Enter the kinetic energy of an electron and the charge to determine the stopping potential. The stopping potential is the minimum potential difference needed to stop an electron moving with a certain kinetic energy.
Stopping Potential Formula
The following formula is used to calculate the stopping potential:
V_s = frac{K}{e}Variables:
- Vs is the stopping potential (Volts)
- K is the kinetic energy of the electron (electronvolts, eV)
- e is the charge of the electron (Coulombs, C)
To calculate the stopping potential, divide the kinetic energy of the electron by the charge of the electron.
What is Stopping Potential?
Stopping potential is a concept in physics, particularly in the study of the photoelectric effect, which refers to the minimum potential difference that can stop the most energetic photoelectrons emitted from a metal surface when it is exposed to light. It is a measure of the maximum kinetic energy that electrons can have when ejected from the surface due to the photoelectric effect.
How to Calculate Stopping Potential?
The following steps outline how to calculate the stopping potential:
- First, determine the kinetic energy of the electron (K) in electronvolts (eV).
- Next, determine the charge of the electron (e) in Coulombs (C). Note that the elementary charge is approximately 1.602 x 10-19 C.
- Use the formula Vs = K / e to calculate the stopping potential (Vs) in Volts (V).
- After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.
Example Problem:
Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.
Kinetic Energy (K) = 2 eV
Charge (e) = 1.602 x 10-19 C
