Negative Work function in Photo electric effect

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the concept of work function in the photoelectric effect, specifically addressing whether the work function can be negative. It is clarified that the work function represents the minimum energy required to eject an electron from a metal surface and is typically a positive value. The graph in question shows a negative y-intercept, which corresponds to the negative of the work function. Therefore, while the y-intercept is negative, the work function itself is positive. The participants confirm their understanding of this relationship, concluding that the work function is indeed positive despite the negative graph representation.
logearav
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Homework Statement



In my attachment, the x intercept gives threshold frequency and the y intercept gives the work function.

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


Work function is the minimum energy needed to pull out an electron from the metal surface. My question is, from the graph, work function is a negative value. Will work function takes negative values?
 

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logearav said:
In my attachment, the x intercept gives threshold frequency and the y intercept gives the work function.
The y intercept gives the negative of the work function. (It's even marked -Φ on the diagram.) The work function is positive.
 
Doc Al,
How negative of the work function becomes positive work function.
 
logearav said:
Doc Al,
How negative of the work function becomes positive work function.
The work function is the negative of the y-intercept. Since the y-intercept is negative, the work function is positive.
 
I got it now Doc Al. Thank you so much
 
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