Question

In photoelectric effect, the photocurrent
A. Depends both on intensity and frequency of the incident light.
B. Does not depend on the frequency of incident light but depends on the intensity of the incident light.
C. Decreases with increase in frequency of incident light.
D. Increases with increase in frequency of incident light.

Answer 1

Here we have to first understand what is meant by photoelectric effect and photocurrent;
When radiation hits a material some electrons are emitted from it. This effect is known as the photoelectric effect. Due to photoelectric effect the current that flows through a material is known as photocurrent.

Complete step by step answer:
Now let us see about the photoelectric effect in brief:
Photoelectric effect explains the wave duality of particles as well as the quantum nature of light.
Photoelectric effect can be explained as: it takes a specific energy to launch an electron from a metal surface. This energy is the work function which relies upon the metal. Electrons can pick up energy by collaborating with photons. On the chance that a photon has energy as large as the work function, the photon energy can be moved to the electron and the electron will have enough energy to escape from the metal. A photon with energy not exactly equal to the work function will always be unable to launch electrons.
At the point when intensity of incident photons increases the number of electrons produced from the surface rises because of which there is an increment in current. Current is not dependent on the frequency of photons. Frequency of photons is only related to the kinetic energy. Thus the current remains the same.

Hence, option B is correct.

Note: Here we may get confused between option A and B but photocurrent only depends on light. Also we should remember the relation between frequency and kinetic energy from which it will be clear that frequency only depends on the kinetic energy.