0KE electron?

[MKearney_4G]

We learned that if you remove an electron using exactly the work function amount of energy that the electron will have 0KE.

While mathematically this makes sense, how is the electron "removed" if it is not moving? If you give it the threshold energy then it will escape the atom, but then what? If it isn't moving anywhere is it really removed?

[Ariel Davydov 1C]

We examine the photoelectric effect through this equation theoretically. Theoretically, if the energy of the photon equals that of the metal's work function, electrons will be emitted. While we know this in reality does not occur, we still utilize this equation in that sense, since the work function is the bottommost limit to the energy needed in order for the metal to emit electrons (in a calculus sense). Hope this helps.

[Indy Bui 1l]

Dr. Lavelle mentioned during lecture that there was a current attached to the detector. I believe the detector was positively charged, possibly attracting the electron and detecting it, without it having a true Kinetic Energy. Although theoretically, it is emitted with 0KE, im not sure that it works practically, without some sort of positively charged attraction.