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The velocity of the photoelectrons emitted in the photoelectric effect depends on the properties of the photosensitive surface and ______.

Asked in GSEB Board July 2016 · Conceptual points of the photoelectric effect

Answer: (2) frequency of incident light

Step-by-step solution

Given: light falls on a photosensitive surface and electrons are emitted.

Idea: Einstein's photoelectric equation 1/2mvₘₐₓ² = h u - φ₀.

The work function φ₀ is the property of the surface.

The only property of the light that appears is its frequency u, through the photon energy h u.

So the (maximum) speed of the photoelectrons depends on the surface and on the frequency of the incident light; intensity, polarization and exposure time do not enter.

Why the other options are wrong

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