Difference between work function and threshold energy

[Alyssa Bercero 3H]

I thought these to be relatively the same thing, but how are they different?

[traviskobus1G]

Hi!
These are basically the same thing.
The threshold energy is the energy required of a photon to remove an electron from a substance via the photoelectric effect.
The work function is just another way to say "photon energy required to remove an electron"
When the energy of a photon exceeds the threshold energy, the resulting electron will have kinetic energy.

Hope this helps!

[Giselle_Arreguin_2K]

In terms of what n=, how would we know based on a specific length what n would be?

[Miyown Meeks 2F]

Hello!
You are correct! The work function and threshold energy are basically the same thing. The work function is the minimum energy that is required to remove an electron, and the threshold energy is basically just another way to say this. In terms of the equation they would be referring to the same thing!

[Bethel Tesfamicael]

The work function is the minimum energy needed to release an electron from a material's surface, while the threshold energy is the minimum energy required to initiate a specific reaction or process, which may or may not involve electron emission