JEE Main - Nature of electromagnetic radiation and photoelectric effect Question Bank with Options

1. The work function of a metal is related to the binding energy of electrons to the metal surface. A higher work function means:

A) Electrons are more easily removed.

B) More energy is required to remove an electron.

C) The threshold frequency is lower.

D) The metal is more conductive.

2. If light of a certain frequency causes photoemission, increasing the frequency of the light will result in:

A) Fewer electrons being emitted

B) The same number of electrons being emitted, but with lower kinetic energy

C) More electrons being emitted, with higher kinetic energy

D) The same number of electrons being emitted, but with higher kinetic energy

3. The photoelectric effect provides a direct measurement of:

A) The mass of the electron

B) Planck's constant

C) The charge of the electron

D) The speed of light

4. When light interacts with matter, energy is transferred in units of:

A) Joules per second

B) Amperes

C) Photons

D) Volts

5. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of electromagnetic radiation?

A) It travels at the speed of light in a vacuum.

B) It can exhibit wave-particle duality.

C) It carries energy.

D) It requires a medium for propagation.

6. What is the relationship between the energy of a photon and the work function of a metal in the context of the photoelectric effect?

A) Photon energy must be less than the work function.

B) Photon energy must be equal to the work function.

C) Photon energy must be greater than the work function.

D) Photon energy is independent of the work function.

7. The photoelectric effect is a key experiment that supports the idea of:

A) Continuous energy levels in atoms

B) Quantization of energy

C) The uncertainty principle

D) The Bohr model of the atom

8. If the frequency of incident light is less than the threshold frequency, the ejected electrons (if any) would have:

A) Positive kinetic energy

B) Zero kinetic energy

C) Negative kinetic energy

D) Infinite kinetic energy

9. Which of the following metals typically has the lowest work function, making it easier to observe the photoelectric effect?

A) Platinum

B) Gold

C) Cesium

D) Nickel

10. The photoelectric effect is a consequence of the interaction between photons and:

A) Atomic nuclei

B) Free electrons in the metal

C) Protons in the metal

D) The metal lattice structure

11. The energy of a photon is inversely proportional to its:

A) Frequency

B) Wavelength

C) Velocity

D) Amplitude

12. If the threshold wavelength for a metal is 500 nm, what is its threshold frequency? (c = 3 x 10^8 m/s)

A) 6 x 10^14 Hz

B) 6 x 10^15 Hz

C) 1.5 x 10^14 Hz

D) 1.5 x 10^15 Hz

13. The threshold wavelength (λ₀) is related to the threshold frequency (ν₀) by:

A) λ₀ = c/ν₀

B) λ₀ = ν₀/c

C) λ₀ = cν₀

D) λ₀ = 1/(cν₀)

14. Which property of light is responsible for its ability to cause the photoelectric effect?

A) Its wave nature

B) Its particle nature

C) Its polarization

D) Its interference pattern

15. What is the unit of work function?

A) Joule (J)

B) Electronvolt (eV)

C) Hertz (Hz)

D) Watt (W)

16. The photoelectric effect demonstrates that light behaves as:

A) A continuous wave

B) A stream of particles

C) An electric field

D) A magnetic field

17. If a photon has energy of 5.0 eV and the work function of a metal is 3.0 eV, what is the maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electrons?

A) 1.0 eV

B) 1.5 eV

C) 2.0 eV

D) 2.5 eV

18. The photoelectric effect can be observed in metals like:

A) Aluminum and Iron

B) Sodium and Potassium

C) Copper and Gold

D) Lead and Tin

19. Which of the following best describes the energy of a photon of red light compared to a photon of blue light?

A) Red light photon has higher energy.

B) Blue light photon has higher energy.

C) Both have equal energy.

D) Energy depends on intensity, not color.

20. The emission of photoelectrons from a metal surface is a quantum phenomenon because:

A) It occurs only at specific wavelengths of light.

B) Energy is transferred in discrete packets (photons).

C) The number of electrons depends on the metal's surface area.

D) It is a reversible process.

21. If the frequency of incident light is doubled, the kinetic energy of the emitted photoelectrons will:

A) Double

B) Less than double

C) More than double

D) Remain the same

22. Which statement about the photoelectric effect is INCORRECT?

A) The kinetic energy of emitted electrons increases with the frequency of incident light.

B) The number of emitted electrons increases with the intensity of incident light.

C) There is a threshold frequency below which no emission occurs.

D) Emission of electrons is instantaneous upon illumination.

23. The stopping potential (V₀) is related to the maximum kinetic energy (KE_max) by the equation:

A) KE_max = eV₀

B) KE_max = V₀/e

C) KE_max = e/V₀

D) KE_max = -eV₀

24. The stopping potential in the photoelectric effect is the potential difference required to:

A) Increase the kinetic energy of photoelectrons

B) Prevent any photoelectron from reaching the collector

C) Increase the intensity of incident light

D) Reduce the work function of the metal

25. A metal surface has a threshold frequency of 6.0 x 10^14 Hz. If light of frequency 8.0 x 10^14 Hz is incident on it, what is the kinetic energy of the emitted electrons in Joules? (h = 6.626 x 10^-34 J s)

A) 1.325 x 10^-19 J

B) 1.988 x 10^-19 J

C) 3.313 x 10^-19 J

D) 1.602 x 10^-19 J

26. If a metal has a work function of 2.3 eV and is irradiated with light of energy 4.5 eV, what is the maximum kinetic energy of the emitted photoelectrons?

A) 2.2 eV

B) 4.5 eV

C) 6.8 eV

D) 2.3 eV

27. Albert Einstein explained the photoelectric effect using the concept of:

A) Wave-particle duality

B) Quantum theory of radiation

C) Classical electromagnetism

D) Nuclear fission

28. The photoelectric effect was experimentally investigated by:

A) Max Planck

B) Albert Einstein

C) Heinrich Hertz

D) Niels Bohr

29. What is the speed of light in vacuum (c)?

A) 6.626 x 10^-34 m/s

B) 3.00 x 10^8 m/s

C) 1.602 x 10^-19 C

D) 9.109 x 10^-31 kg

30. In the equation c = λν, what does 'c' represent?

A) Planck's constant

B) Speed of light in vacuum

C) Boltzmann constant

D) Wavelength

31. The relationship between wavelength (λ) and frequency (ν) of electromagnetic radiation is:

A) λ = cν

B) ν = cλ

C) c = λν

D) c = λ/ν

32. Which of the following electromagnetic radiations has the highest energy per photon?

A) Infrared radiation

B) Visible light

C) Ultraviolet radiation

D) X-rays

33. If the intensity of light is increased, while keeping the frequency above the threshold, the number of photoelectrons emitted per second will:

A) Decrease

B) Remain the same

C) Increase

D) Become zero

34. The intensity of incident light in the photoelectric effect primarily affects the:

A) Kinetic energy of ejected electrons

B) Threshold frequency

C) Number of ejected electrons per unit time

D) Work function of the metal

35. The photoelectric effect provides evidence for the:

A) Wave nature of light

B) Particle nature of light

C) Dual nature of light

D) Quantum nature of matter

36. The work function (Φ) can also be expressed as:

A) hν

B) h/ν

C) hν₀

D) ν₀/h

37. The term 'work function' (Φ) in the photoelectric effect represents:

A) The energy of the incident photon

B) The minimum energy required to remove an electron from the metal surface

C) The kinetic energy of the ejected electron

D) The frequency of the incident light

38. In the photoelectric effect equation KE = h(ν - ν₀), what does KE represent?

A) Energy of the photon

B) Work function of the metal

C) Maximum kinetic energy of the ejected electron

D) Threshold frequency

39. The kinetic energy of the ejected electrons in the photoelectric effect is given by:

A) KE = hν

B) KE = hν₀

C) KE = h(ν - ν₀)

D) KE = h(ν + ν₀)

40. If the frequency of incident light is below the threshold frequency, what happens?

A) Electrons are ejected with high kinetic energy

B) Electrons are ejected with low kinetic energy

C) No electrons are ejected

D) The metal surface glows

41. The threshold frequency (ν₀) is dependent on the:

A) Intensity of light

B) Color of light

C) Nature of the metal

D) Surface area of the metal

42. What is the minimum frequency of light required to cause the photoelectric effect called?

A) Maximum frequency

B) Threshold frequency

C) Average frequency

D) Resonant frequency

43. The photoelectric effect is the phenomenon where electrons are ejected from a metal surface when:

A) It is heated strongly

B) It is exposed to a magnetic field

C) It is illuminated by light of suitable frequency

D) It is placed in a vacuum

44. What is the approximate value of Planck's constant (h)?

A) 6.626 x 10^-34 J s

B) 3.00 x 10^8 m/s

C) 1.38 x 10^-23 J/K

D) 6.022 x 10^23 mol^-1

45. In the equation E = hν, what does 'h' represent?

A) Planck's constant

B) Speed of light

C) Boltzmann constant

D) Avogadro's number

46. Which equation relates the energy (E) of a photon to its frequency (ν)?

A) E = h/ν

B) E = hν

C) E = ν/h

D) E = h + ν

47. The energy of a photon is directly proportional to its:

A) Wavelength

B) Frequency

C) Amplitude

D) Velocity

48. According to Planck's quantum theory, energy is emitted or absorbed in discrete packets called:

A) Waves

B) Particles

C) Photons

D) Quanta

49. What is the fundamental property of electromagnetic radiation that determines its energy?

A) Amplitude

B) Wavelength

C) Frequency

D) Velocity

Nature of electromagnetic radiation and photoelectric effect - Question Bank