University Physics with Modern Physics (14th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321973615
ISBN 13: 978-0-32197-361-0

Chapter 38 - Photons: Light Waves Behaving as Particles - Problems - Discussion Questions - Page 1274: Q38.2

Answer

The threshold frequency would be halved.

Work Step by Step

In the case of an exceedingly rare event where an electron simultaneously absorbs 2 identical photons and escapes the material, each of those photons would only have half the energy of a single photon in the regular photoelectric effect process. Photon energy is proportional to frequency, so the threshold frequency would be halved. Equation 38.4 would be modified to read $eV_o=2hf-\phi$.
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