Chapter 11 Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation

1. Draw a graph showing the variation of de Broglie wavelength λ of a particle of

charge q and mass m, with the accelerating potential V. An α-particle and a
proton have the same de-Broglie wavelength equal to 1Å. Explain with
calculations, which of the two has more kinetic energy.
Answer:
For Graph

2. The given graph shows the variation of photocurrent for a photosensitive

metal:

(a) Identify the variable X on the horizontal axis.

(b) What does the point A on the horizontal axis represent?
(c) Draw this graph for three different values of frequencies of incident radiation
v1 v2 and v3 (v1 > v2 > v3) for same intensity.
(d) Draw this graph for three different values of intensities of incident radiation
I1 I2 and I3 (I1 > I2 > I3) having same frequency.
Answer:
(a) ‘X’ is a collector plate potential.
(b) ‘A’ represents the stopping potential.
(c) Graph for different frequencies :

3. 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.
Answer:

(ii) Important features of photoelectric effect:

(a) Radiation behaves as if it is made of particles like photons. Each photon has energy
E = hv and momentum p = h/λ.
(b) Intensity of radiation can be understood in terms of number of photons falling per
second on the surface. Photon energy
depends only on frequency and is independent of intensity.
(c) Photoelectric effect can be understood as the result of the one to one collision
between an electron and a photon.
(d) When a photon of frequency
(v) is incident on a metal surface, a part of its energy is used in overcoming the work
function and other part is used in imparting kinetic energy, so KE = h(v – v0)
4 Define the terms
(i) ‘cut-off voltage’ and (ii) ‘threshold frequency’ in relation to the pheno-menon of
photoelectric effect. Using Einstein’s photoelectric equation show how the cut-off
voltage and threshold frequency for a given photosensitive material can be
determined with the help of a suitable plot/graph.
Answer:
(i) Cut-off voltage : The value of the retarding potential at which the photo electric
current becomes zero is called cut-off or stopping potential for the given frequency of
the incident radiation.
(ii) Threshold frequency : The minimum value of the frequency of incident radiation
below which the photoelectric emission stops altogether is called threshold frequency.
According to Eisntein’s photo electric equation,

5.An electron and a photon each have a wavelength of 1.50 nm. Find
(i) their moment,
(ii) the energy of the photon and
(iii) kinetic energy of the electron.
Answer:

6. (a) Write three observed features of photoelectric effect which cannot be

explained by wave theory of light.
Explain how Einstein’s photoelectric equation is used to describe these features
satisfactorily.
(b) Figure shows a plot of stopping potential (v0) with frequency (v) of incident
radiation for two photosensitive materials M1 and M2.

Explain
(i) why the slope of both the lines is same?
(ii) for which material emitted electrons have greater kinetic energy for the same
frequency of incident radiation?
Answer:
(a)(i) The maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electron should be directly proportional
to the intensity of incident radiations but it is not observed experimentally. Also
maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electrons should not depend upon incident
frequency according to wave theory, but it is not so.
(ii) According to wave theory, threshold frequency should not exist. Light of all
frequencies should emit electrons provided intensity of light is sufficient for electrons to
eject.
(iii) According to wave theory, photoelectric effect should not be instantaneous. Energy
of wave cannot be transferred to a particular electron but will be distributed to all the
electrons present in the illuminated portion. Hence, there has to be a time lag between
incidence of radiation and emission of electrons.
(b)
(i) The slope (V0/v) of both the lines is the same and represents the universal constant
known as ‘Planck’s constant’ (h) = 6.62 × 10-34JS
(ii) For the same frequency of incident radiations, M1 will have greater kinetic energy,
because the value of V0 is greater for M1 material. It can be easily seen by drawing a
vertical line (frequency being the same) and intersecting M1 and M2 at different points
(V0 for M1 is higher)

7. Draw a graph showing the variation of de Broglie wavelength λ of a particle of

charge q and mass m, with the accelerating potential V. An α-particle and a
proton have the same de-Broglie wavelength equal to 1Å. Explain with
calculations, which of the two has more kinetic energy.
Answer:
For Graph
8. Using photon picture of light, show how Einstein’s photoelectric equation can
be established. Write two features of photoelectric effect which cannot be
explained by wave theory.
Answer:
1st part :

This is Einstein’s photoelectric equation. Photoelectric emission is the result of

interaction of two particles—one a photon of incident radiation and other an electron of
photo sensitive metal. The free electrons are bound within the metal due to restraining
forces on the surface. The minimum energy required to liberate an electron from the
metal surface is called work function ϕ 0 of the metal. Each photon interacts with one
electron. The energy hv of the incident photon is used up in two parts:
(a) a part of the energy of the photon is used in liberating the electron from the metal
surface, which is equal to the work function ϕ 0 of the metal and
(b) the remaining energy of the photon is used in imparting K.E. of the ejected electron.
By the conservation of energy Energy of the inefficient photon = maximum K.E. of
photoelectron + Work function

Three salient features are :

Three salient features observed in photoelectric effect on the basis of Einstein’s
Photoelectric equation :

2nd part :
(a) (i) The maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electron should be directly
proportional to the intensity of incident radiations but it is not observed experimentally.
Also maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electrons should not depend upon incident
frequency according to wave theory, but it is not so.
(ii) According to wave theory, threshold frequency should not exist. Light of all
frequencies should emit electrons provided intensity of light is sufficient for electrons to
eject.
(iii) According to wave theory, photoelectric effect should not be instantaneous. Energy
of wave cannot be transferred to a particular electron but will be distributed to all the
electrons present in the illuminated portion. Hence, there has to be a time lag between
incidence of radiation and emission of electrons.

10. A proton and an electron have same kinetic energy. Which one has greater
de-Broglie wavelength and why?
Ans.
11. Plot a graph showing variation of de-Broglie wavelength λ versus 1/√V,
where V is accelerating potential for two particles A and B carrying same
charge but of masses m1, m2 (m1 > m2). Which one of the two represents a
particle of smaller mass and why?
Ans.

12. Calculate the de-Broglie wavelength of the electron orbiting in the n = 2

state of hydrogen atom.
Ans.
13. The Kinetic Energy (K.E.), of a beam of electrons, accelerated through a
potential V, equals the energy of a photon of wavelength 5460 nm. Find the de
Broglie wavelength associated with this beam of electrons.
Ans.

14. Derive the Bohr‘s quantization condition for angular momentum of the
orbiting of electron in hydrogen atom, using de Broglie‘s hypothesis.
Ans.

15. X-rays fall on a photosensitive surface to cause photoelectric emission.

Assuming that the work function of the surface can be neglected, find the
relation between the de-Broglie wavelengths (λ) of the electrons emitted to the
energy (E0) of the incident photons. Draw the nature of the graph for X as a
function of Ev.
Ans.
16. State two properties of photons. For a monochromatic radiation incident
on a photosensitive surface, why do all photoelectrons not come out with the
same energy? Give reason for your answer.
Ans.

Two properties of photons :

● Photon is electrically neutral.
● Photon has an energy equal to hv
● for a monochromatic radiation incident on a photosensitive surface, all
photoelectrons do not come out with the same energy, because in addition to the
work done to free electrons from the surface, different (emitted) photoelectrons
need different amount of work to be done on them to reach the surface.

17. An electron and a photon each have a wavelength of 1.50 nm. Find (i) their
momenta, (ii) the energy of the photon and (iii) kinetic energy of the electron.
Write three observed features of photoelectric effect which cannot be
explained by wave theory of light. Explain how Einstein‘s photoelectric
equation is used to describe these features satisfactorily. (b) Figure shows a
plot of stopping potential (v0) with frequency (v) of incident radiation for two
photosensitive materials M1 and M2.
Explain (i) why the slope of both the lines is same? (ii) for which material
emitted electrons have greater kinetic energy for the same frequency of
incident radiation?
Ans.
a) (i) The maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electron should be directly
proportional to the intensity of incident radiations but it is not observed
experimentally. Also maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electrons should not
depend upon incident frequency according to wave theory, but it is not so.
(ii) According to wave theory, threshold frequency should not exist. Light of all
frequencies should emit electrons provided intensity of light is sufficient for
electrons to eject.
(iii) According to wave theory, photoelectric effect should not be instantaneous.
Energy of wave cannot be transferred to a particular electron but will be distributed
to all the electrons present in the illuminated portion. Hence, there has to be a time
lag between incidence of radiation and emission of electrons.
(b) (i) The slope (V0/v) of both the lines is the same and represents the universal
constant known as Planck‘s constant‘ (h) = 6.62 × 10-34JS (ii) For the same
frequency of incident radiations, M1 will have greater kinetic energy, because the
value of V0 is greater for M1 material. It can be easily seen by drawing a vertical
line (frequency being the same) and intersecting M1 and M2 at different points (V0
for M1 is higher)

19. (i) State three important features of Einstein‘s photoelectric equation. (ii)
Radiation of frequency 1015 Hz is incident on two photosensitive surfaces P
and Q. There is no photoemission from surface P. Photoemission occurs from
surface Q but photoelectrons have zero kinetic energy. Explain these
observations and find the value of work function for surface Q.
Ans.
(i) Important features of photoelectric effect:
(a) Radiation behaves as if it is made of particles like photons. Each photon has
energy E = hv and momentum p = h/λ.
(b) Intensity of radiation can be understood in terms of number of photons falling
per second on the surface. Photon energy depends only on frequency and is
independent of intensity.
(c) Photoelectric effect can be understood as the result of the one to one collision
between an electron and a photon.
(d) When a photon of frequency (v) is incident on a metal surface, a part of its
energy is used in overcoming the work function and other part is used in imparting
kinetic energy, so KE = h(v – v0)
(ii) Since no photoelectric emission takes place from P, it means frequency of
incident radiation (1015 Hz) is less than its threshold frequency (v 0)p. Photo
emission takes place from Q but kinetic energy of photoelectrons is zero. This
implies that frequency of incident radiation is just equal to the threshold frequency
of Q.