Question

In a photoelectric experiment, if both the intensity and frequency of the incident light are doubled then the saturation photo electric current

• A. is doubled
• B. remains constant
• C. becomes four times
• D. is halved

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

is doubled

Answer 2

According to the photoelectric effect, the number of electrons emitted by a material depends on the intensity of the incident light, while the kinetic energy of the emitted electrons depends on the frequency of the incident light.
If both the intensity and frequency of the incident light are doubled, the following changes occur:
Doubling the intensity of the light: Increasing the intensity of light means more photons are incident on the material, leading to a higher number of electrons being emitted. Therefore, the saturation photocurrent will be doubled.
Doubling the frequency of the light: Increasing the frequency of light implies that each photon carries more energy. Consequently, the emitted electrons will have higher kinetic energy. However, doubling the frequency alone doesn't directly affect the saturation photocurrent.
In summary, doubling both the intensity and frequency of the incident light will result in the saturation photocurrent being doubled.
Therefore, the correct option is (A) the saturation photocurrent is doubled.