Physics · Glossary

What is Stopping potential?

Definition 34.5 High School Physics · Chapter 34 — The Quantum World: Photons and Energy Levels

To measure Ek,maxE_{k,\max}, a reverse voltage brakes the electrons (Chapter 14); the stopping potential UsU_s is the smallest voltage canceling the current: the fastest electrons just fail to cross, so Ek,max=eUsE_{k,\max} = e\,U_s.

Measured E_k, = eU_s against frequency (sodium): a straight line of slope h, cutting the axis at _0; extrapolated (dashes), it reveals -W_0 at = 0.
Measured Ek,max=eUsE_{k,\max} = eU_s against frequency (sodium): a straight line of slope hh, cutting the axis at ν0\nu_0; extrapolated (dashes), it reveals W0-W_0 at ν=0\nu = 0.
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