The Photoelectric Effect

The Photoelectric Effect application is designed to demonstrate the emission of electrons by various metals when hit by light. Basically, it is a digital representation of the photoelectric experiment.

For the program to work Java needs to be present on the system. It does not require installation and at the first launch it warns that data is collected anonymously from the computer for determining the number of simulations run with the program.

The interface presents all the elements required for the experiment, from the light source to the battery with the metal plates. For better observation of the effect there are several parameters that can be configured.

These refer to the intensity of the light as well as the radiation type and the battery voltage. Users can increase the light intensity from zero percent to 100% and change the wavelength from ultraviolet to infrared.

All these as well as the material of the target (sodium, copper, zinc, platinum or calcium) influence the current and energy of the electrons.

The application can also show the photons in the light, which can also be controlled, instead of the light intensity.

In the left part of the application window there is the possibility to enable graphical representation of current versus battery voltage, current versus light intensity and the electron energy versus light frequency.

Photoelectric Effect has plenty of controls to closely observe the effects of the experiment under various conditions.

It can be used to observe the more subtle nuances of the experiment, such as the behavior of electrons in relation with the photons’ energy as well as to notice that not every photon manages to dislodge an electron. The application is great for educational purposes as it provides a visual, animated representation of the photoelectric effect.