E= energy of photon h = planck\'s constant f = frequency = Work function = Minim

Question

E= energy of photon h = planck's constant f = frequency = Work function = Minimum energy required to free anelectron. My book says if " the photon energy hf is less than thework function , then there is simply insufficient energy inany given photon to free an electron....How ever if frequency ishigh enough such that hf >, then electrons can be ejected.The kintetic energy given to the electron would then be thedifference between the photon's energy and the energy required to free the electron from the metal. What happens if kf = ?

Explanation / Answer

if hf is equal to the work function the electron is freed but willnot travel away from the atom think of it like the 2nd cosmicvelocity (or escape velocity) in the regular mechanical meaning. Itwill leave the atom and never come back but never get far enough toget detected on the other node of a fotoelectric device. Of coursehf will never be exactly equal to the minimum energy required andother factors will play a role too so this will never be the casebut theoreticaly this would happen.

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