Photoelectric Effect Simulator
Shine light on a metal and see when electrons are emitted, and how fast.
Shine light on a metal plate inside a vacuum tube. If each photon has more energy than the metal's work function, electrons are knocked out. Change the wavelength, the metal, the brightness and the battery voltage and watch the current, the stopping voltage and the three graphs.
About the Photoelectric Effect Simulator
Free photoelectric effect simulation. Change the metal, light wavelength and intensity and see whether electrons are emitted, their maximum kinetic energy and the current. Built for atomic & quantum, the photoelectric effect simulator runs instantly in your browser: change a setting or drag an object and the result updates at once, so you learn by trying things out rather than only reading about them.
Shine light on a metal and see when electrons are emitted, and how fast. Use it to explore atomic & quantum ideas at your own pace, then check what you found against the key ideas further down this page.
How to use the Photoelectric Effect Simulator
- Use the controls to change Metal, Wavelength, Quick colours, Light intensity, Battery voltage, and more. The simulation reacts instantly.
- Pick an option such as Sodium, Caesium, Calcium, Magnesium to switch modes or load an example.
- Press "Set stopping voltage", "Reset" to start, reset or change what is happening.
- Where you see a glowing handle, object, weight or atom, drag it with your mouse or finger. Everything responds in real time.
- Watch the readouts and graphs update as you experiment, and compare what you see with the key ideas below.
Things to try
- Use sodium with 400 nm light.
- Switch to platinum.
- Raise the intensity.
- Apply a stopping voltage.
Key ideas you can learn
- Light comes in photons with energy E = hf.
- Electrons are ejected only if the photon energy exceeds the metal's work function.
- Brighter light means more electrons, not faster ones. Higher frequency means faster ones.
Where this is used in the real world
The photoelectric effect powers solar cells, light sensors, digital camera sensors and night-vision devices.
Who is this simulation for?
Advanced high-school and university students in chemistry and physics, and curious learners who want to see how the atomic world behaves.
For teachers: project it on the board, let students predict what will happen, then run it together. For students: change one thing at a time and write down what changes.
Frequently asked questions
Why does dim blue light emit electrons but bright red light doesn't?
Each photon gives its energy to a single electron. Red photons don't carry enough energy to exceed the work function, no matter how many there are.
What is the work function?
The minimum energy needed to remove an electron from the surface of a metal. It differs for each metal.
Is the Photoelectric Effect Simulator free to use?
Yes. It is completely free, with no signup, no download and no ads inside the simulation. It runs in your web browser.
Does the Photoelectric Effect Simulator work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. It uses touch as well as the mouse, so you can drag objects with your finger. A larger screen makes the controls easier to see.