According to the photoelectric effect, in order to release electrons from a solid, the lightincident upon it must:
A)have a high intensity.
B)have a low intensity.
C)have a long wavelength.
D)have a short wavelength.
E)none of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to the photoelectric effect, in order to release electrons from a solid, the light must have a short wavelength. This is because the energy of a photon is directly proportional to its frequency and inversely proportional to its wavelength. So, in order for a photon to have enough energy to overcome the binding energy of an electron in a solid, it must have a higher frequency, which corresponds to a shorter wavelength. According to the photoelectric effect, in order to release electrons from a solid, the light incident upon it must have a short wavelength. This is because only high-energy photons with short wavelengths have enough energy to overcome the binding energy of the electrons in the solid and release them as photoelectrons. The intensity of the light does not necessarily affect the photoelectric effect, as long as it is above a certain threshold value. The wavelength of the light must be shorter, not longer, to release electrons. Therefore, the best choice is D.

According to the Photoelectric Effect, in Order to Release Electrons