In a photoelectric effect experiment, the stopping potential is:

Correct answer: D. The electric potential that cause electron current to vanish

  • A. The kinetic energy of the most energetic electron ejected
  • B. The potential energy of the most energetic electron ejected
  • C. The photon energy
  • D. The electric potential that cause electron current to vanish

Explanation

In the photoelectric effect experiment, the stopping potential refers to the electric potential that is applied between the anode and the cathode in order to stop the flow of electrons in the circuit. When the stopping potential is reached, the current of electrons ceases to flow, and this potential is known as the stopping potential. The stopping potential is directly related to the kinetic energy of the ejected protons. When the stopping potential is applied, it counteracts the kinetic energy of the electrons, eventually bringing them to a stop. Thus, the stopping potential is the electric potential that causes the electron current to vanish.

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Classical physics cannot explain blackbody radiation and related observations, leading to Planck’s quantum theory, in which energy is emitted or absorbed in discrete packets. Photons provide the particle model of light, with energy and momentum linked to frequency and wavelength, including the photoelectric effect and its threshold frequency.

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