Chapter 17: Problem 17
A potassium surface is placed \(75 \mathrm{~cm}\) away from a \(100 \mathrm{~W}\) bulb. It is found that the energy radiated by the bulb is \(5 \%\) of the input power. Consider each K-atom as a circular disc of diameter \(1 \AA\). Determine the time required for each atom to absorb an amount of energy equal to its work function of \(2.0 \mathrm{eV}\) considering wave nature of light. n
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Determine the Power Radiated by the Bulb
Calculate the Intensity of Light at the Potassium Surface
Calculate the Area of a K Atom
Compute the Energy Absorbed per Second by One K Atom
Calculate the Time Required to Absorb the Energy Equivalent to the Work Function
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Work Function
Let's break this down further:
- An electron is bound to an atom by energy. To release this electron, that bond must be overcome, which is quantified by the work function.
- In practical terms, this energy is typically provided by incident light in the form of photons.
- If the absorbed photon has energy equal to or greater than the work function, the electron is ejected.
Intensity of Light
Consider a light source spreading its energy across a spherical surface. The intensity of light at any distance can be determined using the formula:
- \( I = \frac{P_r}{A} \)
- This refers to power radiated divided by the area of the sphere at that distance.
In our exercise, the light source is a bulb, and the potassium surface is 75 cm away. We've calculated that the intensity at this distance is roughly 0.707 W/m².
This measurement is fundamental for understanding the power absorbed by individual atoms.
Energy Absorption
Let's detail how this happens:
- The energy absorbed by each potassium atom is the product of the light's intensity and the atom's surface area. Practically, this is calculated as:
\( P_a = I \times A_k \) - With the given values, each potassium atom absorbs approximately \(5.55 \times 10^{-21}\text{ W} \)
Power Radiation
\( P_{r} = 0.05 \times 100 W = 5 W \)
This is the energy spread across the area that reaches the potassium atoms. Understanding power radiation helps set the stage for how much electric force is available from the bulb.
- This value takes into account inefficiencies like energy lost in the form of heat.
- The effective power (5 W) dictates both the intensity of the light and eventually factors into how quickly energy can be absorbed by each atom on the surface.