💡 Photoelectric effect — shine light on a metal and electrons fly across the tube

Monochromatic light strikes the emitter plate C in an evacuated tube. If its frequency is above the threshold, electrons are ejected and the collector A pulls them across as a photocurrent. Raising the intensity sends more electrons; only raising the frequency gives each one more energy.
Light from the lamp (left) strikes the emitter plate C inside the evacuated tube.
caesium φ₀ = 2.14 eV, threshold ν₀ ≈ 5.2e14 Hz · Kmax = hν − φ₀
photocurrent i = — · stopping potential V₀ = — V · Kmax = — eV