photo-electricity
Definition
Noun: - Electricity produced or affected by light: "photo-electricity" refers to electrical phenomena, especially the generation of an electric current, that result from the interaction of light (or other electromagnetic radiation) with matter. This is most commonly associated with the photoelectric effect, where light causes electrons to be emitted from a material.
Usage Examples
- (The electrical effect triggered by light was a breakthrough in physics.)
- (Solar cells use the photoelectric effect to generate electricity from light.)
Advanced Usage
- "photo-electricity in semiconductors": the process by which light energy is converted into electrical energy in materials like silicon, used in photovoltaic cells.
- Research into photo-electricity has led to more efficient solar panels. (Studies of light-induced electricity improve solar technology.)
Variants and Related Words
- Photoelectric (adj): relating to or involving the emission of electrons from a material when light strikes it.
- The photoelectric effect is a key principle of photo-electricity. (The adjective describes the phenomenon.)
- Photovoltaic (adj): directly converting light into electricity, typically in solar cells.
- Photovoltaic cells are a practical application of photo-electricity. (They use light to generate electrical power.)
Synonyms
- Photoelectric effect: the specific physical phenomenon where light causes electron emission.
- Light-induced electricity: a general term for electrical effects caused by light.
Related Idioms
- None: "photo-electricity" is a technical term without common idiomatic usage.
Phrasal Verbs
- None: "photo-electricity" is not used in phrasal verb constructions.