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Theory

Photoelectric Effect

Physics

The photoelectric effect is the emission of electrons from a material caused by electromagnetic radiation, such as light, and its theoretical explanation provided key evidence for the particle nature of light.

Facts
Proposed YearSourced to the subject's own account
1905 1
Proposed BySourced to the subject's own account
Albert Einstein (theoretical explanation; the effect itself was observed by Heinrich Hertz in 1887) 1
Connections

Proposed By

Theoretical explanation only; the effect itself was observed by Heinrich Hertz in 1887, per the property text.

Additional Source Photoelectric Effect (Wikipedia)20th century section (edge: proposed-by, Einstein)
Sources
1. Photoelectric Effect (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia
  • Lead section (entity-description)
    The photoelectric effect is the emission of electrons or other free carriers when light is shone onto a material.
  • Lead section (proposed-year)
    Albert Einstein explained the effect in 1905 by proposing that light is composed of discrete quanta, later called photons, work for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics.
  • Lead section (proposed-by)
    Albert Einstein explained the effect in 1905 by proposing that light is composed of discrete quanta, later called photons, work for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics.
  • Proposed By: Albert Einstein, 20th century section (edge: proposed-by, Einstein)
    In 1905, Albert Einstein published a paper advancing the hypothesis that light energy is carried in discrete quantized packets to explain experimental data from the photoelectric effect.
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