- #1
Polly812
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I know the definition of photoelectric effect : the release of electrons from a metal when it is in contact with electromagnetic waves..
However, my question is.. If a light wave hits a metal and that photon has freq = threshold frequency of that metal, does this mean that the energy of the photon is just enough to release the electron from the surface of the metal but the electron does not have kinetic energy to further continue motion and hence there is no photocurrent??
If so, then is the above scenario also considered to be photoelectric effect or does photoelectric effect only refer to when light has frequency above the threshold frequency and hits metal to cause electrons to actually move??
Please answer the above 2 qns! Thanks! :-)
However, my question is.. If a light wave hits a metal and that photon has freq = threshold frequency of that metal, does this mean that the energy of the photon is just enough to release the electron from the surface of the metal but the electron does not have kinetic energy to further continue motion and hence there is no photocurrent??
If so, then is the above scenario also considered to be photoelectric effect or does photoelectric effect only refer to when light has frequency above the threshold frequency and hits metal to cause electrons to actually move??
Please answer the above 2 qns! Thanks! :-)