ScienceAugust 24, 2026

photoelectric

foh-toh-ih-LEK-trik

Definition

Relating to the emission of electrons from a material, typically a metal, when it absorbs electromagnetic radiation such as light.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek 'phōs' (light) and the English 'electric,' relating to the phenomenon where light generates or influences electricity.

In the news

The article mentions Einstein's 1905 paper on the photoelectric effect, which explained how light consists of discrete quanta, a discovery that ultimately earned him the Nobel Prize.

99 Years Later, Einstein's Letter About Quantum Mechanics Is Still the Most Famous Argument in Physics

Read the full article ↗

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