Definition of photoelectric
: involving, relating to, or utilizing any of various electrical effects due to the interaction of radiation (such as light) with matter
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Recent Examples of photoelectric from the Web
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After spending about a bajillion chapters on optics, the authors start talking about the photoelectric effect.
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Did You Know?
The photoelectric effect *occurs when light (or similar radiation such as X-rays) falls on a material such as a metal plate and causes it to emit electrons. The discovery of the photoelectric effect led to important new theories about matter (and to a Nobel Prize for Albert Einstein). *Photoelectric cells, *or *photocells, are used in burglar-alarm light detectors and garage-door openers (both employ a beam of light that is broken when something moves across it), and also to play soundtracks on movie film (where a light beam shines through the soundtrack encoded on the film and is "read" by the photocells).
Origin and Etymology of photoelectric
International Scientific Vocabulary
First Known Use: circa 1879
PHOTOELECTRIC Defined for English Language Learners
photoelectric
playDefinition of photoelectric for English Language Learners
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: involving, relating to, or using an electric current that is controlled by light
Medical Dictionary
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Spanish Central: Translation of photoelectric Nglish: Translation of photoelectric for Spanish speakers
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