Quantum Physics ontent 1. nergy of a photon 2. The Photoelectric effect 3. Wave-particle duality 4. nergy levels in atoms 5. Line spectra (a) Show appreciation of the particulate nature of electromagnetic radiation. (b) Recall and use = hf. (c) Show an understanding that the photoelectric effect provides evidence for a particulate nature of electromagnetic radiation while phenomena such as interference and diffraction provide evidence for a wave nature. (d) Recall the significance of threshold frequency. 1 2 (e) Recall and use the equation mv = ev 2 max s, where V s is the stopping potential. (f) xplain photoelectric phenomena in terms of photon energy and work function energy. (g) xplain why the maximum photoelectric energy is independent of intensity whereas the photoelectric current is proportional to intensity. 1 2 (h) Recall, use and explain the significance of hf = φ + mv. 2 max (i) escribe and interpret qualitatively the evidence provided by electron diffraction for the wave nature of particles. (j) Recall and use the relation for the de roglie wavelength λ = h p. (k) Show an understanding of the existence of discrete electron energy levels in isolated atoms (e.g. atomic hydrogen) and deduce how this leads to spectral lines. (l) istinguish between emission and absorption line spectra. (m) Recall and solve problems using the relation hf = 1 2. jj_sph2011 Page 1 of 19 Sections marked * are extras
(a) Show an appreciation of the particulate nature of electromagnetic radiation lectromagnetic energy is emitted, transmitted and absorbed in discrete packets or quanta. quantum of electromagnetic radiation is known as a photon. g.1: (ns: ) Photon is the name given to an electron emitted from a metal surface by the action of light. a unit of energy. a positively charged atomic particle. an electron emitted from a metal surface by the action of heat. a quantum of electromagnetic radiation. (b) Recall and use = hf The energy of a photon,, is proportional to its frequency f, and is expressed as = hf = h c λ where h is the Planck constant (= 6.63 10-34 Js). g.2: Find the energy of a photon of electromagnetic radiation of wavelength 0.15 nm. In which region of the electromagnetic spectrum is this radiation? Recall: nswer: 8-1 c = hf = h = (6.63 10-34 (3 10 ms ) Js) λ 9 (0.15 10 m) = 1.33 10-15 J. X-ray. jj_sph2011 Page 2 of 19 Sections marked * are extras
g.3: (ns: ) The wavelength of a 5 MeV γ-ray is 4.95 10-38 m 8.89 10-32 m 8.89 10-30 m 2.49 10-13 m 2.48 10-10 m nswer: ata: 1 MeV = (1.6 10-19 ) x (1000 000) = 1.6 10-13 J = 5 MeV = 5 (1.6 10-13 J) = 8.0 10-13 J = hf = h λ c λ = hc = 34 8-1 (6.6 10 Js)(3 10 ms ) 13 (8.0 10 J) = 2.49 10-13 m. g.4: (ns: ) photon of light enters a block of glass after traveling through a vacuum. The energy of the photon on entering the glass block increases because its associated wavelength decreases. decreases because the speed of the radiation decreases. stays the same because the speed of the radiation and the associated wavelength do not change. stays the same because the frequency of the radiation does not change. stays the same because the speed of the radiation and its wavelength increase by the same order. nswer: Only speed and wavelength change, frequency is unchanged. (d) (f) (g) Recall the significance of threshold frequency xplain photoelectric phenomena in terms of photon energy and work function energy. xplain why the maximum photoelectric energy is independent of intensity whereas the photoelectric current is proportional to intensity Photoelectric phenomena: Generally, electrons may be emitted from a metal surface by 3 methods: (1) by friction, e.g. by rubbing a metal surface vigorously with a piece of cloth, (2) by thermionic emission, i.e. by heating a metal such that the electrons in it would gain enough kinetic energy to overcome the attraction of the metal surface and escape from the surface (almost as though they are boiled off the surface). jj_sph2011 Page 3 of 19 Sections marked * are extras
(3) by photoelectric effect, i.e. to incident a beam of light (em radiation) on a metal surface such that the electrons in it would gain enough kinetic energy from the incident light to overcome the attraction of the metal surface and escape from the surface. Photoelectric effect is the emission of electrons from the metal surface when an electromagnetic radiation of high enough frequency is incident on the metal. xperimental Setup: incident radiation m V Procedure: In the above setup, radiation (or light) of known frequency f and intensity I is incident onto an emitting electrode (cathode ) placed within an evacuated glass envelope, together with the collecting electrode (anode ). lectrons may be emitted by and collected by. The electric potential of may be varied and made positive or negative (higher or lower) with respect to. Refer to nnex for results and explanation. (c) Show an understanding that the photoelectric effect provides evidence for a particulate nature of electromagnetic radiation while phenomena such as interference and diffraction provide evidence for a wave nature It is well-known that only waves are able to exhibit phenomena such as interference and diffraction. Light as an example of an em radiation does exhibit such phenomena, and hence may be considered as a wave. On the other hand, the results of the photoelectric effect showed the inadequacy of the wave nature of light. y considering light as a wave, only the first result can be explained (i.e. photoelectric current intensity). ll the experimental results can be explained adequately by considering light as a stream of photons. photon is a quantum of em radiation, which may be considered as a particle without mass, just a packet of energy. * [The explanation for the experimental results of the photoelectric effect was proposed by none other than lbert instein. He was most famous for his Theory of Relativity, but he won his Nobel Prize for Physics due to this theory (photoelectric effect) which assumed that light may be considered as a stream of photons. The equation that summarises the photoelectric effect was named instein s equation. ] jj_sph2011 Page 4 of 19 Sections marked * are extras
g.5: (ns: ) Which one of the following statements, referring to photoelectric emission, is always true? No emission of electrons occurs for very low intensity. Not true. s long as there are photons with enough energy, there will be electrons emitted. It is independent of intensity. For a given metal there is a minimum frequency of radiation below which no emission occurs. True. This is the threshold frequency for that metal. The velocity of the emitted electrons is proportional to the intensity of the incident radiation. Not true. It is the photoelectric current that is proportional to intensity. The number of electrons emitted per second is independent of the intensity of the incident radiation. Not true. Number of electrons emitted per second is a measure of the photoelectric current, which is proportional to intensity. The number of electrons emitted per second is proportional to the frequency of the incident radiation. Not true. Number of electrons emitted per second is a measure of the photoelectric current, which is proportional to intensity, not frequency. g.6: (ns: ) source emits monochromatic light of wavelength λ at power P. Given that h is the Planck constant and c the speed of light, the rate of emission of photons is Pc hλ λc Ph hc Pλ Ph cλ Pλ hc nswer: ach photon has energy, = hf. If N is the number of photons emitted in time t, the total energy emitted in time t can be expressed as N = Nhf = Nh λ c The source emits light at a power, So, the rate of emission of photons, total energy emitted P = time taken N = Pλ t hc = Nhf t Nhc = t λ g.7: (ns: ) beam of monochromatic radiation falls on to a metal X and photoelectrons are emitted. The rate of emission of photoelectrons will be double if a beam of double the intensity is used. radiation of double the frequency is used. radiation of double the wavelength is used. the thermodynamic temperature of the metal is doubled. a metal with a work function half that of X is substituted for X. nswer: ouble the rate of emission of photoelectrons means double the photoelectric current. Since photoelectric current intensity, the intensity must also be doubled. jj_sph2011 Page 5 of 19 Sections marked * are extras
1 (h) Recall, use and explain the significance of hf = φ + mv 2 The above equation is known as the instein s photoelectric equation. When an electron absorbs energy hf from an incident photon, spends a minimum energy φ to be emitted from the metal surface, it will have a maximum kinetic energy, 2 max 1 2 mv = hf φ 2 max Note: (i) (ii) 1 2 mv belongs to an electron, measured by the stopping potential, 2 max V s, of the electrode, which is made negative (lower potential) with respect to. This represents the minimum negative potential required to stop even the most energetic electron from reaching the electrode (indicated by the zero current in the milliammeter), therefore, 1 mv 2 = ev 2 max s. φ is a characteristic of the electrode, (= hf o, where f o is the threshold frequency). and hf is the energy of a photon. (e) Recall and use the equation 1 mv 2 = ev 2 max s, where ev s is the stopping potential This just means, for the photoelectron: loss of kinetic energy = gain in electric potential energy instein s equation can hence be written as: ev s = hf φ or ev s = hf hf o h h or V s = ( ) f ( ) f o e e h φ or V s = ( ) f e e V s slope = h e f o f φ e Note: (i) The graph of V s versus f has a gradient of h e constant. which is always (ii) ifferent material of will give a different value of φ, and hence the graph will have different y-intercept. jj_sph2011 Page 6 of 19 Sections marked * are extras
g.8: (ns: ) The result of an experiment to investigate the energy of photoelectrons emitted from a metallic surface is represented by the figure below. stopping potential 0 frequency The gradient of the graph depends on the intensity of the incident radiation. wavelength of the incident radiation. work function of the irradiated surface. pressure of residual gas in contact with the surface. ratio of the Planck constant to the electronic charge. g.9: (ns: ) Light quanta each of energy 3.5 10-19 J fall on the cathode of a photocell. The current through the cell is just reduced to zero by applying a reverse voltage to make the cathode 0.25 V positive with respect to the anode. The minimum energy required to remove an electron from the cathode is 2.9 10-19 J 3.1 10-19 J 3.5 10-19 J 3.9 10-19 J 6.4 10-19 J nswer: ata: hf = 3.5 10-19 J, V s = 0.25 V. Question asks for minimum energy required to remove an electron from the cathode, i.e. the work function energy of the cathode, φ. Using ev s = hf φ φ = hf ev s = (3.5 10-19 J) (1.6 10-19 )(0.25 V) = 3.1 10-19 J g.10: (ns: ) In a photoelectric experiment, electrons are ejected from metals X and Y by light of frequency f. The potential difference V required to stop the electrons is measured for various frequencies. If Y has a greater work function than X, which graph illustrates the expected results? V V V V V X X Y X Y Y X Y Y X 0 f 0 f 0 f 0 f 0 f nswer: First, the gradient of the graph cannot change (always = h ), so answers are or. e If Y has a greater work function than X, then the graph for Y should have a more negative y-intercept. jj_sph2011 Page 7 of 19 Sections marked * are extras
(i) escribe and interpret qualitatively the evidence provided by electron diffraction for the wave nature of particles When a beam of electron is passed through a thin film of crystal (e.g. graphite ), the dispersion pattern of the emergent electrons produced on a screen ( coated with fluorescent, (c) ) is observed to be similar to the diffraction pattern produced by a beam X-ray (a well-known electromagnetic wave, (b) ). This is known as the electron diffraction phenomenon. (j) This phenomenon provides evidence for the wave nature of particles like electrons. h Recall and use the relation for the de roglie wavelength λ = p de roglie suggested that: for a particle of momentum p (= mv), which exhibits wave behaviour, it will have an associated wavelength λ, given by λ = p h Similarly, for electromagnetic radiation of wavelength λ, which exhibits particle behaviour, it will have an associated momentum p, given by p = λ h This is known as the de roglie principle. g.11: (ns: ) Light of frequency 5 10 14 Hz consists of photons of momentum 4.0 10-40 kg m s -1 3.7 10-36 kg m s -1 1.7 10-28 kg m s -1 1.1 10-27 kg m s -1 3.3 10-19 kg m s -1 nswer: 34 h hf (6.63 10 Js)(5 10 p = = = λ c 8-1 3.0 10 ms 14 Hz) = 1.1 10-27 kg m s -1. jj_sph2011 Page 8 of 19 Sections marked * are extras
g.12: (ns: ) beam of light of wavelength λ is totally reflected at normal incidence by a plane mirror. The intensity of the light is such that photons hit the mirror at a rate n. Given that the Planck constant is h, the force exerted on the mirror by this beam is nhλ nh λ 2 nhλ 2nλ h 2nh λ nswer: ach photon has a momentum p = λ h When totally reflected at normal incidence by a plane mirror, the change in momentum = 2 λ h Since there are n photons hitting the mirror per unit time, Δ p h the rate of change of momentum, = 2n t λ y Newton s 2 nd Δ p h law of motion, force, F = = 2n t λ (k) Show an understanding of the existence of discrete energy levels in isolated atoms (e.g. atomic hydrogen) and deduce how this leads to spectral lines The electrons orbiting an atom can only occupy certain allowed orbits. In these allowed orbits, the total kinetic and potential energies of all the electrons in the atom will give rise to the specific energy state of the atom e.g. 1, 2 and so on. In the normal state or ground state of an atom, its electrons will occupy the lowest allowed orbit so that the energy of the atom is at its lowest. ny change usually involves the movement of the electrons to higher allowed orbits. For the different allowed orbits occupied, the atom will have different but specific energy states, or excited states. In this transition to a higher orbit, the energy absorbed by the atom in excitation, the excitation energy, is equal to the difference between the energy levels of the two states. The highest excited state is when the electron is at infinity (i.e. the atom is ionised), so the highest excitation energy is the ionisation energy. 4 3 2 1 nergy level diagram of an atom having various allowed states. The lowest energy state 1 is the ground state. ll others are excited states. Note the bigger gaps between energy levels in the lower region (say, between 2 and 1 ) than those in the higher region (say, between 4 and 3 ). jj_sph2011 Page 9 of 19 Sections marked * are extras
On the other hand, if an electron makes a transition down from a higher excited state to a lower energy level, the excess energy will be emitted as a photon, whose energy corresponds to the difference between the initial and final energy levels (hf = 2 1 ). Photons emitted from such transitions, when allowed to pass through a narrow slit and a diffraction grating, will give rise to a set of line spectrum, unique to the element. High Potential ifference iffraction Grating Line spectrum Low Pressure Gas g.13: (ns: ) The minimum energy to ionise an atom is the energy required to add one electron to the atom. excite the atom from its ground state to its first excited state. remove one outermost electron from the atom. remove one innermost electron from the atom. remove all the electrons from the atom. Remark: This is the ionisation energy of the atom. jj_sph2011 Page 10 of 19 Sections marked * are extras
(l) istinguish between emission and absorption line spectra mission Line Spectra for Hydrogen spectrum is produced by using a prism or diffraction grating to separate the various wavelengths in a beam of light. It is the set of wavelengths that are observed. line spectrum contains a discrete set of wavelengths, like the ones shown here. It is a characteristic feature of an element. xamples of emission line spectra are as seen above. mission 2 hf = hc λ = 2 1 1 n excited electron transits to a lower energy level by emitting a photon. mission refers to the emission of a specific amount of energy from an isolated atom (e.g. an atom of an element in vapour or gaseous state, at low pressure) when its electrons jump from higher to lower allowed orbits, releasing the specific excess energy. Such specific energy released can only take the form of a photon, with the corresponding frequency f related by hc = hf = = 2 1 λ n emission line spectrum of an element consists of a series of separate bright lines of definite frequencies (or wavelengths) on a dark background. It is produced when a stream of photons of different frequencies is passed through a narrow slit and normally through a diffraction grating. These photons are emitted randomly from transitions (from higher to lower excited states or the ground state) in the excited atoms of the element in a vapour or gas at low pressure. jj_sph2011 Page 11 of 19 Sections marked * are extras
Since each element has a unique set of orbital electrons, the emission line spectrum of an element is also unique, enabling it to be used as a means of identification of the element. toms in solid state (e.g. a tungsten filament) are very close to one another, no longer isolated. The energy levels of each atom are no longer identical to one another. mission from these atoms will result in a continuous spectrum (i.e. the numerous lines diffracted on the screen are so close to each other that separation between these lines are negligible and the spectrum appears to be continuous). g.14: (ns: ) Which of the following provides experimental evidence for discrete electron energy levels in atoms? the spectrum of a tungsten filament lamp. the spectrum of a sodium discharge lamp. the photoelectric effect. the emission of β-particles by radioactive atoms. the emission of γ-rays by radioactive atoms. Remark: Sodium in a discharge lamp is in gaseous state. Tungsten filament is a solid. g.15: (ns: ) The existence of energy levels within atoms can be demonstrated directly by observing that atoms can emit spectra. photoelectrons are only emitted for wavelength greater than a critical wavelength. some α-particles are reflected back through very large angles by atoms in a solid. X-rays with frequencies up to a certain maximum are emitted by a target. atoms in a solid diffract electrons in the same way as crystals diffract X-rays. bsorption bsorption refers to the absorption of energy by an atom from external sources. bsorption can occur only if it results in the atom being excited to a higher allowed energy state, i.e. only a specific amount of energy Δ can be absorbed. No absorption will occur if too little or too much energy is given to the atom. Δ = 2 1 2 1 n electron transits to a higher energy level after absorption. jj_sph2011 Page 12 of 19 Sections marked * are extras
There are 3 ways in which an atom can absorb energy: (1) from thermal energy (e.g. when an element is heated by a bunsen flame); or (2) from kinetic energy of a colliding particle (e.g. when an atom in a vapour in a tube at low pressure is collided by an electron moving across the tube, say, in an electric fluorescent lamp.); or (3) from an incident photon (e.g. when a beam of bright light is incident on a vapour or gas.) Note: For (1) and (2), an atom will absorb the exact amount of energy required for a particular transition, which may be any fraction of the energy supplied by the source. For (3), only photons with the exact amount of energy required for the transition will be absorbed. Photons with energies lower or higher than this exact amount will not be absorbed. In the diagram below, the bright light beam originates from the filament lamp. The sodium lamp does not give out light on its own, consisting of only sodium vapour. The resulting light beams would pass through the collimator which makes the beams parallel and incident normally onto the diffraction grating. The spectrum formed is observed using the telescope. n absorption line spectrum of an element consists of a series of separate dark lines of definite frequencies (or wavelengths) on a coloured background. The coloured background is produced when a stream of photons of different frequencies from a white light source (e.g. tungsten filament lamp) is passed through a narrow slit and a diffraction grating. The cool vapour of the element concerned is placed between the white light source and the narrow slit, such that its atoms may absorb excitation energy from photons incident from the white light source. The unabsorbed photons from the white light source will be incident on the screen with the original intensity. fter the absorption, the excited atoms will eventually go back to the ground state by emitting the same photons absorbed earlier. jj_sph2011 Page 13 of 19 Sections marked * are extras
Summary: The re-emitted photons from the excited atoms in the cool vapour of the element will be in all directions. Only a small fraction of the re-emitted photons will be incident onto the screen, hence they will form lines with a much lower intensity. This accounts for the dark lines in the spectrum, which appear on the exact positions as the corresponding emission line spectrum of the element. Note that these dark lines are not totally dark. In fact, they are of the same colour as their neighbouring background. They only appear dark against the coloured background because they are too dim, by comparison. istinguishing between In terms of Initial state of gas atoms Spectrum Pattern mission Line Spectra produced by hot (gas atoms are initially at excited state) vapour or gas. a series of separate bright lines of definite wavelength on a dark background bsorption Line Spectra produced when white light passes through cool (gas atoms are initially at ground state) vapour or gas. a series of separate dark lines of definite wavelength on a coloured background xplanation xcited atoms emit photons with the characteristic wavelengths corresponding to the transitions from higher to lower energy levels. Wavelengths corresponding to bright lines on the spectrum are characteristics of the element emitting the light. ool gas absorbs photons with the characteristic wavelengths corresponding to the transitions from lower to higher energy levels. Subsequently, the excited atoms transit back to the lower energy levels by emitting the same photons in all directions Small fraction of emitted photons incident on screen lines of lower intensity formed (appear as dark lines on the spectrum) Wavelengths corresponding to dark lines on the spectrum are characteristics of the element emitting the light. jj_sph2011 Page 14 of 19 Sections marked * are extras
g.16: (ns: ) When a parallel beam of white light passes through a metal vapour, dark lines appear in the spectrum of the emergent light. This is principally because energy is absorbed and is not re-emitted at all. is re-radiated as infra-red. is re-radiated as ultra-violet. is re-radiated gradually over a long period of time. is re-radiated uniformly in all directions. g.17: (ns: ) White light from a tungsten filament lamp is passed through sodium vapour and viewed through a diffraction grating. Which of the following best describes the spectrum which would be seen? coloured lines on a black background coloured lines on a white background dark lines on a coloured background dark lines on a white background Remark: The coloured background is due to the white light from tungsten lamp forming a continuous spectrum. (m) Recall and solve problems using the relation hf = 1 2. In a transition from an initial level of energy 1 to a final level of energy 2 ( 1 > 2 ), a photon of frequency f is emitted, with its energy given by = hf = h λ c = 1 2 jj_sph2011 Page 15 of 19 Sections marked * are extras
g.18: (ns: ) n atom emits a spectral line of wavelength λ when an electron makes a transition between the levels 1 and 2. Which expression correctly relates λ, 1 and 2? λ = c h ( 1 2 ) λ = ch ( 1 2 ) c λ = h( 1 2 ) ch λ = 1 2 nswer: hf = 1 2 c h = 1 2 λ hc λ = 1 2 g.19: (ns: ) In the figure below, 1 to 6 represent some of the energy levels of an electron in the hydrogen atom. 6 5 4 3 0.38 ev 0.54 ev 0.85 ev 1.5 ev 2 3.4 ev 1 13.6 ev Which one of the following transitions produces a photon of wavelength in the ultraviolet region of the electro-magnetic spectrum? [ 1 ev = 1.6 10-19 J. ] 2 1 3 2 4 3 5 4 6 5 nswer: ssume a transition from 2 to 1, the resulting photon emitted would have an energy, = ( 3.4 ev) ( 13.6 ev) = 10.2 ev = 10.2(1.6 10-19 J) = 1.63 10-18 J. The frequency and wavelength of the photon are related by the equation = hf = h λ c c λ = h = (6.63 10-34 3 10 ms Js) 18 1.63 10 J 8-1 = 1.22 10-7 m This corresponds to the wavelength of ultra-violet radiation. jj_sph2011 Page 16 of 19 Sections marked * are extras
g.20: (ns: ) The diagram below represents, drawn to scale, the energy levels for an electron in a certain atom. energy 4 3 2 1 The transition from 3 to 1 produces a green line. What transition could give rise to a red line? 4 to 3 4 to 2 4 to 1 3 to 2 2 to 1 Remark: Frequency of red light is lower than frequency of green light, so energy of a photon from a red light is lower than that from a green light. ut gaps between energy levels are bigger for lower levels than for higher levels. The transition from 3 to 1 gives a green light (in the visible light region of the em spectrum), then to give a red light, the transition must also be to 1. Transition to other levels would give a photon of much lower energy, regardless of where the transition is originated from. jj_sph2011 Page 17 of 19 Sections marked * are extras
Result nnex : Results and explanations for the photoelectric effect xperimental xplanation Observation onsidering light as a wave onsidering light as a particle 1 The rate of emission of photoelectrons ( measured as photoelectric current ) is proportional to the incident radiation intensity. Intensity is the rate of incidence of energy per unit area. photoelectric current Intensity beam of light carries a continuous flow of energy when it is incident onto the metal surface. The intensity of the beam is proportional to the square of the wave amplitude. Intensity is a measure of the rate at which energy would be imparted onto the electrons per unit surface area of the emitting electrode. The higher the intensity of the light beam, the higher the energy imparted onto the electrons. This resulted in a higher number of photoelectrons emitted per unit time which means a higher current. an explain observation. Since each photon has a specific amount of energy (= hf), then the intensity of a beam of light is a measure of the rate of incidence of photons, i.e. the number of photons incident per unit time. The higher the intensity, the more photons per unit time is incident onto the emitting electrode. It is assumed each photon gives all its energy (= hf) to a single electron in the metal. Hence the more photons incident onto the metal surface, the more photoelectrons emitted. an explain observation. 2 For every material of irradiated, there is a minimum frequency ( threshold frequency f o ) required to liberate an electron from the surface. This f o is independent of the light intensity. mission of photoelectrons from the metal surface should occur at any frequency. It is independent of frequency. annot explain observation. There is a certain minimum energy called the work function energy, φ necessary to liberate an electron from its surface. Since the energy of a photon is expressed as hf, hence the minimum photon energy required to liberate an electron from its surface must be hf o (= φ) where f o is the threshold frequency. f o andφ are characteristic of the material. an explain observation. jj_sph2011 Page 18 of 19 Sections marked * are extras
Result xperimental xplanation Observation onsidering light as a wave onsidering light as a particle The higher the intensity, the higher the energy The emitted photoelectrons would have absorbed energy imparted onto the electrons on the metal surface. from the incident photons. 3 The maximum kinetic ( photoelectric ) energy of emitted electrons depends only on the frequency of the incident radiation, and not its intensity. The electrons should then be emitted with higher kinetic energies, which contradict the experimental result. Since each electron absorbs energy only from one photon, what matters is the energy of each photon (which depends only on its frequency). current Frequency fixed, Intensity I 2 > I 1 I 2 annot explain observation. High intensity means there is a large number of photons incident onto the electrode per unit time, but this does not affect the energy absorbed by a single electron. I 1 an explain observation. V s V current Intensity fixed, Frequency f 2 > f 1 f 2 V S2 V S1 f 1 4 The emission of photoelectrons starts with no observable time lag, even for very low intensity of incident radiation. V For very low intensity radiation, an electron would require some time to absorb enough energy to be emitted from the metal surface. Then there would be a certain time lag in its emission. annot explain observation. For the incident photon, its energy will be instantaneously transferred to the absorbing electron, in a one-to-one interaction. This accounts for the instantaneous emission of the photoelectron. an explain observation. jj_sph2011 Page 19 of 19 Sections marked * are extras