This applet models the photoelectric effect, the ejection of electrons from metal when it is illuminated by light.
Click on wave+ to increase the wavelength of the illuminating light, and wave- to decrease. Likewise, click on work+ to increase the work function of the metal, and work- to decrease it.
The energy of each photon, the kinetic energy of ejected electrons, and the velocity of those electrons is calculated by the applet, and displayed on the right.
The animated "electron" (yellow) moves roughly proportionally to its calculated ejection velocity.
The photoelectric effect was explained by Einstein in 1905 on the basis of the idea that light consisted of individual packets of energy called photons.
© 2004-2011 by Lawrence T. Sein. All rights reserved.
Send questions to:lseinjr@hotmail.com