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Photoelectric Effect

Produced by the National STEM Learning Centre and the Institute of Physics, this video demonstrates how to use a gold-leaf electroscope, zinc plate and an ultraviolet light source. The zinc plate is placed onto the top of the electroscope and it is given a negative charge.

The electroscope can be discharged when ultraviolet light is shone onto the zinc plate. This is due to the UV light photons causing the discharge of electrons from the zinc plate.

The photoelectric effect helps to illustrate the wave-particle duality of light.

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Light - UV - 16+, POSTED BY
Quantum physics, POSTED BY