PhET Simulation: Photoelectric Effect

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This webpage contains an interactive simulation that allows users to explore and visualize the photoelectric effect experiment. Users can examine different metals, as well as control voltages accelerating the electrons, the intensity of the electron and light beams, and the wavelength of the light. Output options include graphing current vs. voltage, current vs. light intensity, and electron energy vs. light frequency.

This page also contains sample learning goals, a teacher's guide and user-submitted ideas and activities for the simulation. This simulation is part of a large and growing collection. It has been designed using principles from physics education research and refined based on student interviews.

https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/photoelectric

Subjects	Levels	Resource Types
Modern Physics - Condensed Matter Quantum Physics - Foundations and Measurements - General	- Lower Undergraduate - High School - Upper Undergraduate	- Instructional Material = Activity = Interactive Simulation

Intended Users	Formats	Ratings
- Learners	- application/java	Currently 0.0/5 Want to rate this material? Login here!

Access Rights:: Free access
Restriction:: © 2005 PHET and University of Colorado
Additional information is available.
Keywords:: Particle Model, cathod emission, photoelectric effect, threshold frequency, wave-particle duality, work function
Record Cloner:: Metadata instance created September 9, 2006 by Gifford Weber
Record Updated:: February 22, 2025 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update when Cataloged:: August 11, 2006
Other Collections:: The PSRC

The Quantum Exchange

The Physics To Go

The Physics Front

The Physics Source

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Common Core State Reading Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects 6—12

Key Ideas and Details (6-12)

RST.11-12.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts, attending to important distinctions the author makes and to any gaps or inconsistencies in the account.

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas (6-12)

RST.11-12.9 Synthesize information from a range of sources (e.g., texts, experiments, simulations) into a coherent understanding of a process, phenomenon, or concept, resolving conflicting information when possible.

Common Core State Writing Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects 6—12

Text Types and Purposes (6-12)

1. Write arguments focused on discipline-specific content. (WHST.11-12.1)

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<a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/items/detail.cfm?ID=4233">PhET. PhET Simulation: Photoelectric Effect. Boulder: PhET, August 11, 2006.</a>

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(PhET, Boulder, 2005), WWW Document, (https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/photoelectric).

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PhET Simulation: Photoelectric Effect (PhET, Boulder, 2005), <https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/photoelectric>.

APA Format

PhET Simulation: Photoelectric Effect. (2006, August 11). Retrieved May 1, 2025, from PhET: https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/photoelectric

Chicago Format

PhET. PhET Simulation: Photoelectric Effect. Boulder: PhET, August 11, 2006. https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/photoelectric (accessed 1 May 2025).

MLA Format

PhET Simulation: Photoelectric Effect. Boulder: PhET, 2005. 11 Aug. 2006. 1 May 2025 <https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/photoelectric>.

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@misc{ Title = {PhET Simulation: Photoelectric Effect}, Publisher = {PhET}, Volume = {2025}, Number = {1 May 2025}, Month = {August 11, 2006}, Year = {2005} }

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%T PhET Simulation: Photoelectric Effect %D August 11, 2006 %I PhET %C Boulder %U https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/photoelectric %O application/java

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%0 Electronic Source %D August 11, 2006 %T PhET Simulation: Photoelectric Effect %I PhET %V 2025 %N 1 May 2025 %8 August 11, 2006 %9 application/java %U https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/photoelectric

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PhET Simulation: Photoelectric Effect:

Supplements Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Photoelectric Effect I

This interactive problem involves two light sources of differing wavelengths and kinetic energy beamed at a metal object. It provides a Socratic-style "help" sequence that guides students through each phase of the problem solving, from conceptual analysis through the mathematics.

relation by Caroline Hall

Is Referenced By A Research-based Curriculum for Teaching the Photoelectric Effect

Is Required By Understanding the Photoelectric Effect

Supplements Introduction to Photoelectric Effect Interactive Lecture

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