Ministry of Higher Education

and Scientific Research

Tikrit University - College of
Science
physics department

THE Photoelectric Phenomenon

:Report submitted by the student

Mustafa Khaled Duaijl

Supervised by

Mr. Dr . Thaaer Khalil

1444 AH 2023 AD
 THE Photoelectric Phenomenon
The photoelectric phenomenon is a phenomenon
that has been studied for centuries. It is the process by
which light is converted into electricity. This phenomenon
was first observed by Heinrich Hertz in 1887, and it has
since been studied extensively by scientists all over the
world .
The photoelectric phenomenon occurs when a photon
of light strikes a material and causes an electron to be
ejected from its surface. This electron can then be
collected and used to produce an electric current. The
energy of the photon must be greater than the work
function of the material in order for this process to occur .
The work function is the amount of energy required to
remove an electron from the surface of a material. If the
energy of the photon is less than the work function, then
the electron will not be ejected and no current will be
produced .
The photoelectric phenomenon has many practical
applications. It is used in solar cells, which convert
sunlight into electricity. It is also used in photomultiplier
tubes, which are used to detect very low levels of light .
One of the most important applications of the
photoelectric phenomenon is in the development of
quantum mechanics. The photoelectric effect was one of
the key experiments that led to the development of this
field of physics .
Albert Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics
in 1921 for his work on the photoelectric effect. He
showed that the energy of a photon is proportional to its
frequency, and that the photoelectric effect could only be
explained if light was made up of particles (photons) rather
than waves.
In conclusion, the photoelectric phenomenon is a
fascinating and important area of study. It has many
practical applications and has played a key role in the
development of modern physics .