• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Zippy Facts Logo

Zippy Facts

Interesting Random Facts

  • Animals
  • Culture
  • Firsts
  • Food
  • Geography
  • Health
  • History
  • Inventions
  • Language
  • Mythology
  • Odds
  • People
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Space
  • Universe
  • World
You are here: Home / Accomplishments / How Does an Electric Eye Work?

How Does an Electric Eye Work?

April 12, 2020 by Karen Hill

A photoelectric cell is a device that releases electricity when it is struck by light. An electric eye, which automatically opens a door as you approach it, is a good example of a photoelectric cell at work.

As you approach a door with an electric eye, you cut off a beam of light trained on the photoelectric cell. Then, as you continue walking and leave the beam of light, it again strikes the photoelectric cell. When it does, the cell sends out an electric current that swings open the door.

This same principle can be used to set off a burglar alarm and to turn on a hand drier in a public restroom. In fact, almost anything that runs on electricity can be operated by means of an electric eye!

Related Facts

  • Who invented “electric eye” elevator doors that open if you walk through them when they close?
  • Top 25 Inventions That Changed Our Lives Forever
  • Where do electric eels come from and How does an electric eel generate electricity?
  • Who Discovered Electromagnetism and How does an electric current create a magnetic field?
  • Top 25 Inventions That Changed the World
  • What Does the Evil Eye Mean and Where Did the Evil Eye Come From?

Filed Under: Accomplishments

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « Is an A-Bomb the Same As an H-Bomb?
Next Post: How Do Eyeglasses Work? »

Footer

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • GitHub
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Medium
  • Pinterest
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Categories

Accomplishments Animals Culture Firsts Food Geography Health History Inventions Language Mythology Odds People Religion Science Space Universe World Your Body

About

Zippy Facts empowers the world by serving educational content that is accessible to everyone.

A tribute to growing up, zippyfacts.com showcases interesting and unusual facts about the world.

Our mission is to use technology to facilitate knowledge transfer and sharing.

Copyright © 2020 Zippy Facts

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy