plumiThe photoelectric effect, work function and the electronvolt: Edexcel International A Level Physics questions
Edexcel International A Level Physics past-paper questions on 2.3.6.2 The photoelectric effect, work function and the electronvolt, 2019–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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All 51 questions on The photoelectric effect, work function and the electronvolt, as a list
- June 2025, AS Unit 2, Q9 (1 mark): When monochromatic light is incident on the surface of a metal, photoelectrons are emitted. Which of the following statements is correct? A The maximum kinetic
- January 2025, AS Unit 2, Q19(a) (3 marks): A beam of monochromatic light is directed onto the metal plate and causes the photoelectric effect. All photons in the beam have the same energy. Explain why th
- January 2025, AS Unit 2, Q19(b) (5 marks): The scientist connected the photocell to an ammeter and battery, as shown. A photocell 1.5 V Photoelectrons are attracted to the electrode, causing a current in
- January 2025, AS Unit 2, Q19(c) (5 marks): The scientist reversed the connections to the battery, as shown. A photocell 1.5 V The battery has negligible internal resistance. When photoelectrons have enou
- October 2024, AS Unit 2, Q19(a) (2 marks): Describe the photoelectric effect. (2)
- October 2024, AS Unit 2, Q19(b) (2 marks): The photomultiplier can only detect electromagnetic radiation that causes the photoelectric effect. Explain why the photomultiplier cannot detect some frequenci
- October 2024, AS Unit 2, Q19(c) (4 marks): Visible light has a range of wavelengths from 380 nm to 700 nm. The work function of the material used to make the photocathode is 1.48 eV. Deduce whether the p
- June 2024, AS Unit 2, Q6 (1 mark): Which of the following describes threshold frequency? A The frequency of light that causes photoelectrons to have maximum kinetic energy. B The frequency of l
- June 2024, AS Unit 2, Q10 (1 mark): Light of wavelength λ travelling at speed c is incident on a metal surface. Photoelectrons are emitted from the surface with a maximum kinetic energy 1 2 mvmax.
- June 2024, AS Unit 2, Q17(b)(i) (3 marks): Show that the maximum speed of the emitted electrons is about 5.3 × 10 5 m s –1. work function of metal = 6.30 × 10 –19 J (3)
- January 2024, AS Unit 2, Q4 (1 mark): Which of the following describes a change in energy of 1 eV? A A charge of 1 C is accelerated across a potential difference of 1 V. B A charge of 1 C passes a p
- January 2024, AS Unit 2, Q19(a) (3 marks): The work function of layer 1 is 1.86 eV. Calculate the minimum frequency of light needed to release an electron from layer 1. (3) Minimum frequency =
- January 2024, AS Unit 2, Q19(b) (5 marks): Light from the Sun is incident on the solar cell. The intensity of the incident light is constant. Layer 1 has a greater work function than layer 2. Photons not
- October 2023, AS Unit 2, Q17(a) (6 marks): Explain these observations. (6)
- October 2023, AS Unit 2, Q17(b)(i) (3 marks): The students replaced their original lamp with an ultraviolet lamp with a much greater intensity. Explain the effect this had on their experiment. (3)
- October 2023, AS Unit 2, Q17(b)(ii) (4 marks): The ultraviolet lamp was replaced by a laser which emitted red light of wavelength 633 nm. Deduce whether the photoelectric effect will occur. work function of
- October 2023, AS Unit 3, Q4(a)(ii) (2 marks): The relationship between the maximum kinetic energy Emax of the emitted electrons and the wavelength λ of the incident photons is given by the equation hc λ = ϕ
- October 2023, AS Unit 3, Q4(a)(iii) (4 marks): Determine a value of h. (4) h =
- June 2023, AS Unit 2, Q17(c)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the maximum possible speed of the electrons. work function = 5.89 × 10 −19 J (3) Maximum possible speed of the electrons =
- June 2023, AS Unit 2, Q17(c)(ii) (3 marks): Explain why the photoelectric effect demonstrates light behaving as a particle, rather than a wave. (3)
- June 2023, AS Unit 3, Q2(c) (2 marks): Solar cells are used as a source of electrical power. Describe two advantages of using solar cells to power a small water pump in a garden. (2)
- January 2023, AS Unit 2, Q18(a)(i) (3 marks): Photoelectrons are released from the plate with a maximum speed of 3.51 × 10 5 m s –1. Calculate the energy of these photoelectrons in eV. (3) Energy = eV
- January 2023, AS Unit 2, Q18(a)(ii) (4 marks): The table shows typical values of work function for four different metals. Metal Work function / 10 –19 J Magnesium 5.89 Aluminium 6.53 Zinc 6.88 Iron 7.20 The
- January 2023, AS Unit 2, Q18(b) (4 marks): Photoelectrons are only emitted from a given metal surface if the frequency of the incident radiation is above a particular value. Explain why. (4)
- January 2023, AS Unit 2, Q18(c) (2 marks): A student makes the following statement. ‘It does not matter what the value of the work function is for a particular metal. Photoelectrons can always be release
- October 2022, AS Unit 2, Q14(a) (3 marks): Explain why the maximum kinetic energy of a released electron is less than the energy of each photon of light incident on the surface. (3)
- October 2022, AS Unit 2, Q14(b) (4 marks): The frequencies of three different sources of light, A, B and C, are shown in the table below. Light source Frequency / 1015 Hz A 1.11 B 1.23 C 1.34 The light f
- June 2022, AS Unit 2, Q17(a) (1 mark): State what is meant by work function. (1)
- June 2022, AS Unit 2, Q17(b) (6 marks): The ultraviolet (UV) section of the electromagnetic spectrum can be split into three parts, known as UVA, UVB and UVC. The range of wavelengths of these parts i
- June 2022, AS Unit 2, Q17(c) (4 marks): A student used a zinc plate and UV light of different frequencies in an experiment. The student’s graph of maximum kinetic energy of the released electrons agai
- January 2022, AS Unit 2, Q13 (6 marks): * 13 In the early 20th century, observations of the photoelectric effect demonstrated that light behaves as a particle. Explain how observations from the photoe
- October 2021, AS Unit 2, Q14(a) (2 marks): Explain why this observation cannot be explained by the wave model of electromagnetic radiation. (2)
- October 2021, AS Unit 2, Q14(b)(i) (4 marks): Calculate the maximum speed with which electrons are released from the plate. work function of zinc = 4.3 eV (4) Maximum speed of electrons =
- October 2021, AS Unit 2, Q14(b)(ii) (3 marks): A student suggests that a greater maximum speed of electrons could have been achieved if both: – a metal with a lower work function than zinc was used – ultravi
- June 2021, AS Unit 2, Q15(a) (4 marks): The radiation from B has a wavelength of 280 nm. Show that this radiation has a photon energy of about 4.4 eV. (4)
- June 2021, AS Unit 2, Q15(b) (6 marks): The student used the two sources of radiation to investigate the photoelectric effect for two different metals, copper and zinc. The following statements were m
- January 2021, AS Unit 2, Q17(a) (5 marks): Calculate the maximum speed of the electrons as they are released from the metal surface. (5) Maximum speed =
- January 2021, AS Unit 2, Q17(b) (4 marks): A student suggests that if the wavelength and intensity of the light used are both increased, the maximum speed of the electrons released from the metal surface
- October 2020, AS Unit 2, Q14(a) (1 mark): State what is meant by work function. (1)
- October 2020, AS Unit 2, Q14(b) (3 marks): When light with a frequency of 6.32 × 1015 Hz is incident on a metal, photoelectrons are released with a maximum kinetic energy of 3.60 × 10−18 J. Determine whi
- October 2020, AS Unit 2, Q14(c)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the time taken for a potassium atom to absorb enough energy to release an electron. intensity of ultraviolet radiation = 38.0 mW m−2 area over which a
- October 2020, AS Unit 2, Q14(c)(ii) (2 marks): In practice, electrons are emitted from the plate as soon as the ultraviolet radiation is incident on the plate. Explain how this provides evidence for the part
- October 2020, AS Unit 2, Q15(a) (3 marks): Calculate E for a hydrogen atom, in eV. (3) E = eV
- January 2020, AS Unit 2, Q6 (1 mark): When the photoelectric effect occurs, light incident on the surface of a metal releases electrons. Which of the following is an experimental observation of the
- January 2020, AS Unit 2, Q12(b) (2 marks): Sand storms are common in the Sahara Desert. Explain why sand storms reduce the power generated by the solar panels. (2)
- January 2020, AS Unit 2, Q14(a) (1 mark): State what is meant by the work function of a metal. (1)
- January 2020, AS Unit 2, Q14(b) (2 marks): This photocell works with ultraviolet light but does not work with visible light. Explain why. (2)
- January 2020, AS Unit 2, Q14(c)(i) (3 marks): The variable power supply was initially set at 0 V and the reading on the ammeter was 2.4 μA. The intensity of the ultraviolet light was then increased without
- January 2020, AS Unit 2, Q14(c)(ii) (4 marks): The variable power supply was adjusted until the reading on the ammeter became 0 μA. The reading on the voltmeter was 3.59 V. Calculate the work function, in jo
- June 2019, AS Unit 2, Q14 (6 marks): *14 In 1921, Albert Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics “for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect”. To explain this effect, Einstei
- June 2019, AS Unit 2, Q16(b) (3 marks): Calculate the energy, in eV, of a photon of visible light with a wavelength of 589 nm. (3) Photon energy = eV
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