Photoelectron Emission

Photoelectron emission occurs when light hits a material, typically a metal, and provides enough energy to eject electrons from its surface. Think of electrons as tiny particles within atoms; when they absorb the energy from incoming photons (light particles), they can gain enough to escape the material's surface. This process underlies technologies like solar panels and photo detectors. The minimum energy needed for electrons to escape is called the work function. The amount of light (its energy) determines how many electrons are emitted, which can be measured to analyze the material's properties.