Photoelectric Effect Calculator
Calculate electron emission from materials using Einstein's photoelectric equation and quantum mechanics
Calculate Photoelectric Effect
Properties of incident electromagnetic radiation
Minimum energy to remove an electron from the material
Photoelectric Effect Results
Photon frequency below threshold frequency
Incident Photon Properties
Frequency: 0.000 THz
Wavelength: 0.0 nm
Energy: 0.000 eV
Material Properties
Work Function: 0.00 eV
Threshold Frequency: 0.000 THz
Threshold Wavelength: 0.0 nm
Einstein's Equation: Kmax = hf - Φ = 0.000 - 0.00 = 0.000 eV
Condition: Photoelectric effect occurs when f > f₀ (0.000 THz ≤ 0.000 THz)
Analysis
Example Calculation
Sodium Photoelectric Cell
Material: Sodium (Na)
Work Function (Φ): 2.75 eV
Incident Light: Blue light at 450 nm wavelength
Photon Energy: E = hc/λ = 2.76 eV
Calculation Steps
1. Calculate photon energy: E = hc/λ = 2.76 eV
2. Check condition: E > Φ → 2.76 eV > 2.75 eV ✓
3. Maximum kinetic energy: Kmax = E - Φ = 2.76 - 2.75 = 0.01 eV
Result: Photoelectric effect occurs with very low electron energies
Physics Constants
Common Work Functions
Key Concepts
Einstein's equation: Kmax = hf - Φ
Effect only occurs when f > f₀ (threshold frequency)
Kinetic energy depends on frequency, not intensity
Work function is material-specific property
Understanding the Photoelectric Effect
What is the Photoelectric Effect?
The photoelectric effect is a quantum phenomenon where electrons are emitted from the surface of a material when light of sufficient frequency strikes it. Einstein explained this effect in 1905, earning him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921.
Key Principles
- •Light consists of discrete packets of energy called photons
- •Each photon carries energy E = hf
- •Electrons need minimum energy (work function) to escape
- •Excess energy becomes kinetic energy of the electron
Einstein's Photoelectric Equation
Kmax = hf - Φ
- Kmax: Maximum kinetic energy of emitted electrons
- h: Planck's constant (6.626 × 10⁻³⁴ J⋅s)
- f: Frequency of incident light
- Φ: Work function of the material
Note: The photoelectric effect demonstrates the particle nature of light and was crucial evidence for quantum mechanics.
Applications of the Photoelectric Effect
Photomultiplier Tubes
Used in scientific instruments to detect and amplify weak light signals by converting photons to electrons.
Solar Cells
Convert sunlight directly into electrical energy using the photoelectric effect in semiconductor materials.
Image Sensors
Digital cameras and photodiodes use the photoelectric effect to convert light into electrical signals for image capture.