Question

For a given photosensitive material and with a source of constant frequency of incident radiation, how does the photocurrent vary with intensity of incident light?

Answer 1

Hint: The above problem can be resolved by applying the fundamentals of Einstein's photoelectric effect. When the incident radiation of some desired intensity falls on the photosensitive material surface, then the electrons removed will constitute the current generation known as the photocurrent. This photocurrent will depend on how much one increases or decreases the intensity of incident radiation.


Complete step by step answer
When a photosensitive material is an incident with radiation of light of desired frequency and intensity, then there will be knocking of electrons taking place from the material. These electrons are known as the photoelectrons, and some magnitude of the current is involved in the process, known as photoelectric current.
The intensity of the incident radiation varies directly with the photoelectric current for the constant value of the frequency of the incident radiations. This means keeping the source of voltage constant; on increasing the intensity of the radiation, there will be more number photoelectrons ejected from the material surface. And this will increase the magnitude of photocurrent.
Therefore, the photocurrent and the intensity of incident radiation vary linearly in the context of each other.


Note: Try to understand the concept of the photo-emission and understand the basic fundamental that takes place during the photoelectric effect. The electrons knocking from the outer surface provide the desired photocurrent, which has significant relation with the applied potential and the frequency of radiation.