Lesson 4.5.2

4.5.2 The photoelectric effect Quiz: OCR Physics, Unit 3

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 4.5.2, The photoelectric effect: 20 multiple choice questions for the OCR Physics (H156), Unit 3: Electrons, waves and photons, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. In the photoelectric experiment with a clean zinc plate on a charged electroscope, which charge is lost under UV light?

    • neither
    • positive charge
    • both equally
    • negative charge

  2. Einstein's photoelectric equation is:

    • hf = phi + KEmax
    • hf = KEmax/phi
    • hf = phi - KEmax
    • E = mc^2

  3. What term describes the minimum energy needed to free an electron from a metal surface?

    • Threshold frequency
    • Work function
    • Ionisation energy
    • Stopping potential

  4. A metal has a work function of 2.0 eV. What is its threshold frequency? Use h = 6.6 x 10^-34 J s.

    • 1.2 x 10^15 Hz
    • 4.8 x 10^14 Hz
    • 2.1 x 10^-15 Hz
    • 3.0 x 10^14 Hz

  5. Light of frequency 8.0 x 10^14 Hz falls on a metal with work function 2.0 eV. What is the maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electrons?

    • 2.0 eV
    • 5.3 eV
    • 1.3 eV
    • 3.3 eV

  6. Increasing the intensity of light above the threshold frequency, keeping frequency fixed, changes the maximum kinetic energy of photoelectrons:

    • to zero
    • not at all
    • linearly with intensity
    • to double

  7. Above threshold frequency, increasing light intensity increases which quantity?

    • Threshold frequency
    • Metal work function
    • Photoelectron emission rate
    • Maximum kinetic energy

  8. Below the threshold frequency, what effect does increasing light intensity have on photoelectron emission?

    • Emits slow electrons
    • Increases emission rate
    • No electrons emitted
    • Increases electron energy

  9. Which photoelectric observation contradicts the wave model of light?

    • Energy conservation
    • Instantaneous emission
    • Current generation
    • Light absorption

  10. In the photoelectric effect, how many electrons interact with a single incident photon?

    • Multiple electrons
    • One electron
    • Two electrons
    • Zero electrons

  11. The threshold wavelength for a metal with work function 3.0 eV is closest to:

    • 413 nm
    • 3.0 nm
    • 270 nm
    • 620 nm

  12. On a graph of maximum photoelectron kinetic energy against frequency, what does the gradient represent?

    • Electron charge
    • Work function
    • Threshold frequency
    • Planck constant

  13. What quantity is represented by the x-intercept on a maximum kinetic energy against frequency graph?

    • Maximum kinetic energy
    • Work function
    • Threshold frequency
    • Planck constant

  14. The gradient of a KEmax-f graph is 6.6 x 10^-34 J s and the x-intercept is 5.0 x 10^14 Hz. What is the work function?

    • 3.3 eV
    • 6.6 eV
    • 0.33 eV
    • 2.1 eV

  15. Light of frequency 1.0 x 10^15 Hz ejects electrons with KEmax of 2.0 eV from a metal. If the frequency doubles to 2.0 x 10^15 Hz, what is the new KEmax?

    • 8.3 eV
    • 6.1 eV
    • 2.0 eV
    • 4.0 eV

  16. Which change to incident radiation causes photoelectron emission when frequency is below threshold?

    • Increasing the exposure
    • Increasing the intensity
    • Decreasing the frequency
    • Increasing the frequency

  17. What is the maximum kinetic energy of emitted photoelectrons at the threshold frequency?

    • Zero
    • Work function
    • Maximum value
    • Equal to hf

  18. What occurs when light with photon energy 4.14 eV strikes a metal with work function 4.2 eV?

    • No photoelectron emission
    • Immediate photoelectron emission
    • Increased kinetic energy
    • Delayed photoelectron emission

  19. Which metal emits photoelectrons with higher maximum kinetic energy when illuminated by the same light?

    • Smaller work function
    • Larger work function
    • Zero work function
    • Equal work function

  20. A metal has work function 2.3 eV and is illuminated by light of wavelength 400 nm (photon energy 3.1 eV). What is the maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electrons?

    • 2.3 eV
    • 3.1 eV
    • 5.4 eV
    • 0.8 eV

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