What is the photoelectric effect ?

Photoelectric Effect

When light shines on a metal, electrons can be ejected from the surface of the metal in a phenomenon known as the photoelectric effect. This process is also often referred to as photoemission, and the electrons that are ejected from the metal are called photoelectrons. In terms of their behavior and their properties, photoelectrons are no different from other electrons. The prefix, photo-, simply tells us that the electrons have been ejected from a metal surface by incident light.

In the photoelectric effect, light waves (red wavy lines)

 hitting a metal surface cause electrons to be ejected

 from the metal.

In this article, we will discuss how 19th century physicists attempted (but failed!) to explain the photoelectric effect using classical physics. This ultimately led to the development of the modern description of electromagnetic radiation, which has both wave-like and particle-like properties.