Photoelectric Effect1

The Photoelectric Effect
(OR…HOW EINSTEIN REALLY BECAME

FAMOUS)
GENPHY2
MAY 24, 2022
9:00-9:40 AM
MRS. ANA JAMILLE A. RESTUBOG
Lesson Objectives
Describe the relationships of the quantities (such as

energy, frequency, wavelength involved in
photoelectric effect phenomenon
Explain the photoelectric effect phenomena
operationally
Solve word problems involving photoelectric effect
 Realize the application of photoelectric effect in
different fields
Tuesday Throwback
Let’s try this!
 https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/cheerpj/photoelectric/
latest/photoelectric.html?simulation=photoelectric
Photo (light) + electric
A photoelectric effect is any effect in which light
energy is converted to electricity.
First explained by Albert Einstein in 1905
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.
When light strikes certain light-sensitive materials…
It may cause them to give up electrons.

Photoelectric Effect
Metal Foil
Metal Foil
►As blue light strikes the metal foil, the foil emits
electrons.
►When red light hits the metal foil, the foil does not
emit (give off) electrons.
►Blue light has more energy than red light. Blue light
has higher frequency than red light.
►That didn’t work

►Maybe its still not bright (intense) enough.
►Still not working.

►What happens with brighter (more intense) blue
light?
►More blue light means more electrons emitted, but

that doesn’t work with red.
High FREQUENCY light Low Frequency light,
even from a dim source even very bright (very
can eject electrons from a intense) cannot dislodge
photosensitive metal electrons
►Light, like all other radiation, light is made up of

small particles called photons.
►The higher the frequency, the more energy the

photons have.
►Einstein stated that light interacts with matter

as a stream of particle-like photons.
►Einstein received the Nobel Prize for this discovery.

Einstein won the Nobel Prize for the
Photoelectric Effect, not E= mc²
If a photon hits an atom of a certain material, it may
be absorbed by an electron of that material.
However, if the photon has enough energy, the

electron is ejected, or emitted, from the atom.
In this way, light energy changes into electrical

energy.
If wires are attached to a photoemittive material,
the electrons can flow along the wires, forming an
electric current.
Photon energy can be calculated thru Planck’s

equation.
E= hf
Where h is the Planck’s constant and f is the
frequency of the monochromatic beam measured in
Hz (6.626×10−34 J⋅s)
This minimum frequency for a photosensitive metal

to eject electrons is also the threshold frequency
The total energy of the incoming photon, Ephoton must
be equal to the kinetic energy of the ejected
electron, KEelectronplus the energy required to eject the
electron from the metal. The energy required to free
the electron from a particular metal is also called the
metal's work function, which is represented by the
symbol Phi (Φ)
Ephoton= KEelectron+ Φ
E= hf
Find for Ephoton first
E= hf
Then using the equation with KE and phi, solve for
phi
Ephoton= KEelectron+ Φ
Φ = KEelectron - Ephoton
Ans. Sodium, Na
WHY IS THE PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT SO
IMPORTANT?
 It helped explain the
particle nature of light.
 It is the basis of the

quantum theory.
 It is used in photocells e.g.

in solar calculators,
alarms, automatic garage
door openers, flash of a
camera
Burglar Alarms
When the light source to the semiconductor is
interrupted by a person walking through the beam
of light, a switch is activated that triggers the
alarm.
Now that you have knowledge on the photo electric
phenomenon, how do you think the photoelectric
effect would be useful to the following fields?
Archeology
Geological exploration
Digital or electronic imaging
Solar Pannel /Photovoltaic powerplant
AHA! Is the most significant learning

you had in today’s lesson.
HUH? Is the concept/ or part of the

lesson you are not confident enough or
still needs to learn more.
W
Accomplish the exit ticket
https://forms.gle/DTBjLs9YNiyzP2ip8
References
Giancoli, Douglas (2014). Physics Principles and Applications. Prentice Hall

Publications.USA.p775

Mazur, Eric (2015). Principles and Practice of Physics. Pearson Education,
Inc. USA. p.908

Manton, Meeicholas and Manton, Nicholas (2017). The Physical World an
Inspirational Tour in fundamental Physics. Oxford University Press.
USA.p231
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/cheerpj/photoelectric/latest/photoelectric.html?
simulation=photoelectric
https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/quantum-physics/photons/a/
photoelectric-effect

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The Photoelectric Effect

(OR…HOW EINSTEIN REALLY BECAME

Describe the relationships of the quantities (such as

It may cause them to give up electrons.

►That didn’t work

►Still not working.

►More blue light means more electrons emitted, but

►Light, like all other radiation, light is made up of

►The higher the frequency, the more energy the

►Einstein stated that light interacts with matter

►Einstein received the Nobel Prize for this discovery.

However, if the photon has enough energy, the

In this way, light energy changes into electrical

Photon energy can be calculated thru Planck’s

This minimum frequency for a photosensitive metal

 It is the basis of the

 It is used in photocells e.g.

AHA! Is the most significant learning

HUH? Is the concept/ or part of the

Accomplish the exit ticket

Giancoli, Douglas (2014). Physics Principles and Applications. Prentice Hall

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