devarshi-dt-logo

Question:

Work function of aluminium is 4.2 eV. If two photons, each of energy 2.5 eV, are incident on its surface, will the emission of electrons take place?

Solution:

No, there won't be any photon ejection; no photoelectric effect will take place because the energy of an individual photon is less than the work function (i.e., 2.5 < 4.2). Although the combined energy is greater, only one photon gives energy to an electron.