Where does photon energy go if it does not emit an electron?

[Bailey Giovanoli 1L]

If a photon does have enough energy to emit an electron, where does the energy of the photon go when it hits the metal surface? Does the photon of light just bound off the metal surface?

[Darren1j]

If the energy of the light is equal to the energy needed to remove an electron, how much energy is left for the electron to travel with (its velocity)?

[KatarinaReid_3H]

I believe that the electrons will always absorb the energy. If the energy of the photon is less than the threshold energy, then the electron will then become excited to higher energy state(n value increases).

[Aayushi Jani 3A]

The electrons will still absorb the energy, but it would not be enough for them to be ejected/excited to a higher energy level.

[SelenaDahabreh1D]

Hi! If there is not enough energy to emit an electron, then that energy will simply be absorbed by the metal.

[Yasmina Zaarour 1G]

From today's (10/12) lecture, I understood that a certain amount of energy (still below the threshold energy) will excite the electrons without ejecting them. So they are still moving, just not enough to overcome their attraction to the metal.

[Jagveer 1I]

In today's lecture professor Lavelle said that if the energy of the photon is not greater than or equal to the threshold energy, then the metal still heats up, but no electrons are emitted. So some of the photon's energy is converted to heat energy.