In the Photoelectric effect, Why does increasing the light intensity have no effect on the energy of the electron emitted?

The equation to calculate the energy of an emitted electron is: E = hf - φ, where E is the energy of the electron emitted, is the Planck's constant, f is the frequency of the light and φ is the work function of the metal which is the minimum energy required to emit an electron. Here you can see that nothing is dependant on light intensity because the intensity is essentially the number of photons and does not increase nor decrease the energy of a single photon, therefore has no effect on the energy of an electron emitted. 

If the light has enough energy to emit a photon i.e. has a high enough frequency, then the light intensity will increase the probability of an electron being emitted from the metal.  

PK
Answered by Pankaj K. Physics tutor

21836 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

How do we know the energy of a photon (light particle) is quantised?


A 0.20 kg mass is whirled round in a vertical circle on the end of a light string of length 0.90 m. At the top point of the circle the speed of the mass is 8.2 m/s. What is the tension in the string at this point?


In a circuit with a thermistor and bulb, what happens to the brightness of the bulb as the temperature increases?


A body of mass 2kg is travelling in a straight line along the x-axis. It collides with a second body of mass 3kg which is moving at -2m/s. The two bodies move off together at 3m/s. What is the initial velocity of the first body?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning