- #1
lawsonfurther
- 25
- 0
My question is basically similar to a thread that was posted 12 years ago:
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/electrons-flying-off-a-conductor.119269/
I was glad to see that there was already a thread which asked my question in the forum. But when I read through all of the discussion, I don't quite understand the two possible origin of the work function.
(See #7 post from ZapperZ.)
He mentioned that one possible origin is coulombic charge and explained it as following, "When an electron tries to leave a conductor, it is going to leave a neutral object and causing it to be positively charged momentarily."
So I am wondering what if those excess charges(or electrons) actually came from contacting with external charged object. In this case, those excess electrons on the conductor will repel each other, thus giving a force to one another. So what force is actually keeping them from leaving the surface of a conductor? And microscopically speaking, where does this force come from? Besides, when those electrons are trying to leave the conductor, should there be a tendency to make the conductor neutral? If so, how was the work function introduced in physics?
Or maybe someone can explain the second possible origin more plainly to me. I am still in the first year of university.
Thanks.
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/electrons-flying-off-a-conductor.119269/
I was glad to see that there was already a thread which asked my question in the forum. But when I read through all of the discussion, I don't quite understand the two possible origin of the work function.
(See #7 post from ZapperZ.)
He mentioned that one possible origin is coulombic charge and explained it as following, "When an electron tries to leave a conductor, it is going to leave a neutral object and causing it to be positively charged momentarily."
So I am wondering what if those excess charges(or electrons) actually came from contacting with external charged object. In this case, those excess electrons on the conductor will repel each other, thus giving a force to one another. So what force is actually keeping them from leaving the surface of a conductor? And microscopically speaking, where does this force come from? Besides, when those electrons are trying to leave the conductor, should there be a tendency to make the conductor neutral? If so, how was the work function introduced in physics?
Or maybe someone can explain the second possible origin more plainly to me. I am still in the first year of university.
Thanks.