The Photoelectric effect is summarised in the following equation:

hf= Φ + E_K

hf is the energy of the photon (E = hf),

E_K is the maximum kinetic energy of a released photoelectron and

Φ the work function is represented by the Greek symbol 'phi'.

so rearranging we get an equation of a straight line

E_K = hf - Φ

maximum kinetic energy E_k as the dependent variable on the y axis

frequency f as the independent variable on the x axis

a gradient of the Planck constant

and a negative intercept of the work function

Click here to read about the photoelectric effect experiment and a bit of history of its discovery.

Click here to go to a page of videoclip explanations

Click here to go to the notes on the photoelectric effect

Click here to go to stopping potential