Skip to content
Question

Q.Two statements are given – one labelled Assertion (A) and the other labelled Reason (R). Select the correct answer from the codes (a), (b),

(c) and
(d) as given below :
(a) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
(b) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
(c) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
(d) Assertion (A) is false and Reason (R) is also false. Assertion (A) : Photoelectric effect demonstrates the particle nature of light. Reason (R) : Photoelectric current is proportional to intensity of incident radiation for frequencies more than the threshold frequency.
CBSECBSE Class XII Board 2023MCQ· 1mImportance★★★★★
🔒 Locked · start free trial →

You're viewing a preview — the full solution, concept, methods & PYQ mapping are locked.

Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →

The photoelectric effect proves light behaves as particles (photons), so Assertion (A) is true. The Reason (R) — that photoelectric current is proportional to intensity above threshold — is also true, but it does not explain the particle nature; it follows from the photon model. Hence both are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

The photoelectric effect is one of the most beautiful experiments in physics because it forced us to abandon the classical wave picture of light. Let’s see why.


1. What the photoelectric effect actually shows

When light of a sufficiently high frequency (above a certain threshold) strikes a metal surface, electrons are ejected. The key observations that cannot be explained by a wave model are:

  • Instantaneous emission — even at very low intensity, electrons appear the moment the light is turned on. A wave would need time to transfer enough energy.
  • Threshold frequency — below a certain frequency, no electrons are emitted, no matter how intense the light. Waves predict emission at any frequency if intensity is high enough.
  • Kinetic energy depends on frequency, not intensity — the maximum kinetic energy of ejected electrons increases linearly with frequency, not with brightness.

These three facts are perfectly explained if light consists of discrete packets of energy (photons), each with energy E=hνE = h\nu. A single photon transfers all its energy to one electron. If hνh\nu is less than the work function ϕ\phi, no electron escapes — regardless of how many photons arrive.

Einstein’s photoelectric equation:

Kmax=hν−ϕK_{\text{max}} = h\nu - \phi

So Assertion (A) is true: the photoelectric effect is the cleanest demonstration of the particle nature of light.


2. What the Reason says — and why it’s also true

Reason (R) states: Photoelectric current is proportional to intensity of incident radiation for frequencies more than the threshold frequency.

This is correct. Once the frequency is above threshold, each photon has enough energy to eject an electron. Increasing the intensity means more photons per second, which means more electrons ejected per second — hence a larger current. The proportionality is linear, assuming the metal surface isn’t saturated.

Tip

Think of it like rain on a roof: if each raindrop is strong enough to knock a tile loose (above threshold), then more raindrops per second (higher intensity) knock more tiles per second. The number of tiles knocked per second is proportional to the rainfall rate.

So Reason (R) is also true.


3. The critical question: does (R) explain (A)?

Now we must check: does the fact that current ∝ intensity explain why light behaves as particles? …

Unlock everything free for 14 days

  • Full step-by-step solutions
  • Concept-first explanations
  • Methods, shortcuts & mistakes
  • PYQ mapping + timed mock tests

Full access for 14 days. No credit card required.