Work function
What Work function means in Physics A-Level, as defined for AQA, OCR.
Definitions of Work function
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Reference: OCR
The minimum energy required to remove an electron from the surface of a particular metal; it is a property of the metal and is often quoted in electronvolts.
An energy, denoted φ, appearing in hf = φ + Ek(max), where Ek(max) is the maximum kinetic energy of an emitted electron.
The minimum energy needed to remove an electron from the surface of a metal, and it is a property of that metal.
The energy φ that the electron uses to escape the surface, with any surplus becoming kinetic energy.
The minimum energy needed to remove an electron from the metal surface, and a property of the metal.
Description of the surface potential barrier that keeps free electrons bound within the metal.
Topics that use Work function
- The photoelectric effect (AQA A-Level)
- Thermionic emission of electrons (A-level only) (AQA A-Level)
- The photoelectric effect (OCR A-Level)
Related terms
- Intensity
- Maximum kinetic energy
- Photon
- Threshold frequency
- Conservation of energy in photon absorption
- Independence of KEmax from intensity
- Intensity as photons per second
- One-to-one interaction
Using Work function in the exam
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