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Hi state what it meant by the work function

May 20, 2024

Hi state what it meant by the work function

Answer

The work function is the minimum energy required to remove an electron from the surface of a material.

Solution

Definition of Work Function: The work function (

\phi

) is the minimum energy needed to remove an electron from the surface of a material. It is usually measured in electron volts (eV)

Mathematical Expression: The work function can be expressed as

\phi = h \nu - E_k

, where

h

is Planck's constant,

\nu

is the frequency of the incident light, and

E_k

is the kinetic energy of the emitted electron

Key Concept

Work Function

Explanation

The work function is a fundamental property of materials that determines how easily electrons can be emitted from the surface when exposed to light or other forms of energy.