What is the photoelectric effect?
Answer
The photoelectric effect is the emission of electrons from a metal surface when light of sufficiently high frequency falls on it.
The working
Definition
When light of suitable frequency strikes a metal surface, electrons are ejected from it. These emitted electrons are called photoelectrons.
Threshold frequency
Emission occurs only when the incident light frequency is above a minimum value called the threshold frequency, no matter how intense the light is.
Einstein's equation
The energy balance is hν = W₀ + maximum kinetic energy, where h is Planck's constant, ν is frequency, and W₀ is the work function.
Significance
It could only be explained by treating light as packets of energy called photons, providing strong evidence for the particle nature of light.
Stuck on something else?
Type your own doubt into the solver and get the full working in seconds — free, for physics, chemistry, maths and biology.
Open the solverRelated doubts