When sunlight strikes a metal surface, what can happen to an electron according to the photoelectric effect?

• A. The electron can be ejected from the metal if the energy of the sunlight is greater than the work function.
• B. The electron can spontaneously increase its mass.
• C. The electron can absorb energy but remain bound to the atom regardless of the energy of the sunlight.
• D. The electron can be converted into a proton.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the photoelectric effect: When light (photons) strikes a metal surface, it can transfer energy to electrons in the metal.
2. Recall that each photon has energy given by the equation \(E = h \times \nu\), where \(h\) is Planck's constant and \(\nu\) is the frequency of the light.
3. Know that the metal has a characteristic minimum energy called the work function (\(\phi\)), which is the energy needed to eject an electron from the metal surface.
4. If the photon's energy \(E\) is greater than the work function \(\phi\), the electron can absorb enough energy to overcome the attraction holding it in the metal and be ejected.
5. If the photon's energy is less than the work function, the electron cannot be ejected and will remain bound to the metal.