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THE PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT

Introduction
The emission and absorption of light was investigated by the German physicist Max Planck
(1858-1947). He attempted to formulate a theory to explain the spectral distribution of
emitted light based on a classical wave model. The discrepancy between classical and
experimental results for the intensity of light emitted from a black body as a function of the
wavelength, known as the ultraviolet catastrophe, forced him to consider a new model for
light called the quantum model. In this model light is emitted in small, discrete bundles or
quanta now called photons. He won a 1918 Nobel Prize for his discoveries in connection
with the quantum theory.
According to the quantum model of light, the energy W of a photon is directly proportional to
its frequency

W = hf

(1)

where h = Planck's constant, f = frequency of the light. According to this model, the higher
the frequency the more energy the photon has.
The quantum theory for the emission of light can be investigated using a photodiode tube. A
photodiode tube consists of two electrodes enclosed in an evacuated glass tube. One
electrode has a large photosensitive surface and is called the cathode or the emitter. The
other electrode is in the form of a wire and is called the anode or the collector. In normal
operation the anode is held at a positive potential with respect to the cathode. When the
cathode is exposed to light, electrons are ejected from its photosensitive surface. These
electrons are attracted to the positive anode and form a current that can be measured with an
electrometer.
The kinetic energy of the ejected electrons is determined by the frequency of the light
striking the phototube. The quantity of ejected electrons is dependent on the intensity of the
light. The maximum kinetic energy of the photoelectrons is given by:

KE max = hf

(2)

where h = Planck's constant, f = frequency of the light, and is the work function of the
cathode surface.

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Since the work function, which is the energy required to release an electron from the surface
of the metal, is a constant, the maximum kinetic energy depends directly on the frequency of
the light.
If the potential applied to the anode is gradually decreased and made negative, the electrons
ejected from the cathode will not have enough energy to reach the anode and will be repelled
back to the cathode. At a voltage called the 'stopping potential' the electron current from the
cathode to the anode will become equal to zero. At that point the maximum Kinetic energy
of the electrons is equal to:

KE max = eV s = hf

(3)

where e = charge on electron and Vs = stopping potential.

-I

Expected Curve
(No Anode Emission)

Experimental Curve
(With Anode Emission)

Stopping Potential
(Same for Both Curves)

Figure 1 - Photocurrent vs. retarding potential.


From the experimental curve, the stopping potential is estimated as that
value of the voltage at which the current becomes approximately constant.

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Figure 2 - Stopping potential vs. light frequency.


Purpose
The purpose of this experiment is to determine h/e (Plancks constant in units of electronvolts), the work function , and the threshold frequency for the photocathode surface
provided.
Equipment
Planck's constant apparatus has been designed for determining the magnitude of a
fundamental physical quantity, Planck's constant. It consists of a mercury vapor light source,
a diffraction grating that will produce an angular separation of spectral bands in the diffracted
light, a photodiode tube in which photoelectric emission occurs, and an operational amplifier
that will let you measure the stopping potential directly.
Light Source
Block

h/e Apparatus

Lens/Grating
Assembly

Coupling Bars
Assembly

Light
Source
Aperture

Fig. 3 - Equipment Setup using a Mercury Vapour Light Source


and the h/e Apparatus

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Setup
Using a normal potentiometric setup to determine the stopping potential (see fig. 1) has the
inconvenience of having to accurately determine the voltage when photocurrent saturates,
which is difficult and varies with the emission of the anode.
Instead, you will use the fact that the photodiode and its associated electronics have a small
capacitance, which becomes charged by the photoelectric current. When this capacitance has
been fully charged, the photocurrent decreases to zero and the potential reaches the stopping
potential of the photoelectrons. This final voltage between the anode and the cathode is
therefore the stopping potential.

Figure 4 Schematic diagram for h/e Apparatus


Procedure
1. Turn on the Light Source and allow it to warm up for five minutes.
2. Battery voltage check: Connect the digital multimeter (on V setting) between the
OUTPUT ground terminal and each BATTERY TEST terminal (-6 V MIN and +6 V
MIN). If the battery tests below its minimum rating, it should be replaced before
running the experiment.
Battery Test Terminals

Ground
Terminal

ON/OFF
switch

Figure 5 - Battery Test Points.

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3. Check the polarity of the leads from the digital multimeter, and connect them to the
OUTPUT terminals of the same polarity on the h/e Apparatus (red to red, black to
black).
4. Set up the equipment as shown in Figure 3 above. Focus the light from the Mercury
Vapour Light Source onto the slot in the white reflective mask on the h/e Apparatus.
Tilt the Light Shield of the Apparatus out of the way to reveal the white photodiode
mask inside the apparatus. Slide the Lens/Grating assembly forward and back on its
support rods until you achieve the sharpest image of the light source aperture centred
on the hole in the photodiode mask. Secure the Lens/Grating by tightening the
thumbscrew.
Window to White
Photodiode Mask
White
Reflective
Mask

Base Support Rod

Light Shield (shown


tilted to open position)

Figure 6 - Light Shield of the h/e Apparatus


5. You can see five colours in two orders of the mercury light spectrum. Adjust the h/e
Apparatus carefully using the coupling bar assembly, so that only one colour from the
first order (the brightest order) falls on the opening of the mask of the photodiode.
Align the system by rotating the h/e Apparatus on its support base so that the same
colour light that falls on the opening of the light screen falls on the window in the
photodiode mask with no overlap of colour from the other spectral bands. Return the
Light Shield to its closed position.
6. For each colour in the first order measure the stopping potential with the digital
voltmeter. Use the yellow and green magnetic filters on the reflective mask of the h/e
apparatus when you measure the yellow and green spectral lines. Switch on the h/e
apparatus. Take voltage readings on the multimeter. This is the stopping potential.
Repeat for each colour, after aligning and replacing the light shield.
Note: Due to the ultra high impedance of the operational amplifier, once the capacitor
has been charged from the photodiode current it takes a long time to discharge and
allow you to take a second measurement unless you press the shorting switch labeled
PUSH TO ZERO to discharge the capacitor quickly.
7. Repeat step 6 using the first order on the other side of the central beam, and the two
weaker second order spectra.

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8. When you have finished your measurements, switch off the mercury lamp, h/e
apparatus and multimeter.
Analysis
1. Use the wavelengths of each spectral line from the next table to plot a graph of stopping
potential vs. frequency as in Figure 2.

Colour

Wavelength (nm)

Yellow
Green
Blue
Blueviolet
Darkviolet

578
546.074
435.835
404.656
365.483

2. Determine the slope, the x-intercept and y-intercept of the graph in 1 above to find the h/e
ratio, the /e ratio and the threshold frequency of the emissive surface of the phototube.
Solving equation (3) for Vs gives:
Vs =

f
e
e

(4)

This equation theoretically fits this graph you have drawn, and is of the general form:

y = mx + b
where:
m = slope
b = y intercept
3. From this find Plancks constant h, and the work function for the emitting surface.

(5)

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