Solving for work frequency
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Solving for work frequency
I know the work frequency equation is threshold frequency times the plancs constant. I was wondering if solving the threshold frequency equation is E=hv. Then you multiply it with the plancs constant in order to get the work function?
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Re: Solving for work frequency
The work function is the minimum amount of energy of a light needed to remove electrons. Therefore, since the work function is essentially also a light, the equation E=hv, which is used for energy of a light, can also be used to relate the frequency and energy of a work function.
Hope this helps!
Hope this helps!
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Re: Solving for work frequency
Hello! The work function is defined as the minimum amount of energy needed to remove an electron from the specific metal. In the textbook, in Focus 1: Atoms, Figure 1B.4, the red arrows epitomize that the work function is the threshold energy of the metal to remove an electron. E=hv is rather a measure of energy of each individual photon in an electromagnetic radiation. You can use the equation E= work function + KE in order to relate the work function to obtain either frequency or wavelength of the initial radiation. You cannot multiply the threshold energy with plank's constant to get the work function, as threshold energy is synonymous to the work function. The kinetic energy of the electrons must also be accounted for, because if the energy of the photon is greater than the threshold energy, the electron is ejected with kinetic energy. So, it is essential that you account for kinetic energy because the problem does not explicitly state that electron is removed without kinetic energy. Hope this helped!
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