Edexcel AS Physics

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5.35 The Photoelectric Equation

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The Photoelectric Equation

  • Since energy is always conserved, the energy of an incident photon is equal to:

The work function + the maximum kinetic energy of the photoelectron

  • The energy within a photon is equal to hf
  • This energy is transferred to the electron to release it from a material (the work function) and the remaining amount is given as kinetic energy to the emitted photoelectron
  • This equation is known as the photoelectric equation:

E = hf = Φ + ½ mv2max

  •  Where:
    • h = Planck's constant (J s)
    • f = the frequency of the incident radiation (Hz)
    • Φ = the work function of the material (J)
    • ½ mv2max= KEmax = the maximum kinetic energy of the photoelectrons (J)

  • This equation demonstrates:
    • If the incident photons do not have a high enough frequency and energy to overcome the work function (Φ), then no electrons will be emitted
    • hf0 = Φ, where f0 = threshold frequency, photoelectric emission only just occurs
    • KEmax depends only on the frequency of the incident photon, and not the intensity of the radiation
    • The majority of photoelectrons will have kinetic energies less than KEmax

Work Function

  • The work function Φ, or threshold energy, of a material, is defined as:

The minimum energy required to release a photoelectron from the surface of a metal

  • Consider the electrons in a metal as trapped inside an ‘energy well’ where the energy between the surface and the top of the well is equal to the work function Φ
  • A single electron absorbs one photon
  • Therefore, an electron can only escape from the surface of the metal if it absorbs a photon which has an energy equal to Φ or higher

Energy Well (1), downloadable AS & A Level Physics revision notes

Energy Well (2), downloadable AS & A Level Physics revision notes

Energy Well (3), downloadable AS & A Level Physics revision notes

In the photoelectric effect, a single photon may cause a surface electron to be released if it has sufficient energy

Graphical Representation of Work Function

  • The photoelectric equation can be rearranged into the straight line equation:

y = mx + c

  • Comparing this to the photoelectric equation:

KEmax = hf - Φ

  •  A graph of maximum kinetic energy KEmax against frequency f can be obtained

  • The key elements of the graph:
    • The work function Φ is the y-intercept
    • The threshold frequency f0 is the x-intercept
    • The gradient is equal to Planck's constant h
    • There are no electrons emitted below the threshold frequency f0

Threshold Frequency

  • The threshold frequency is defined as:

The minimum frequency of incident electromagnetic radiation required to remove a photoelectron from the surface of a metal

Worked example

The graph below shows how the maximum kinetic energy Ek of electrons emitted from the surface of sodium metal varies with the frequency f of the incident radiation.Calculate the work function of sodium in eV.

Step 1: Write out the photoelectric equation and rearrange to fit the equation of a straight line

E = hf = Φ + ½ mv2max         →    KEmax = hf - Φ

y = mx + c

 Step 2: Identify the threshold frequency from the x-axis of the graph

When Ek = 0, f = f0

Therefore, the threshold frequency is f0 = 4 × 1014 Hz

Step 3: Calculate the work function

From the graph at f0, ½ mvmax2 = 0

Φ = hf0 = (6.63 × 10-34) × (4 × 1014) = 2.652 × 10-19 J

Step 4: Convert the work function into eV

1 eV = 1.6 × 10-19 J                 J → eV: divide by 1.6 × 10-19

E equals fraction numerator 2.652 cross times 10 to the power of blank to the power of negative 19 end exponent end exponent over denominator 1.6 cross times 10 to the power of negative 19 end exponent end fraction space equals space 1.66 space e V

Exam Tip

When using the photoelectric effect equation, hf, Φ and KEmax must all have the same units, and that the S.I. unit of energy is Joules.

But the energy involved in these interactions is tiny, which is why we use a different unit for it, the electron volt. Make sure to convert any values given in eV into Joules before starting to calculate.

Remember that the eV is much smaller than the Joule, so your value of eV will be high in comparison. This is why we often use MeV when describing these energies.

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Lindsay Gilmour

Author: Lindsay Gilmour

Lindsay graduated with First Class Honours from the University of Greenwich and earned her Science Communication MSc at Imperial College London. Now with many years’ experience as a Head of Physics and Examiner for A Level and IGCSE Physics (and Biology!), her love of communicating, educating and Physics has brought her to Save My Exams where she hopes to help as many students as possible on their next steps.