Question

In an experiment designed to study the photoelectric effect, it is observed that visible light of wavelength $550nm$ having low-intensity produced no photoelectrons. Find out the option which describes what would happen if the intensity of this light were increased dramatically?

• A. Almost immediately, photoelectrons would be produced with a kinetic energy equal to the energy of the incident photons
• B. Almost immediately, photoelectrons would be produced with a kinetic energy equal to the energy of the incident photons minus the work function of the metal
• C. After several seconds, necessary for the electrons to absorb sufficient energy from the incident energy, photoelectrons would be produced with a kinetic energy equal to the energy of the incident photons
• D. After several seconds, necessary for the electrons to absorb sufficient energy from the incident energy, photoelectrons would be produced with a kinetic energy equal to the energy of the incident photons minus the work function of the metal
• E. Nothing would happen

Answer 1

The correct option is E Nothing would happen

The photoelectrons are not emitted because the experiment does not has the threshold wavelength required for the metal to emit electrons.If we increase the intensity of light dramatically then nothing would happen because emission of photoelectrons depends upon the frequency of incident light not on the intensity. Intensity means just the number of photons incidenting on metal surface per unit time .