work function

The work function is the minimum amount of energy needed to remove an electron from a solid material, typically a metal. Think of it as the energy required to "free" an electron so it can move away from the material. This concept is important in fields like physics and materials science, as it helps explain phenomena such as photoelectric effect, where light can provide enough energy to eject electrons from a surface. The work function varies between different materials, influencing their electrical and optical properties.