@sophiecentaur
The question simply asks whether the photoelectric effect eventually ceases. All the atoms in the metal being ionised has not been mentioned.
Reply #3 makes two suggestions as to what happens in the long run and the current consensus seems to be (b) that emissions will never...
Thanks for the reply. Ignoring external fields, are you saying
(a) that all emissions will eventually stop because all the electrons that could be emitted (using this wavelength of light) will have been emitted
or
(b) that due to electrons escaping and not returning, the metal surface becomes...
Assume that a light shining on a metal initially resulted in electrons being emitted from the surface of the metal due to the photoelectric effect. If the light is left on indefinitely, will the emission of electrons eventually cease? (Assume the metal is insulated on all surfaces apart from the...