The photoelectric effect experiment is often carried out by using a mercury light source to illuminate a particular surface. The emission spectrum of mercury has strong lines at wavelengths of 365.5 nm (ultraviolet), 404.7 nm (violet), 435.8 nm (blue), and 546.1 nm (green). The light can be passed through a diffraction grating to separate the light into these different wavelengths. Assume that photons of all these wavelengths have enough energy to overcome the work function of the surface.
(a) Which of these wavelengths will produce electrons with the largest kinetic energy?
nm
(b) If the maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electrons is 1.23 eV when the green light illuminates the surface, what will the maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electrons be when the violet light illuminates the surface?
eV
(c) What is the work function of this surface?
eV