The y intercept gives the negative of the work function. (It's even marked -Φ on the diagram.) The work function is positive.logearav said:
The work function is the negative of the y-intercept. Since the y-intercept is negative, the work function is positive.logearav said:
The negative work function in photoelectric effect refers to the minimum amount of energy required to remove an electron from a material. It is a characteristic property of a material and is typically measured in electron volts (eV).
The negative work function determines the threshold frequency of light required to cause the emission of electrons from a material. If the frequency of light is below the threshold, no electrons will be emitted, regardless of the intensity of the light.
The negative work function can be affected by the type of material, its surface condition, and the presence of impurities or other substances on its surface. Additionally, the negative work function may change with temperature and with the wavelength of light used in the photoelectric effect.
The negative work function can be measured experimentally by using the photoelectric effect. By varying the frequency of the incident light and measuring the kinetic energy of the emitted electrons, the threshold frequency (and therefore the negative work function) can be determined.
The negative work function is a crucial factor in understanding the behavior of electrons in the photoelectric effect. It helps to explain why certain materials are more easily ionized by light than others and provides insight into the nature of the interaction between light and matter.
