Why do emitted electrons have a range of kinetic energies up to a maximum value?

Photons have energy dependent on frequency One-to-one interaction between photon and electron Max KE = photon energy – work function More energy required to remove deeper electrons RIGHT: Energy given to the electron is fixed and a certain energy is required to overcome the work function of the metal. One to one interaction between photons and electrons. So the maximum kinetic energy is the energy of the photon minus the work function. As deeper electrons require energy to get to the surface, they have less energy than the surface electrons