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It takes 8.53 ✕ 10-19 J of energy to remove one electron from a certain metal surface. What is the maximum wavelength of light capable of causing this effect?

User Reflective
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1 Answer

5 votes

Answer:

λ = 233 nm

Step-by-step explanation:

Step 1: Data given

8.53 * 10^-19 J of energy needed to remove 1 electron

Step 2: Calculate the wavelength

The energy of a photon is proportional to its frequency.

Mathematically, the relationship between the energy of a photon and its frequency is described by the Planck - Einstein equation:

E = h*f

⇒ E = the energy of the photon

⇒ h = Planck's constant, equal to 6.626 * 10 ^-34 J*s

⇒ f = the frequency

Frequency and wavelength have an Inverse relationship and can be described by the equation:

f*λ = c

⇒ λ = the wavelength of the photon

⇒ c = the speed of light in a vacuum, usually given as 3 *10 ^8 m/s

ν *λ = c ⇒ ν = c /λ

E = h *c /λ

λ =( h ⋅*c )/E

λ = (6.626 * 10 ^-34 J*s * 3 *10 ^8 m/s) / 8.53 * 10^-19

λ = 2.33 *10^-7 m

λ = 233 nm

This wavelength places you in the ultraviolet - shortwave UV region of the EM spectrum.

User Andrei Buneyeu
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