The experimental set up for studying the characteristics of the photoelectric effect is shown in the figure below.
The experimental setup consists of the evacuated glass tube, metal plate A, and a photosensitive plate B. The photosensitive plate B acts as emitter and the plate S acts as a collector of photoelectrons when a monochromatic light is incident on the plate B.
For studying the characteristics, we need to study the effect of the intensity, the potential, and the frequency on the photocurrent.
Effect of intensity – When the collector plate A is maintained at a higher potential than the emitter plate B and the intensity of the incident light is varied with other parameters being fixed, then it is observed that the photocurrent varies linearly with the intensity of the light.
Effect of potential – When the plate A is maintained at a positive potential, which is increased gradually, it is observed that the photocurrent first increases, then becomes maximum and attains saturation value. This maximum or the saturation value of the photocurrent is called saturation current. On the other hand when a negative potential is applied, then the photocurrent gradually and ultimately drops to zero for a certain value of the negative potential, which is known as the stopping potential.
Effect of frequency – When the different lights of different frequencies but same intensities are incident on the glass tube, then it is observed that the stopping potential is more negative for higher frequencies.
Hence, we have studied all the characteristics of the photoelectric effect.
