The photoelectric effect describes the phenomenon where electrons are ejected from a metal surface when it is exposed to sufficient energy, typically in the form of light. The minimum energy required to release an electron from the surface is referred to as binding energy (BE), which is also known as the threshold frequency or work function of the metal. This energy is crucial for understanding how light interacts with matter.

Kinetic energy (KE) is the energy that an object possesses due to its motion. In the context of the photoelectric effect, any excess energy that an electron absorbs from the incident light beyond the binding energy is converted into kinetic energy. This relationship can be expressed through the photoelectric effect formula:

$$E_{\text{photon}} = BE + KE$$

In this equation, \(E_{\text{photon}}\) represents the total energy of the incoming photon, \(BE\) is the binding energy, and \(KE\) is the kinetic energy of the ejected electron. When solving problems related to the photoelectric effect, this formula is essential for calculating the energies involved and understanding the behavior of electrons when exposed to light.