How to use the photoelectric effect calculator
Find maximum electron kinetic energy and stopping voltage. Enter light frequency, work function in the fields above; the photon energy, max kinetic energy, stopping voltage, threshold frequency are computed instantly and plotted on the chart so you can see how the answer changes.
Formula
Variables
- f — Light frequency (PHz)
- phi — Work function (eV)
Worked example
With light frequency = 1 PHz, work function = Potassium, the calculator gives photon energy ≈ 4.135668 eV; max kinetic energy ≈ 1.835668 eV; stopping voltage ≈ 1.835668 V; threshold frequency ≈ 0.5561375 PHz.
Frequently asked questions
What is the formula for the photoelectric effect calculation?
Photon energy (eV) = HPLANCK × f × 1e15 / QE. Max kinetic energy (eV) = max(0,[Photon energy]-phi). Stopping voltage (V) = [Max kinetic energy]. Threshold frequency (PHz) = phi × QE / HPLANCK / 1e15. Here f is light frequency (PHz), phi is work function (eV).
What inputs do I need for the photoelectric effect calculator?
You need light frequency in PHz, work function in eV. Each field is pre-filled with a typical example so you can see how the result responds as you edit the numbers.
How do I use this calculator?
Type values into the input fields. Results and the chart update instantly. Use Reset to restore the example values, Copy results to paste them elsewhere, or Share to copy a link that preserves your inputs.
Is the result exact?
Calculations use standard formulas and double-precision arithmetic, then display about seven significant figures. Real-world measurements carry uncertainty, so treat results as estimates unless your inputs are exact.