Teacher/Lecturer

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Demonstration 9 Photoelectric emission from a zinc plate

Purpose

Safety

The aim of the

experiment is to
demonstrate the
emission of electrons due
to photon absorption.

Care should be taken with the ultraviolet light (and the laser if that
option is carried out). Observers must not be able to view the UV
source directly. The UV source will emit significant amounts of UVB
and must be effectively screened using 6.5mm Pilkington Optilam
glass or similar.
The EHT power supply must be limited to 5 mA or less.

You will need:

Gold leaf electroscope
Polythene tile
Clean zinc plate
Enclosed ultraviolet light source

Mounted mains tungsten filament lamp

Visible class type 1 or 2 laser
EHT power supply limited to 5mA or less
Leads

Experimental instructions
Set up the apparatus as shown in the diagram
with the electroscope standing on a polythene
tile on the bench.

Ultraviolet light
Negatively
charged zinc plate

Clean the zinc plate to remove any oxide

and fix it onto the electroscope so that the
mounting pin is in contact with the gold leaf.
Adjust the EHT to give an output of 1000 V.
Connect the earthed terminal of the EHT to
the case of the electroscope. Using a flying
lead carefully touch the zinc plate to give it a
positive potential.
Using the tungsten light bulb shine white light
on the zinc plate and observe the effect.
Now use the laser instead and observe the
effect.

Gold leaf falls immediately the

zinc plate is illuminated with
ultraviolet light

Figure 1: Arrangement of gold leaf electroscope

Replace the laser with the ultraviolet light source and shine ultraviolet light onto the plate
and observe the effect. The ultraviolet source must be enclosed, with a small aperture.
The set-up should be screened by 6.5 mm Pilkington Optilam glass or similar.
Finally, change the polarity of the plate so that it is negative with respect to the
electroscope casing. Shine ultraviolet light onto the plate and observe the effect.
Explain the movement of the leaf in the last experiment in terms of the absorption of
photons and the emission of photoelectrons.
An alternative to the EHT power supply is to use polythene and cellulose acetate to give a
positive or negative charge to the plate.

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