written by
Gary Gladding
published by
the University of llinois Physics Education Research Group
This interactive physics problem involves two light sources of differing wavelengths beamed at a metal object. Maximum kinetic energy is 1 eV for the first beam and 4 eV for the second. Using this information, the user is asked to find the work function of the metal.
This problem is accompanied by a Socratic-dialog "help" sequence designed to encourage critical thinking as users do a guided conceptual analysis before attempting the mathematics. Immediate feedback for both correct and incorrect responses is provided through each step of the problem-solving. This item is part of a larger collection of interactive problems developed by the Illinois Physics Education Research Group.
<a href="https://www.compadre.org/introphys/items/detail.cfm?ID=6472">Gladding, Gary. Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Photoelectric Effect I. Urbana: University of llinois Physics Education Research Group, June 16, 2006.</a>
G. Gladding, (University of llinois Physics Education Research Group, Urbana, 2002), WWW Document, (https://per.physics.illinois.edu/per/IE/ie.pl?phys102/ie/12/pe1).
G. Gladding, Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Photoelectric Effect I (University of llinois Physics Education Research Group, Urbana, 2002), <https://per.physics.illinois.edu/per/IE/ie.pl?phys102/ie/12/pe1>.
Gladding, G. (2006, June 16). Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Photoelectric Effect I. Retrieved October 3, 2024, from University of llinois Physics Education Research Group: https://per.physics.illinois.edu/per/IE/ie.pl?phys102/ie/12/pe1
Gladding, Gary. Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Photoelectric Effect I. Urbana: University of llinois Physics Education Research Group, June 16, 2006. https://per.physics.illinois.edu/per/IE/ie.pl?phys102/ie/12/pe1 (accessed 3 October 2024).
Gladding, Gary. Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Photoelectric Effect I. Urbana: University of llinois Physics Education Research Group, 2002. 16 June 2006. 3 Oct. 2024 <https://per.physics.illinois.edu/per/IE/ie.pl?phys102/ie/12/pe1>.
%A Gary Gladding %T Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Photoelectric Effect I %D June 16, 2006 %I University of llinois Physics Education Research Group %C Urbana %U https://per.physics.illinois.edu/per/IE/ie.pl?phys102/ie/12/pe1 %O text/html
%0 Electronic Source %A Gladding, Gary %D June 16, 2006 %T Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Photoelectric Effect I %I University of llinois Physics Education Research Group %V 2024 %N 3 October 2024 %8 June 16, 2006 %9 text/html %U https://per.physics.illinois.edu/per/IE/ie.pl?phys102/ie/12/pe1
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This is a link to the full collection of interactive homework problems by the same author. Complete problem sets are available for both algebra-based and calculus-based courses in introductory physics.
Students can explore and visualize the photoelectric effect in this simulation that allows them to control intensity and wavelength of the light, change voltage accelerating the electrons, and select from a variety of metals. Output graphs accompany the simulation.