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The photoelectric experiment uses a setup like this:

https://dc.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/1.png

The graph of photoelectric current $I$ against potential applied at the anode/collecting plate $V$ looks something like this:

https://i.stack.imgur.com/R17EJ.png

Once we reach the saturation current, further increasing the collector potential $V$ does not further increase the photoelectric current $I$. Rather, resistance simply increases ($R = \frac{V}{I}$). But what is the underlying physical change in the electrodes that increases the resistance as $V$ increases? Are there more negative charges on the cathode, inhibiting the current? Is that the reason why an increasing potential $V$ causes $R$ to increase?

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  • $\begingroup$ How can voltage get "collected"? Charges may collect, resulting in a potential difference between two points. $\endgroup$
    – Wrichik Basu
    May 14, 2017 at 13:37
  • $\begingroup$ Just write "increase in collector potential". Please also don't write irrelevant things like "thanks to electric attraction". I've edited, and submitted for review. Please see. You must have got a notification. $\endgroup$
    – Wrichik Basu
    May 14, 2017 at 13:51
  • $\begingroup$ rest is fine to me. $\endgroup$
    – Wrichik Basu
    May 14, 2017 at 13:52

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