Exam-style question
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Why does heating a metal lead to the release of electrons?.
- A.It increases the mass of the electrons
- B.It provides energy to overcome the work function
- C.It creates a magnetic field around the metal
- D.It changes the metal's chemical properties
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- It provides energy to overcome the work function
Explanation
Why this works
Heating a metal increases the kinetic energy of its electrons. When the temperature is high enough, some electrons gain sufficient energy to overcome the work function, which is the minimum energy needed to release an electron from the metal.
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