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This interactive simulation allows users to visualize the photoelectric effect experiment and explore how it led to the discovery of the photon model of light. It features a robust variety of tools: choose from five different metals, change the light intensity and/or wavelength of light and view how this affects electron ejection, and change the voltage from -8.0 to 8.0. Output options include graphing current vs. voltage, current vs. light intensity, and electron energy vs. light frequency.
Registered users of PhET also have access to a collection of teacher-contributed lessons, homework, and problem sets. Registration is free. This simulation is part of the Physics Education Technology Project, a growing collection of interactive simulations designed using principles from physics education research and refined based on student interviews. Editor's Note: A key takeaway from this simulation is that electron ejection only occurs when a certain "threshold frequency" of light is incident on the metal surface. Below this threshold, the photoelectric effect will not happen. The threshold frequency differs for each metal, with sodium on the lower end (longer wavelength) and platinum on the high end (shorter wavelength). NOTE: This simulation meets a specific NGSS Physical Science content standard in Waves: HS-PS4.B.iii -- "Photoelectric materials emit electrons when they absorb light of a high-enough frequency."
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Record Link
<a href="https://www.compadre.org/precollege/items/detail.cfm?ID=4233">PhET. PhET Simulation: Photoelectric Effect. Boulder: PhET, August 11, 2006.</a>
AIP Format
(PhET, Boulder, 2005), WWW Document, (https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/photoelectric).
AJP/PRST-PER
PhET Simulation: Photoelectric Effect (PhET, Boulder, 2005), <https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/photoelectric>.
APA Format
PhET Simulation: Photoelectric Effect. (2006, August 11). Retrieved November 13, 2024, from PhET: https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/photoelectric
Chicago Format
PhET. PhET Simulation: Photoelectric Effect. Boulder: PhET, August 11, 2006. https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/photoelectric (accessed 13 November 2024).
MLA Format
PhET Simulation: Photoelectric Effect. Boulder: PhET, 2005. 11 Aug. 2006. 13 Nov. 2024 <https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/photoelectric>.
BibTeX Export Format
@misc{
Title = {PhET Simulation: Photoelectric Effect},
Publisher = {PhET},
Volume = {2024},
Number = {13 November 2024},
Month = {August 11, 2006},
Year = {2005}
}
Refer Export Format
%T PhET Simulation: Photoelectric Effect %D August 11, 2006 %I PhET %C Boulder %U https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/photoelectric %O application/java
EndNote Export Format
%0 Electronic Source %D August 11, 2006 %T PhET Simulation: Photoelectric Effect %I PhET %V 2024 %N 13 November 2024 %8 August 11, 2006 %9 application/java %U https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/photoelectric Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.
Citation Source Information
The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual. The APA Style presented is based on information from APA Style.org: Electronic References. The Chicago Style presented is based on information from Examples of Chicago-Style Documentation. The MLA Style presented is based on information from the MLA FAQ. This resource is stored in 4 shared folders. You must login to access shared folders. PhET Simulation: Photoelectric Effect:
Is Referenced By
A Research-based Curriculum for Teaching the Photoelectric Effect
Is Required By
Understanding the Photoelectric Effect
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