Definition

1. Noun:
   • Electricity generated by light: The direct production of an electric current or voltage when light strikes a material.
   • Electrical effects caused by light: The broader phenomenon where light incident on a material causes a change in its electrical properties, such as its conductivity or the emission of electrons.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The solar cell operates on the principle of photoelectricity, converting sunlight directly into electrical power.
  • Early research into photoelectricity was crucial for the development of quantum theory.

Advanced Usage

• Technical Context: In physics and engineering, "photoelectricity" often refers specifically to the photoelectric effect, where electrons are ejected from a material's surface upon absorbing light energy.
  • Einstein's explanation of photoelectricity earned him the Nobel Prize.

Variants and Related Words

• Photoelectric (adj): Relating to or involving photoelectricity.
  • A photoelectric sensor detects the presence of an object by using a light beam.
• Photoelectron (n): An electron emitted from a material by the photoelectric effect.
• Photoemission (n): The emission of electrons (photoelectrons) due to the photoelectric effect.

Synonyms

• Photovoltaic effect: Specifically denotes the generation of a voltage (electric potential difference) due to light exposure, a key type of photoelectricity used in solar cells.

Related Phrases and Compounds

• Photoelectric cell (photocell): A device whose electrical properties (e.g., resistance, voltage) change when light falls on it.
• Photoelectric emission: The release of electrons from a surface caused by light.

Noun

1. electricity generated by light or affected by light