In the photoelectric effect, a photon interacts with a material, typically a metal, and can lead to the emission of an electron from the material's surface. Whether a photon is totally absorbed or not depends on its energy and the specific characteristics of the material.
In the photoelectric effect, the energy of the incident photon must be higher than the material's work function for an electron to be emitted. The work function is the minimum energy required to remove an electron from the material. If the photon's energy is equal to or greater than the work function, the electron can be emitted, and the photon is typically completely absorbed in the process.
However, if the photon's energy is lower than the work function, the electron cannot be emitted. In this case, the photon may still interact with the material, but it is usually either scattered or absorbed partially. The exact outcome depends on the energy of the photon and the specific properties of the material, such as its composition and structure.
It's worth noting that the photoelectric effect is a quantum phenomenon and cannot be explained solely by classical wave theory. The interaction between photons and electrons is governed by quantum mechanics, which describes the particle-like nature of photons and electrons and their wave-like properties as well.
So, to summarize, in the photoelectric effect, a photon can be totally absorbed if its energy is equal to or greater than the work function of the material. Otherwise, the photon may be scattered or absorbed partially, depending on its energy and the material's characteristics.