Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter

Syllabus: Dual nature of radiation, Photoelectric effect, Hertz and Lenard's

observations; Einstein's photoelectric equation-particle nature of light. Experimental
study of photoelectric effect Matter waves-wave nature of particles, de-Broglie relation.
1. Plot a graph showing variation of de-Broglie wavelength λ versus 1 /√𝑉, where V is
accelerating potential for a particle of mass m and charge q. Obtain the slope of this
graph.

2.

(I) If infrared radiation of 3 x 1011 Hz is used as incident radiation, determine the

reading of microammeter? Justify mathematically.
(II) 2 (II) In the given diagram, if terminal B is shifted towards the left then how
will it affect the reading of the microammeter?
(III) Plot a graph showing this variation in reading of micrometre on shifting the
terminal B towards the right.
 (I) If infrared radiation is used as incident radiation, determine the reading Wo =
hνo
Threshold frequency, νo = Wo/h
= (6.35 x 1.6 x 10−19)/6.63 x 10−34
= 1.5 x 1015 hz
Frequency of infrared radiation < threshold frequency (νo) , hence no
emission of photoelectrons will take place, therefore reading of the
microammeter = 0
(II) Photoelectric current decreases with decrease in potential. At some stage, for
a certain potential of plate A, all the emitted electrons are stopped by the plate
A and the photoelectric current becomes zero.

(III)

3. Assertion (A): de Broglie's wavelength of a freely falling body keeps decreasing with
time.
Reason (R): The momentum of the freely falling body increases with time.
(A)
4. A platinum surface having work function 5.63 eV is illuminated by a monochromatic
source of 1.6 x 10 15 Hz. What will be the minimum wavelength associated with the
ejected electron.
5. (I) In a photoelectric experiment plate current is plotted against anode potential.

(A) A and B will have same intensities while B and C will have different frequencies
(B) B and C will have different intensities while A and B will have different frequencies
(C) A and B will have different intensities while B and C will have equal frequencies
(D) B and C will have equal intensities while A and B will have same frequencies.
6. Photoelectrons are emitted when a zinc plate is
(A) Heated (C) Irradiated by ultraviolet light (B) hammered (D) subjected to a high
pressure
7. The threshold frequency for photoelectric effect on sodium corresponds to a
wavelength of 500 nm. Its work function is about
(A) 4x10−19 J (B) 1 J (C) 2x10−19 J (D) 3x10−19 J
8. The maximum kinetic energy of photoelectrons emitted from a surface when photons
of energy 6 eV fall on it is 4 eV. The stopping potential is
(A) 2 V (B) 4 V (C) 6 V (D) 10 V
9. The minimum energy required to remove an electron from a substance is called its
(A) work function (B) kinetic energy (C) stopping potential (D) potential energy
10. Assertion(A): For the radiation of a frequency greater than the threshold frequency,
photoelectric current is proportional to the intensity of the radiation. Reason (R):
Greater the number of energy quanta available, greater is the number of electrons
absorbing the energy quanta
(A)
11. The wavelength λ of a photon and the de Broglie wavelength of an electron of mass m
2𝜆𝑚𝑐
have the same value. Show that the energy of the photon is times the kinetic energy
ℎ
of the electron, where c and h have their usual meanings.

12. Explain how does (i) photoelectric current and (ii) kinetic energy of the photoelectrons
emitted in a photocell vary if the frequency of incident radiation is doubled, but keeping
the intensity same? Show the graphical variation in the above two cases.
(i) The increase in the frequency of incident radiation has no effect on
photoelectric current. This is because of incident photon of increased energy
cannot eject more than one electron from the metal surface.
(ii) The kinetic energy of the photoelectron becomes more than the double of its
original energy. As the work function of the metal is fixed, so incident photon
of higher frequency and hence higher energy will impart more energy to the
photoelectrons.

13. In a photoelectric experiment, the potential required to stop the ejection of electrons
from cathode is 4V. What is the value of maximum kinetic energy of emitted
Photoelectrons?
4eV
14. a) Explain de-Broglie argument to propose his hypothesis. Show that de Broglie
wavelength of photon equals electromagnetic radiation.
 b) If, deuterons and alpha particle are accelerated through same potential, find the ratio
of the associated de-Broglie wavelengths of two
a) De-Broglie reasoned out that nature was symmetrical and two basic physical
entities –mass and radiation must be symmetrical. If radiation shows shows dual
aspect than matter should do so.
b) De-Broglie equation- =h/P
For photon – P=h/C Therefore, h/P=C/=
As =h/√2mk
So, alpha particle will be having shortest de-Broglie wavelength compared to
deutrons.
15. State the main implications of observations obtained from various photoelectric
experiments. Can these implications be explained by wave nature of light? Justify your
answer.
Main implications-
1. kinetic energy of emitted electrons depends upon frequency, but not on intensity of
radiation
[Link] exist a frequency of radiation below which no photoemission takes place, how
high intensity of radiation may be.
Explanation wave nature of radiation fails to explain photoelectric effect
16. Photoelectric emission from a given surface of metal can take place when the value of
a ‘physical quantity’ is less than the energy of incident photon. The physical quantity
is:
(a) Threshold frequency
(b) Work function of surface
(c) Threshold wave length
(d) Stopping Potential
17. Work function of Sodium is 2.75eV. What will be KE of emitted electron when photon
of energy 3.54eV is incident on the surface of sodium? (ANS: 0.79 eV)
18. The work function of Cs is 2.14eV.
Find (a) threshold frequency for Cs
(b) Wavelength of incident light if the photo current is brought to zero by stopping
potential of 0.6 V.
19. Explain how does (i) photoelectric current and (ii) kinetic energy of the photoelectrons
emitted in a photocell vary if the frequency of incident radiation is doubled, but keeping
the intensity same? Show the graphical variation in the above two cases.
20. (i) Name the experiment which confirms the existence of wave nature of electrons.
Derive the expression for de-Broglie wavelength of an electron moving under a
potential difference of V volts. (ii) An electron and a proton have the same Kinetic
Energy. Which of these particles has the shorter de-Broglie wavelength?

21. The graph below shows the variation of the maximum kinetic energy of the emitted
photoelectron with the frequency of the incident radiation for a given metal. Which of
the following gives the work function of the metal?

A. x-intercept B. y-intercept C. the slope of the graph D. the area under the graph
22. Assertion (A): The work function of a given material increases with an increase in the
frequency of the incident radiation.
Reason (R): As per Einstein's photoelectric equation hν = φ + KE, work function φ is
directly proportional to the frequency ν of the incident radiation
23. λα and λp are the wavelengths associated with a moving alpha particle and a proton
respectively. Obtain the relation between velocities of the two particles for which, (a)
λα > λp (b) λα = λp
24. (a) Compare the de Broglie wavelength associated with the electron in the third orbit to
the circumference of the orbit. (b) In which of the following will the electrons have the
same de Broglie wavelength? (i) Third orbit of He atom (ii) Fourth orbit of He atom
(iii) Third orbit of Li atom (iv) Sixth orbit of Be atom Show your calculations.
25. The following table gives the value of work function for a few photosensitive metals

If each of these metals is exposed to radiation of wavelength 400nm, name the

element/elements not emitting photo electrons and why?
26. Two particles A and B of de Broglie wavelengths λ1 and λ2 combine to form a particle
C. The process conserves momentum. Find the de Broglie wavelength of the particle C.
(The motion is one dimensional).
27. Assertion (A): For monochromatic incident radiation, the emitted photoelectrons from
a given metal have speed ranging from zero to a certain maximum value.
Reason (R): Each metal has a definite work function. [CBSE 25/55/4/1]

Ans: (A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct
explanation of the Assertion (A)
28. (a) Photoelectric emission does not occur from a surface when the frequency of the light
incident on it is less than a certain minimum value.
(b) It is the frequency, and not the intensity of the incident light which affects the
maximum kinetic energy of the photoelectrons.
(c) The cut-off voltage (Vo) versus frequency (v) of the incident light curve is a straight
line with a slope.
[CBSE 25/55/4/1]
29. The kinetic energy of an alpha particle is four times the kinetic energy of a proton. The
𝜆
ratio 𝛼 of de Broglie wavelengths associated with them will be:
𝜆𝑃
1 1 1 1
(A) (B) (C) (D)
16 8 4 2
[CBSE 25/55/5/1]
𝟏
(C)
𝟒
30.
[CBSE

25/55/5/1]
(i)Which of the following graphs shows the variation of photoelectric current I with the
intensity of light?
 (ii)When the frequency of the incident light is increased without changing its intensity,
the saturation current:
(A) increases linearly
(B) decreases
(C) increases non-linearly
(D) remains the same
(iii)Which of the following graphs can be used to obtain the value of Planck’s constant
(A) Photocurrent versus Intensity of incident light
(B) Photocurrent versus Frequency of incident light
(C) Cut-off potential versus Frequency of incident light
(D) Cut-off potential versus Intensity of incident light
(iv) Red light, yellow light and blue light of the same intensity are incident on a metal
surface successively. KR, KY and KB represent the maximum kinetic energy of
photoelectrons respectively, then:
(A) KR > KY > KB (B) KY > KB > KR (C) KB > KY > KR (D) KR > KB > KY
(v) Which of the following metals exhibits photoelectric effect with visible light?
(A) Caesium (B) Zinc (C) Cadmium (D) Magnesium

v
31. The threshold frequency for a given metal is 3 · 6 × 1014 Hz. If monochromatic
radiations of frequency 6 · 8 × 1014 Hz are incident on this metal, find the cut-off
potential for the photoelectrons. [CBSE 25/55/5/1]
32. The work function of a material is 221 eV. Which of the following cannot produce
photoelectrons from it?
(A) Red light (B) Blue light (C) Violet light (D) Green light
[CBSE 25/55/6/1]
(A) Red light
33. The momentum (in kg m/s) of a photon of frequency 60 × 1014 Hz is:
(A) 6.63 × 10−25 (B) 1.326 × 10−27 (C) 2.652 × 10−26 (D) 3.978 × 10−24
[CBSE 25/55/6/1]
−27
(B) 1.326 × 10
34. A laser beam of frequency 3·0×1014 Hz produces average power of 9 mW.
Find (i) the energy of photon of the beam, and (ii) the number of photons emitted per
second on an average by the source.
[CBSE 25/55/6/1]

35. The frequency of a photon of energy 1·326 eV is:

(A) 1·18 x1014 Hz (B) 3·20 x1014 Hz (C) 4·20 x1015 Hz (D) 4·80 x1015 Hz
[CBSE 25/55/7/1]
(B) 3.20 10 Hz
14

36. Assertion (A): The minimum negative potential applied to the anode in a photoelectric
experiment at which photoelectric current becomes zero, is called cut-off voltage.
Reason (R): The threshold frequency for a metal is the minimum frequency of incident
radiation below which emission of photoelectrons does not take place.
[CBSE 25/55/7/1]
(B) Both Assertion(A) and Reason (R) are true but Reason(R) is not the correct
explanation of Assertion(A).
37. (a)Define work function of a metal. How can its value be determined from a graph
between stopping potential and frequency of the incident radiation?
 (b)The work function of a metal is 2·4 eV. A stopping potential of 0·6 V is required to
reduce the photocurrent to zero, in a photoelectric experiment. Calculate the wavelength
of light used. [CBSE 25/55/7/1]
Minimum energy required by an electron to escape from metal surface. The intercept
on the y axis for a graph between stopping potential & frequency gives 0/e.
∴ 0 = e × intercept on y-axis.

38. Assertion (A): In photoelectric effect, the kinetic energy of the emitted photoelectrons
increases with increase in the intensity of the incident light.
Reason (R): Photoelectric current depends on the wavelength of the incident light.
[CBSE/24/55/1/1]
(D) Assertion (A) is false and reason (R) is also false.
39. Consider a neutron (mass m) of kinetic energy E and a photon of the same energy. Let
λn and λp be the de Broglie wavelength of neutron and the wavelength of photon
respectively. Obtain an expression for λn/λp.
[CBSE/24/55/1/1]
40. The waves associated with a moving electron and a moving proton have the same
wavelength. It implies that they have the same:
(A) momentum (C) speed (B) angular momentum (D) energy
[CBSE/24/55/1/1]
(A) momentum
41. Two beams, A and B whose photon energies are 3·3 eV and 11·3 eV respectively,
illuminate a metallic surface (work function 2·3 eV) successively. The ratio of
maximum speed of electrons emitted due to beam A to that due to beam B is:
(A) 3 (B) 9 (C) 1/ 3 (D) 1/9
[CBSE/24/55/1/1]
(C) 1/ 3
42. The work function for a photosensitive surface is 3·315eV. The cut-off wavelength for
photoemission of electrons from this surface is:
(A) 150 nm (B) 200 nm (C) 375 nm (D) 500 nm
[CBSE/24/55/2/1]
(C) 375 nm
43. Assertion (A): Photoelectric current increases with an increase in intensity of incident
radiation, for a given frequency of incident radiation and the accelerating potential.
Reason (R): Increase in the intensity of incident radiation results in an increase in the
number of photoelectrons emitted per second and hence an increase in the photocurrent.
[CBSE/24/55/2/1]
44. Assertion (A): Photoelectric effect demonstrates the particle nature of light. Reason (R):
Photoelectric current is proportional to frequency of incident radiation.
[CBSE/24/55/3/1]
(C) Assertion (A) is true but Reason (R) is false
45. de Broglie wavelength λ as a function of 1 , for two particles of masses m1 and m 2 are
√𝐾
shown in the figure. Here, K is the energy of the moving particles.
(a) What does the slope of a line represent?
(b) Which of the two particles is heavier?
(c) Is this graph also valid for a photon? Justify your answer in each case.
[CBSE/24/55/2/1]
46. Which one of the following is the correct graph between the maximum kinetic energy
(Km) of the emitted photoelectrons and the frequency of incident radiation (ν) for a
given photosensitive surface? [CBSE/24/55/3/1]

47. The minimum intensity of white light that our eyes can perceive is about 0.1 nWm 2.
Calculate the number of photons of this light entering our pupil (area 0.4 cm 2) per
second. Wave length of white light λ= 500 nm and Planck’s constant = 6.6x 1034 Js)
[CBSE/24/55/3/1]
48.

( A ) There is a minimum frequency of incident radiation below which no electrons are

emitted.
49.

[CBSE/24/55/4/1]
50.

[CBSE/24/55/3/1]

51.

(A) A
52.

53. Assertion(A): Photoelectric effect demonstrates the particle nature of light.

Reason (R): Photoelectric current is proportional to intensity of incident radiation for
frequencies more than the threshold frequency.
54. Plot the variation of photocurrent with:
(a) collector plate potential for different intensity of incident radiation, and
(b) intensity of incident radiation.
55.

56. Figure shows the variation of photoelectric current measured in a photo cell circuit as a
function of the potential difference between the plates of the photo cell when light
beams A, B, C and D of different wavelengths are incident on the photo cell. Examine
the given figure and answer the following questions: (i) Which light beam has the
highest frequency and why? (ii) Which light beam has the longest wavelength and why?
(iii) Which light beam ejects photoelectrons with maximum momentum and why?
57.

There is no effect on threshold frequency since it is characteristic of the metal. With

increase in frequency of incidents beam of light , stopping potential increases because
to stop the photoelectrons of higher kinetic energy, larger retarding potential is required.
58. Light of frequency 6·4x1014 Hz is incident on a metal of work function 2·14 eV. The
maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electrons is about :
(a) 0·25 eV (b) 0·51 eV (c) 1·02 eV (d) 0·10 eV