Does Temperature Affect the Work Function in Photoelectric Cells?

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In summary, KEmax stands for maximum kinetic energy and is used to calculate the energy gained by an electron after absorbing a photon. The work function is included in the equation to account for the energy needed to overcome the attractive forces between the electron and metal atoms. The frequency of the incident photon directly affects KEmax, as higher frequencies result in higher maximum kinetic energies. The work function is equal to the energy of a photon with the threshold frequency, meaning that when the frequency is equal to the threshold, the maximum kinetic energy will be zero. This equation is important in understanding the photoelectric effect, which is the emission of electrons from a metal surface when exposed to light.
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Clara Chung
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Why not KEmax=hf-work function+original KE orbiting the nucleus. In a photocell circuit with a photocell link to the cathode and collector in the anode
 
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The KE orbiting the nucleus is already in the work function.
 
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arpon said:
The KE orbiting the nucleus is already in the work function.
Then does the work function change with the temperature in the photocell metal?
 

FAQ: Does Temperature Affect the Work Function in Photoelectric Cells?

What is the significance of KEmax in the equation KEmax=hf-work function?

KEmax stands for maximum kinetic energy and it represents the maximum amount of energy that an electron can gain from absorbing a photon. In the context of the equation KEmax=hf-work function, it is used to calculate the maximum kinetic energy of an electron when it is ejected from a metal surface after absorbing a photon of frequency f.

Why is the work function included in the equation KEmax=hf-work function?

The work function represents the minimum amount of energy required to remove an electron from the surface of a metal. In the context of the equation KEmax=hf-work function, it is used to account for the energy needed to overcome the attractive forces between the electron and the metal atoms. This is why it is subtracted from the energy gained by the electron through absorbing a photon.

How does the frequency of the incident photon affect KEmax?

According to the equation KEmax=hf-work function, the maximum kinetic energy of an ejected electron is directly proportional to the frequency of the incident photon. This means that as the frequency increases, the maximum kinetic energy also increases. This is because higher frequency photons have more energy, which can be transferred to the electron upon absorption.

What is the relationship between the work function and the threshold frequency?

The threshold frequency is the minimum frequency of a photon that can cause an electron to be ejected from a metal surface. The work function is equal to the energy of a photon with the threshold frequency. This means that if the frequency of the incident photon is equal to the threshold frequency, the maximum kinetic energy of the ejected electron will be zero.

How does the equation KEmax=hf-work function relate to the photoelectric effect?

The photoelectric effect is the phenomenon where electrons are emitted from a metal surface when it is exposed to light. The equation KEmax=hf-work function is used to describe this effect by relating the frequency of the incident photon to the maximum kinetic energy of the ejected electron. This equation helps to explain the observations made during the photoelectric effect and is an important part of understanding the behavior of light and matter.

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