Photoelectric Effect Experiment

[Sarah Zhari 1D]

I am not entirely sure of how the experiment demonstrating the photoelectric effect works... How and why are electrons ejected when light of a certain frequency is directed towards a metal surface?

[Parker Smith]

When the electron absorbs the incoming photon, it is given energy. The energy, allows the electron to move further from the positively charged nucleus, as the energy is converted into movement or kinetic energy. The metal has a certain threshold energy, which means the photons bombarding the metal must match or exceed the threshold energy in order to eject an electron. That is why when the intensity of low frequency light is increased, no electrons are emitted.

[AlyshaP_2B]

Because of the law of conservation of energy, the energy lost as the electron moves through different energy levels has to be emitted as a photon.

[Michelle Le 1J]

Think of the light hitting the metal surface as a bunch of photos with an energy that is determined by its frequency. If there's not enough energy (aka the work function), then no electrons would be emitted.

[Justin Quan 4I]

Is light transferring energy to the electrons through photons?

[Bryce Barbee]

Yes, the light is transferring energy through photons in the photon model of the experiment. I do not completely understand what is happening in the wave model of the experiment though.