The Origin of The Photoelectric Effect: How Lenard Inspired and Then Terrorized Einstein

When we talk about the photoelectric effect, we usually only mention Albert Einstein.  After all, Einstein did win the Nobel Prize for creating the modern interpretation of the photoelectric effect.  But Einstein didn’t discover the photoelectric effect. In fact, Einstein didn’t do any photoelectric effect experiments!  Instead, Einstein was inspired by the experiments and theories by a man named Philip Lenard.  Lenard is a fascinating person.

So who did discover it, who did the landmark expe...