Effect of frequency on Photoelectric Effect

The stopping potential V_c is found to be changing linearly with frequency of incident light being more negative for high frequency. An increase in frequency of the incident light increases the kinetic energy of the emitted electrons, so greater retarding potential is required to stop them completely. For a given frequency v, V_c measures the maximum kinetic energy E_max of photoelectrons that can reach plate C.

 eV_c = 1/2 mV²_max 

Where m is the mass of electron, e is charge of electron and V_max is maximum velocity of electron. This means that work done by stopping potential must just be equal to maximum kinetic energy of an electron.

The effect of changing incident frequency v can also be studied from the plot of photoelectric current Vs potential applied across CD, keeping the intensity of incident radiation same.

From graph, we see that i_max is same in all cases (for same intensity).

From graph, as v increases, V_c becomes more negative.

The plot of frequency Vs stopping potential for two different metals is shown here. It is clear from graph that there is a minimum frequency f0 and f0' for two metals for which the stopping potential is zero

(Vc = 0). So for a frequency below f0 and f0' for two metals, there will not be any emission of photoelectrons. This minimum value of frequency of incident light below which the emission stops, however large the intensity of light may be, is called as threshold frequency.