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The photoelectric cut-off voltage in a certain experiment is 1.5 V. The maximum kinetic energy of photoelectrons emitted will be ________.

Asked in GUJCET 2026 · Speed and kinetic energy of the photoelectrons

Answer: (3) 1.5 eV

Step-by-step solution

Given: cut-off (stopping) voltage V₀ = 1.5 V.

Idea: the stopping potential is the retarding voltage that just turns back the fastest photoelectron, so Kₘₐₓ = eV₀.

An electron pushed through 1 V gains exactly 1 eV -- that is what the electron-volt means.

So Kₘₐₓ = e×1.5 V = 1.5 eV, which in joule is 1.5×1.6×10⁻¹⁹ = 2.4×10⁻¹⁹ J.

The energy is therefore 1.5 eV, and the two joule options are the same number with the wrong unit.

Why the other options are wrong

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