Question

What do you mean by work function in photoelectric effect

Answer 1

The photoelectric work function is the minimum photon energy required to liberate an electron from a substance, in the photoelectric effect. If the photon's energy is greater than the substance's work function,photoelectric emission occurs and the electron is liberated from the surface.

Answer 2

It is the minimum amount of energy required to excite an electron from the metal surface.

If a light of frequency v hit the metal surface, the free electrons on it acquire energy hv.

If hv is equal to work function, an free electron escapes from the metal.

If hv is greater than the work function, then that free electron escapes with some kinetic energy( equal to the difference in energy of the incident light and work function).