What is photo electricity?

Photo electricity refers specifically to the phenomenon in which electricity is generated from light. This occurs when photons, which are particles of light, strike a material and impart energy to its electrons. This energy can promote the electrons to a higher energy state, allowing them to flow freely, which generates electric current.

This principle is the foundation for several technologies, including solar panels, where light energy is converted into electrical energy through the photovoltaic effect. The other forms of electricity generation mentioned in the other options, such as those stemming from magnetism, heat, or chemical reactions, involve different principles and mechanisms not related directly to the interaction of light with materials. This specificity to light is what distinctly classifies the process as photo electricity.