Question

In Einstein's photoelectric effect how do surface electrons get energy to escape the metal.

Does it have to do with work function of the metal?

Answer 1

when light is incident on a metal surface, the photons ( quanta of light) collide with the free electrons. In a particular collision, the photon may give all of its energy to the free electron. If this energy is more than the work function () , the electron may come out of the metal. It is not necessary that if the energy supplied to an electron is more than it will come out. The electron after receiving the energy, may lose energy to the metal in course of collision with the atoms of the metal. Only if an electron near the surface gets the extra energy and head towards the outside, it is able to come out.

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