SF026: PAST YEAR PSPM QUESTIONS

CHAPTER 9: QUANTIZATION OF LIGHT

PSPM II 2005/2006 NO. 6
6. (a) States ONE characteristic of electromagnetic wave energy that contradict the Plancks
quantum theory and classical theory.
(b) Ultraviolet waves with frequency from 8.00 1015 to 1.00 1017 are incident on
a zinc surface. The work function of zinc is 4.33 . Calculate the maximum kinetic energy of
electrons ejected from the surface. [Ans: = . = ]
[4 marks]
PSPM II 2006/2007 NO. 13(A),(B),(C)
13. (a) State Plancks quantum theory.
[2 marks]
(b) Two different targets are used in a photoelectric experiment.
(i) On the same axes, for each target, sketch a graph of kinetic energy of photoelectron
versus frequency of the incident light.
(ii) State TWO conclusions that could be obtained from the graphs.
[4 marks]
(c) A monochromatic light is used in a photoelectric effect experiment. The threshold
frequency of the metal surface is 5.6 1014 .
(i) Calculate the maximum wavelength of light to emit the photoelectrons. [Ans:
= . ]
(ii) Calculate the work function of the metal. [Ans: = . ]
(iii) If the wavelength of light is 500 , calculate the maximum speed of the
photoelectrons. [Ans: = . ]
[6 marks]
PSPM II 2007/2008 NO. 6
6. State THREE photoelectric effect experimental observations that could not be explained by
the wave theory.
[3 marks]
PSPM II 2007/2008 NO. 13(C)
13. (c) A metal with work function 2.0 is illuminated by a light of wavelength 5.0
107 . Calculate
(i) The maximum kinetic energy of the photoelectrons. [Ans: = .
@ . ]
(ii) The stopping potential. [Ans: = . ]
[5 marks]
PSPM II 2008/2009 NO. 13
13. (a) State two important observations from the photoelectric effect experiment that support
the Plancks Quantum Theory. Explain each of your answer.
[5 marks]

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SF026: PAST YEAR PSPM QUESTIONS

(b)

FIGURE 7
FIGURE 7 shows the schematic set-up of a photoelectric effect experiment. Light with
intensity 0 is illuminated towards an evacuated glass chamber that housed the target T and
plate C.
(i) Why current is detected by the ammeter although the set-up appears to be an
incomplete circuit?
(ii) State three critical steps in the experiment that enable the determination of the
stopping potential. Explain your answer.
(iii) Sketch on the same axes labeled graphs of the current, against the voltage, for
1
light intensities, 0 and 2 0 . Label the stopping potential.
[10 marks]
PSPM II 2009/2010 NO. 6
6. (a) Without stating any equation, define work function.
(b) In a photoelectric effect experiment, sodium having a work function 2.7 is used as the
target metal. Calculate the threshold frequency. [Ans: = . ]
[4 marks]
PSPM II 2009/2010 NO. 13(A),(B)
13. (a) State the differences and similarity between an electron and a photon.
[3 marks]
(b) In a photoelectric effect experiment, no photoelectron is emitted even though light is
illuminated on the target metal. Will photoelectrons be ejected from the metal by increasing
the intensity of the light source? Explain your answer.
[2 marks]

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SF026: PAST YEAR PSPM QUESTIONS

PSPM II 2010/2011 NO. 13(A)
13. (a)

FIGURE 7
FIGURE 7 shows the setup of a photoelectric experiment. Several filters of different colours
of known wavelength are provided.
(i) State the function of the colour filters, voltmeter and microammeter.
(ii) Where should the material under test be placed? [Ans: Cathode]
(iii) What are the parameters to be measured so that the work function of the test
material could be determined? [Ans: and ]
(iv) How to determine the Plancks constant?
(v) What is the implication of this experiment? [Ans: Particle-like nature of light]
[8 marks]
PSPM II 2011/2012 NO. 7(A)
7. (a) A cesium surface is illuminated with light of wavelength 380 . The work function for
cesium is 2.14 . Calculate
(i) the energy of the photon in eV. [Ans: = . ]
(ii) the maximum kinetic energy of the photoelectrons. [Ans: = . ]
(iii) the threshold frequency for cesium. [Ans: = . ]
(iv) the stopping potential for the photoelectrons. [Ans: = . ]
[10 marks]
PSPM II 2012/2013 NO. 7(A),(B)
7. (a) Explain the following terms;
(i) Photon.
(ii) Work function.
(iii) Photoelectric current.
[4 marks]
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SF026: PAST YEAR PSPM QUESTIONS

(b) The minimum frequency of electromagnetic radiation which will cause photoelectric
emissions from a metal is 4.7 1014 .
(i) Calculate the work function of the metal in . [Ans: = . ]
(ii) If the metal surface is hit by electromagnetic radiation of frequency 7.1 1014 ,
calculate the maximum kinetic energy of the photoelectron. [Ans: =
. . ]
[5 marks]
PSPM II 2013/2014 NO. 7(A),(B)
7. (a) (i) State TWO characteristics of light in the classical theory that fails to justify the
photoelectric effect.
(ii) State the significance of the photoelectric effect experiment.
[3 marks]
(b) When a 546 light is used in a photoelectric experiment, the stopping potential is 0.38 .
(i) Calculate the work function of the metal. [Ans: = . = . ]
(ii) Calculate the threshold wavelength. [Ans: = ]
(iii) Calculate the minimum de Broglie wavelength of the electron. [Ans: =
. ]
(iv) Will electron be emitted if the target material is replaced with silver with work function
4.73 ? Justify your answer. [Ans: No. = . < ]
[9 marks]
PSPM II 2014/2015 NO. 7(A),(B),(C)
7. (a) Calculate the number of photon per second in a red laser beam with wavelength 700

and 1 power. [Ans: = . ]

[3 marks]
(b) State TWO (2) features of the photoelectron which cannot be explained using the classical
theory in a photoelectric experiment.
[2 marks]
(c) When light of wavelength 400 falls on a lithium surface in a photoelectric experiment,
electrons having a maximum kinetic energy of 0.8 are emitted. Calculate the
(i) Energy of the incident photons (in ). [Ans: = . ]
(ii) Maximum speed of the electrons. [Ans: = . ]
(iii) Stopping potential of the surface. [Ans: = . ]
(iv) Work function of lithium (in ). [Ans: = . ]
(v) Threshold frequency of lithium. [Ans: = . ]
[7 marks]

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