Laws of photoelectric emission

Laws of photoelectric emission

The experimental observations on photoelectric effect may be summarized as follows, which are known as the fundamental laws of photoelectric emission.

1.     For a given photo sensitive material, there is a minimum frequency called the threshold frequency, below which emission of photoelectrons stops completely, however great the intensity may be.

2.     For a given photosensitive material, the photo electric current is directly proportional to the intensity of the incident radiation, provided the frequency is greater than the threshold frequency.

3.     The photoelectric emission is an instantaneous process. i.e. there is no time lag between the incidence of radiation and the emission of photo electrons.

4.     The maximum kinetic energy of the photo electrons is directly proportional to the frequency of incident radiation, but is independent of its intensity.

Light waves and photons

The electromagnetic theory of light proposed by Maxwell could not explain photoelectric effect. But, Max Planck's quantum theory successfully explains photoelectric effect. According to Planck's quantum theory, light is emitted in the form of discrete packets of energy called 'quanta' or photon. The energy of each photon is E = hν, where h is Planck's constant.