Exam-style question
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In thermionic emission, what happens to the electrons that gain enough energy?.
- A.They become positively charged
- B.They are absorbed by the metal
- C.They are emitted from the metal surface
- D.They lose their kinetic energy
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- They are emitted from the metal surface
Explanation
Why this works
Electrons that gain sufficient energy to overcome the work function are emitted from the metal surface. This process is essential in applications such as vacuum tubes and cathode ray tubes.
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