Question

Light of intensity 10⁻⁵ W m⁻² falls on a sodium photo-cell of surface area 2 cm². Assuming that the top 5 layers of sodium absorb the incident energy, estimate time required for photoelectric emission in the wave-picture of radiation. The work function for the metal is given to be about 2 eV. What is the implication of your answer?

Answer 1

Intensity of incident light, I = 10⁻⁵ W m⁻²
Surface area of a sodium photocell, A = 2 cm² = 2 × 10⁻⁴ m²
Incident power of the light, P = I × A
= 10⁻⁵ × 2 × 10⁻⁴
= 2 × 10⁻⁹ W

Number of layers of sodium that absorbs the incident energy, n = 5
We know that the effective atomic area of a sodium atom, Ae is 10⁻²⁰ m²
.Hence, the number of conduction electrons in n layers is given as:

The incident power is uniformly absorbed by all the electrons continuously. Hence, the amount of energy absorbed per second per electron is:

Time required for photoelectric emission:

The time required for the photoelectric emission is nearly half a year, which is not practical. Hence, the wave picture is in disagreement with the given experiment.