Try it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
The work functions of six metals are: caesium eV, potassium eV, lithium eV, zinc eV, copper eV and platinum eV. Use eV nm. (a) What is the threshold wavelength of zinc? (b) Violet light of wavelength nm falls on each metal. For how many of the six do electrons leave? (c) What is the largest kinetic energy of the electrons from caesium?
A photon has energy , with eV nm. Einstein's equation is . So , a straight line of slope V s. A beam of power sends photons each second.
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. Zinc. . Zinc needs ultraviolet light.
Step 2. The photon energy. .
Step 3. Which metals. Electrons leave if . Caesium (), potassium () and lithium () are below eV. Zinc, copper and platinum are above it. So metals emit electrons.
Step 4. Caesium. .
Answer: nm; metals; eV.
Watch out. Visible light of long wavelength, such as red, has a photon energy of only about eV. It frees electrons from none of these six.
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