Final answer:
In the context of the photoelectric effect, increasing light intensity results in a greater number of emitted electrons due to the increased number of photons; however, it does not affect the kinetic energy of these electrons, which is determined by the frequency of the incident light.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phenomenon being referenced here is linked to the photoelectric effect, a crucial piece of evidence that led to the development of quantum mechanics. The question touches on the observed fact that when the intensity of light is increased, it results in an increase in the number of emitted electrons from the surface of a metal; however, it does not lead to an increase in their kinetic energy. Scientists originally found this to be at odds with the wave theory of light, which predicted that the energy (and therefore the kinetic energy of the ejected electrons) would increase with light intensity. This paradox was resolved by Albert Einstein, who proposed a particle theory of light that includes quantized packets of energy known as photons. Einstein showed that the kinetic energy of ejected electrons was dependent on the light's frequency, not its intensity.
According to Einstein's explanation of the photoelectric effect, an increase in light intensity increases the number of photons, hence increasing the number of electron collisions, which leads to a higher number of ejected electrons. However, this does not affect their kinetic energy, as only the photons with sufficient energy--meaning those with a frequency above a certain threshold--can impart the necessary energy to overcome the binding energy of the electrons in the metal. Only such photons can increase the kinetic energy of the ejected electrons.