The Photoelectric Effect

Light can eject electrons from a metal surface only when each photon carries enough energy. This supports the quantum photon model of light.

Threshold frequency

Below a metal-specific cutoff frequency, no electrons are emitted regardless of intensity. Each photon must exceed the work function energy.

Kinetic energy of photoelectrons

Einstein's equation Kmax = hf − φ links photon frequency to maximum electron kinetic energy. Increasing intensity adds more photons, not higher energy per photon.

Simulate the effect

Use the photoelectric simulation to vary wavelength, observe electron emission, and find the stopping potential for different metals.