Uploaded September 2019 | Updated September 2026, 16 hours ago

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An explanation of what the stopping potential is for the photoelectric effect and how it can be using to determine the work function of a metal. Includes a demonstration using one of the simulations from PhET simulations and a worked example. The stopping potential is defined as the potential needed to stop the photoelectrons with the greatest kinetic energy. You can see a listing of all my videos at my website, stepbystepscience.com

The photoelectric effect is the emission of electrons when light is shined on a material. Electrons emitted in this way can be called photoelectrons.

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. This was a key step in the development of quantum mechanics. In 1914, Millikan's experiment supported Einstein's model of the photoelectric effect. Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1921 for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect.

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