Final answer:
The Fermi energy for electrons in copper is 7.03 eV, representing the maximum energy electrons occupy in the metal at 0 K, and it influences the metal's electrical conductivity and thermal properties.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Fermi energy for electrons in copper is given as EF = 7.03 eV. The Fermi energy is the energy of the highest occupied state at absolute zero temperature (0 K). Due to Pauli's exclusion principle, no two electrons can occupy the same quantum state, which necessitates that electrons fill up the available energy states starting from the lowest, building up to the state with the energy EF. At T = 0 K, a state with energy E < EF is occupied by an electron, and states with E > EF remain unoccupied. This indicates that the Fermi energy represents the maximum energy that an electron occupies in a metal at absolute zero. Fermi energy is an important concept as it also determines various properties of the metal, such as its electrical conductivity and thermal properties. For instance, the Fermi energy influences the probability that an electron state is occupied at a given energy, which in turn affects how the metal conducts electricity.