass of α-particle = 6.4 10−27 kg)
35) Define the term ‘work function’ of a metal. The threshold frequency of a metal is 𝑓0 . When the light of
frequency 2 𝑓0 is incident on the metal plate, the maximum velocity of electrons emitted is 𝑣1 . When the
frequency of the incident radiation is increased to 5 f0 , the maximum velocity of electrons emitted is v2 .
Find the ratio of v1 to v2 .
36) If the frequency of incident light on a metal surface is doubled, will the kinetic energy of the photo-
electrons be doubled ? Give reason.
37) On the basis of photon theory, obtain Einstein’s photo-electric equation. Use this equation to show that
there must exist a threshold frequency for each photo-sensitive surface. Radiations of frequencies
v1 and v2 are made to fall in turn, on a photo-sensitive surface. The stopping potentials required for
stopping the most energetic emitted photo-electrons in the two cases are V1 and V2 respectively. Obtain
a formula for determining Planck’s constant and threshold frequency in terms of these parameters.
38) Obtain the relationship between stopping potential and frequency of incident radiations for photo-
emission.
X-rays of wavelength 0.82 Å fall on a metallic surface. Calculate the de-Broglie wavelength of the
emitted photo-electrons. Neglect the work function of the surface.
39) When light of wavelength 400 nm is incident on the cathode of a photocell, the stopping potential
recorded is 6 V. If the wavelength of the incident light is increased to 600 nm, calculate the new
stopping potential.
40) Red light, however bright it is, cannot produce the emission of electrons from a clean zinc surface. But
even weak ultraviolet radiation can do so. Why ?
X-rays of wavelength ‘λ’ fall on photo-sensitive surface, emitting electrons. Assuming that the work
function of the surface can be neglected, prove that the de-Broglie wavelength of electrons emitted will
ℎ𝜆
be √2 𝑚𝑐 .
41) An electromagnetic wave of wavelength λ is incident on a photosensitive surface of negligible work
function . If the photoelectrons emitted from this surface have the de-Broglie wavelength λ1 , prove that
2 𝑚𝑐
λ=( ) 𝜆21 .
ℎ
(4)