How does the photoelectric effect work?
The photoelectric effect is the emission of electrons from a material when light of sufficiently high frequency reaches it.
Physical mechanism and core principles
Photon energy rises with frequency and must exceed the material's work function. Increasing intensity below threshold does not make each photon more energetic.
Evidence, applications and limits
Stopping voltage measures emitted-electron energy and demonstrates light's quantum behavior. Photodiodes use related processes, but not every light sensor works identically. Quantitative interpretation must state boundary conditions, units and ideal-model assumptions.
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