PHYSICAL SCIENCES

Grade 12 Improvement Resources

Activities
Photo-Electric Effect
Level 4 - 7
QUESTION 1 [13]

The diagram below shows a circuit in which a photocell is irradiated alternately with red
and blue light to demonstrate the photo-electric effect.

1.1 An ammeter reading is recorded when the photocell is irradiated with red light.
Give an explanation for this observation. (2)

1.2 Blue light with the same intensity as the red light is now used to irradiate the
photocell. How will this influence the following:

1.2.1 The kinetic energy of the photo-electrons. (Write down only INCREASE,
DECREASE or STAYS THE SAME). (1)

1.2.2 The ammeter reading. (Write down only INCREASE, DECREASE or STAYS THE
SAME). Give an explanation for your answer. (4)

1.3 The wavelength of the blue light used in the demonstration is 4,5 × 10-7 m.
Calculate the threshold frequency (cut – off frequency) of the metal used in
the photo cell if the average speed of an emitted photo-electron is equal to
4,78 × 105 m⦁s-1. (6)

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F P 0156 Physical Sciences Grade 12 Improvement Resources Activities Photo-Electric Effect Level 4 - 7 Page 2 of 12
QUESTION 2 [14]

The simplified diagram below illustrates how an emitter, when light shines on it, emits
electrons.

The threshold frequency of the emitter is 1,21 × 1015 Hz

2.1 What phenomenon is displayed in the diagram? (1)

The incident monochromatic light transfer energy to the emitter. The emitter
releases 1,01 × 109 Hz.

(NOTE: ONE photon releases ONE electron).

2.2 Define the term threshold frequency (cut-off frequency). (2)

2.3 Calculate the current flowing through the ammeter. (5)

2.4 The brightness of the incident light is now decreased.

What effect will this change have on the current strength in QUESTION 2.3? Write
down INCREASE, DECREASE or REMAIN THE SAME. (1)

2.5 The emitter is replaced by another one with a threshold frequency greater than
1,21 × 1015 Hz. The same monochromatic light was used.

2.5.1 How does this change have an effect on the kinetic energy of the photoelectrons
released? Write down only GREATER THAN, SMALLER THAN or STAYS THE
SAME. (1)

2.5.2 Explain your answer in QUESTION 2.5.1. (2)

2.6 White light shines through a cold diluted gas and photons with specific frequencies
are absorbed and appear as black lines in the continuous spectrum. Differentiate
between an absorption spectrum and a line emission spectrum. (2)

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F P 0156 Physical Sciences Grade 12 Improvement Resources Activities Photo-Electric Effect Level 4 - 7 Page 3 of 12
QUESTION 3 [10]

3.1 A photodiode consisting of a sodium plate and an anode is connected in a circuit

diagram as shown below. A learner shines light of different frequencies on the
metal plate. He observes that the ammeter connected in the circuit only registers
a reading when light with a frequency of 4,389 1014 Hz or more shines on the
sodium plate.

3.1.1 Write down the correct scientific term that describes the phenomenon where
electrons are ejected from the metal surface when light of a suitable frequency
shines on the metal. (1)

3.1.2 Calculate the work function for sodium. (3)

3.1.3 Calculate the velocity of an electron that is ejected from sodium if light with a
frequency of 4,83 × 1014 Hz shines on the metal. (4)

3.2 Electrons are ejected form a metal with a velocity v when light shines on it. Will
the velocity INCREASE, DECREASE or STAY THE SAME if?

3.2.1 Light with a greater frequency is used. (1)

3.2.2 A different metal, with a lower work function, is used. (1)

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F P 0156 Physical Sciences Grade 12 Improvement Resources Activities Photo-Electric Effect Level 4 - 7 Page 4 of 12
QUESTION 4 [14]

A learner uses photocells to determine the maximum kinetic energy of ejected

photoelectrons. One photocell has a caesium cathode and the other has a sodium
cathode. Each photocell is radiated by ultraviolet light from the same source as shown
below.

The incomplete results obtained are shown in the table below.

Name of the metal Work function of the metal Maximum kinetic energy of
(J) photo-electrons (J)

Caesium 3,36 × 10-19 2,32 × 10-19

sodium 3,65 × 10-19 Ek

4.1 Define the term work function of a metal. (2)

4.2 Use the information in the table to calculate the wavelength of the ultraviolet light
used in the experiment. (4)

4.3 Calculate the maximum kinetic energy, Ek , of an electron ejected from the sodium
metal. (4)

4.4 The intensity of the incident ultraviolet light was then increased.

4.4.1 Give a reason why this change does NOT affect the maximum kinetic energy of
the ejected photoelectrons. (1)

4.4.2 How does the increased intensity affect the reading on the ammeter? Write down
only INCREASE, DECREASES, or REMAIN THE SAME. (1)

4.4.3 Explain the answer to QUESTION 4.4.2. (2)

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F P 0156 Physical Sciences Grade 12 Improvement Resources Activities Photo-Electric Effect Level 4 - 7 Page 5 of 12
QUESTION 5 [10]

In the diagram shown below, electrons are released from the surface of a metal plate
when light of a certain frequency is shone on its surface.

5.1 Name the phenomenon described above. (1)

The wavelength of the incident light on the metal plate is 487 nm and electrons are
released with a velocity of 3,51 × 105 m⦁s-1.

5.2 Define in words, work function. (2)

5.3 Calculate the work function of the metal plate. (4)

5.4 The wavelength of the incident light is kept constant while the intensity is
increased. What effect will this change have on the following: (write INCREASES,
DECREASES or REMAINS THE SAME).

5.4.1 The reading on the ammeter. Explain the answer. (2)

5.4.2 The threshold frequency of the metal plate. (1)

QUESTION 6 [12]

A learner conducts an experiment to determine which metal(s) will release electrons when
green light of WAVELENGTH 510 nm is shone on it. The table below shows the different
metals used in the experiment with their respective work functions.

Metal Work function (J)

Gold 8,16 × 10-19

Aluminium 6,88 × 10-19

Sodium. 4,32 × 10-19

Caesium 3,36 × 10-19

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F P 0156 Physical Sciences Grade 12 Improvement Resources Activities Photo-Electric Effect Level 4 - 7 Page 6 of 12
6.1 Calculate the energy of a photon of green light. (4)

6.2 Using the data from the above table, identify the metal(s) which will release
photoelectrons when green light is shone onto their surfaces. Explain your
answer. (2)

6.3 Calculate the maximum kinetic energy of a photoelectron when green light shines
onto the metal in question 6.2. (3)

6.4 The intensity of the green light is DOUBLED. State the effect that this has on each
of the following:

(Choose from INCREASES, DECREASES or REMAINS THE SAME).

6.4.1 The work function of each metal. (1)

6.4.2 The maximum kinetic energy of each emitted photoelectron. (1)

6.4.3 The energy of each photon of green light. (1)

QUESTION 7 [13]

Light of different wavelengths is used to investigate the maximum kinetic energy of

photoelectrons ejected from a specific type of cathode (A). The following graph is drawn
from the results.

7.1 Define the term threshold frequency in words. (2)

7.2 Write down the mathematical relationship between the wavelength (λ) of the light
and the maximum kinetic energy (Ek (max) ) of the photoelectrons. (2)

7.3 How will an increase in the intensity of the light influence the maximum kinetic
energy of the photoelectrons? Choose from INCREASES, DECREASES or
REMAINS THE SAME. Give a reason for the answer. (2)

7.4 The threshold frequency of cathode A is 1,18 × 1015 Hz. Calculate the maximum
speed of an emitted photoelectron if cathode A is irradiated with light of
wavelength 160 nm. (5)

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F P 0156 Physical Sciences Grade 12 Improvement Resources Activities Photo-Electric Effect Level 4 - 7 Page 7 of 12
7.5 The photoelectric cell is replaced with one which has a cathode B of LOWER
THRESHOLD FREQUENCY and the experiment is repeated.

Redraw the above graph of Ek (max) versus λ for cathode A and on the same
system of axes use a dotted line to draw the graph for cathode B. (2)

QUESTION 8 [14]

The graph below shows how the maximum kinetic energy (Ek) of photoelectrons emitted
from the surface of Lithium (Li) metal varies with the frequency (f) of the incident radiation.

8.1 What name is given to the frequency at x? (1)

8.2 Write down how the value of Plank’s constant can be determined graphically. (1)

8.3 Explain why no photoelectrons are emitted at frequencies below x. (2)

8.4 Calculate the work function of Lithium if the value of x is 5,6 × 10-14 Hz. (3)

8.5 Calculate the maximum speed of emitted electrons when the frequency of the light
shone on the Lithium metal (Li) surface is double the value of x. (5)

8.6 Copy the above graph into your ANSWER BOOK. ON THE SAME AXES draw the
graph that will be obtained if Magnesium metal (Mg) with work function greater
than Lithium is used, label this graph as B. (2)

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F P 0156 Physical Sciences Grade 12 Improvement Resources Activities Photo-Electric Effect Level 4 - 7 Page 8 of 12
QUESTION 9 [13]

A learner investigates the photoelectric effect with the use of a photocell. The photocell is
irradiated by light of different wavelengths as shown below.

9.1 Define in word, the photoelectric effect. (2)

9.2 The wavelengths of three sources of light are shown in the table below.

Light Wavelength

Blue 4,92

Violet 4,48

Ultraviolet 4,30

The threshold frequency of the metal used in the photocell is 6,45 × 1014 . The
average speed of the emitted photoelectrons is 2,78 × 105 m⦁s-1 . Identify the light
used to irradiate the photocell. (5)

9.3 The intensity of the incident light is now increased. How will this influence the
following:

9.3.1 The ammeter reading. Write down only INCREASE, DECREASE or STAYS THE
SAME. (1)

9.3.2 The kinetic energy of the photoelectrons. Write down only INCREASE,
DECREASE or STAYS THE SAME. (1)

9.3.3 Give an explanation to your answer in QUESTION 9.3.2. (2)

9.4 The light emitted by gas discharge tubes as used in fluorescent lights produces a
line emission spectrum. Briefly explain how this type of spectrum is formed. (2)

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F P 0156 Physical Sciences Grade 12 Improvement Resources Activities Photo-Electric Effect Level 4 - 7 Page 9 of 12
QUESTION 10 [13]

An experiment is conducted to investigate the relationship between the frequency of light

incident on a metal and the maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electrons from the
surface of the metal. This experiment is conducted for three different metals.

The graph below represents the results obtained.

10.1 Name the phenomenon on which this experiment is based. (1)

10.2 Name the physical quantity represented by X on the graph. (1)

10.3 Which ONE of the three metals needs incident light with the largest wavelength for
the emission of electrons? Give a reason for the answer. (2)

10.4 Define the term work function in words. (2)

10.5 Calculate the:

10.5.1 Work function of platinum. (3)

10.5.2 Frequency of the incident light that will emit electrons from the surface of
platinum with a maximum velocity of 5,60 × 105 m.s-1. (4)

TOTAL: 126

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