What is the relation between threshold frequency and work function
What is the relation between threshold frequency and work function
Threshold Frequency vs Work Function
Work function and threshold frequency are two terms associated with the photoelectric effect. The photoelectric effect is a widely used experiment to demonstrate the particle nature of waves. In this article, we are going to discuss what photoelectric effect is, what work function and threshold frequency are, their applications, the similarities and differences between work function and threshold frequency.
What is threshold frequency?
To properly understand the concept of threshold frequency, one must first understand the photoelectric effect. Photoelectric effect is the process of the ejection of an electron from a metal in the case of incident electromagnetic radiations. The photoelectric effect was first properly described by Albert Einstein. The wave theory of light failed to describe most of the observations of the photoelectric effect. There is a threshold frequency for the incident waves. This indicates that no matter how intense the electromagnetic waves are electrons would not be ejected unless it has the required frequency.
The work function:
The work function of a metal is the energy corresponding to the threshold frequency of the metal. The work function is usually denoted by the Greek letter φ. Albert Einstein used the work function of a metal to describe the photoelectric effect. The maximum kinetic energy of the ejected electrons depended on the frequency of the incident photon and the work function. K.E.max= hf – φ. The work function of a metal can be interpreted as the minimum bond energy or the bond energy of the surface electrons. If the energy of the incident photons is equal to the work function, the kinetic energy of the released electrons will be zero.
Threshold Frequency vs Work Function
Work function and threshold frequency are two terms associated with the photoelectric effect. The photoelectric effect is a widely used experiment to demonstrate the particle nature of waves. In this article, we are going to discuss what photoelectric effect is, what work function and threshold frequency are, their applications, the similarities and differences between work function and threshold frequency.
What is threshold frequency?
To properly understand the concept of threshold frequency, one must first understand the photoelectric effect. Photoelectric effect is the process of the ejection of an electron from a metal in the case of incident electromagnetic radiations. The photoelectric effect was first properly described by Albert Einstein. The wave theory of light failed to describe most of the observations of the photoelectric effect. There is a threshold frequency for the incident waves. This indicates that no matter how intense the electromagnetic waves are electrons would not be ejected unless it has the required frequency.
The work function:
The work function of a metal is the energy corresponding to the threshold frequency of the metal. The work function is usually denoted by the Greek letter φ. Albert Einstein used the work function of a metal to describe the photoelectric effect. The maximum kinetic energy of the ejected electrons depended on the frequency of the incident photon and the work function. K.E.max= hf – φ. The work function of a metal can be interpreted as the minimum bond energy or the bond energy of the surface electrons. If the energy of the incident photons is equal to the work function, the kinetic energy of the released electrons will be zero.
