Physics of the Electron Physical Structure of Matter

Planck’s “quantum of action” from the photoelectric effect 5.1.04-01/05

(line separation by interference filters)

What you can learn about …

 External photoelectric effect
 Work function
 Absorption
 Photon energy
 Anode
 Cathode

Principle:
A photo-cell is illuminated with light
of different wavelengths. Planck’s
quantum of action, or Planck’s con-
stant (h), is determined from the
photoelectric voltages measured.

Set-up of experiment P2510405 with electrometer

What you need:

Experiment P2510405 with electrometer
Experiment P2510401 with amplifier
Photocell, for h detection, with housing 06778.00 1 1
Interference filters, set of 3 08461.00 1 1
Interference filters, set of 2 08463.00 1 1
Experiment lamp 6 11615.05 1 1
Spectral lamp Hg 100, pico 9 base 08120.14 1 1
Power supply for spectral lamps 13662.97 1 1
Universal measuring amplifier 13626.93 1
Digital multimeter 2010 07128.00 1 1
Screened cable, BNC, l = 30 cm 07542.10 1 1
Connecting cable, 4 mm plug, 32 A, red, l = 25 cm 07360.01 1 1
Connecting cable, 4 mm plug, 32 A, blue, l = 25 cm 07360.04 1 2
Electrometer Amplifier 13621.00 1
Adapter BNC socket/4 mm plug pair 07542.27 1
Power supply 12V AC/500 mA 11074.93 1
Voltage of the photo-cell as a function of the frequency of the irradiated
Complete Equipment Set, Manual on CD-ROM included light.
Planck’s “quantum of action” from the photoelectric
effect (line separation by interference filters) P25104 01/05
Tasks:
To determine Planck’s quantum of
action from the photoelectric volt-
ages measured at different wave-
lengths.

PHYWE Systeme GmbH & Co. KG · D - 37070 Göttingen Laboratory Experiments Physics 221
 LEP
Planck’s “quantum of action” from photoelectric effect
5.1.04
(line separation by interference filters)
-01

Related topics Tasks

External photoelectric effect, work function, absorption, pho- To determine Planck’s quantum of action from the photoelec-
ton energy, anode, cathode. tric voltages measured at different wavelengths.

Principle
Set-up and procedure
A potassium photo-cell is illuminated with light of different
The experimental set-up is as shown in Fig. 1. The interfer-
wavelengths. Planck’s quantum of action, or Planck’s con-
ence filters are fitted one after the other to the light entrance
stant (h), is determined from the photoelectric voltages meas-
of the photo-cell.
ured.
The measuring amplifier is used in the following way
Equipment
– Electrometer Re ≥ 1013
Photocell, for h-det., w. housing 06778.00 1
– Amplification: 100
Interference filters, set of 3 08461.00 1
Interference filters, set of 2 08463.00 1 – Time constant: 0
Experiment lamp 6 11615.05 1 – Voltmeter: DC 2 V
Spectral lamp Hg 100, pico 9 base 08120.14 1
Power supply for spectral lamps 13662.97 1 The high-impendance input of the measuring amplifier is
Mounting plate R, 16 cm
21 cm 13002.00 1 discharged via the ‘zero’ button between measurements.
Universal measuring amplifier 13626.93 1
Digital multimeter 07134.00 1
Screened cable, BNC, l = 300 mm 07542.10 1 Theory and evaluation
Connecting cord, l = 250 mm, red 07360.01 1 Half of the inside of the high-vacuum photo-cell is a metal-
Connecting cord, l = 250 mm, blue 07360.04 1 coated cathode. The anular anode is opposite the cathode.

Fig. 1: Experimental set-up for determining Planck’s quantum of action.

PHYWE series of publications • Laboratory Experiments • Physics • © PHYWE SYSTEME GMBH & Co. KG • D-37070 Göttingen P2510401 1
 LEP
Planck’s “quantum of action” from photoelectric effect
5.1.04
(line separation by interference filters)
-01

If a photon of frequency f strikes the cathode, then an elec- Fig. 2: Voltage of the photo-cell as a function of the frequency
tron can be ejected from the metal (external photoelectric of the irradiated light.
effect) if there is sufficient energy.

Some of the electrons thus ejected reach the (unilluminated)

anode so that a voltage is set up between anode and catho-
de, which reaches the limiting value U after a short (charging)
time. The electrons can only run counter to the electric field
set up by the voltage U if they have the maximum kinetic ener-
gy, determined by the light frequency,

m 2
hf  A
v (Einstein equation),
2

where A = work function from the cathode surface, v = elec-

tron velocity, m = rest mass of the electron.

Electrons will thus only reach the anode as long as their ener-
gy in the electric field is equal to the kinetic energy:

m 2
eU
v
2
with e = electron charge = 1.602 · 10-19 As

An additional contact potential f occurs because the surfaces

of the anode and cathode are different:
m 2
eU  f
v
2

If we assume that A and f are independent of the frequency,

then a linear relationship exists between the voltage U (to be
measured at high impedance) and the light frequency f:

1A  f 2 h
U
  f
e e

If we assume U = a + bf to the values measured in Fig. 2 we

obtain:

h = (6.7 ± 0.3) · 10-34 Js

Literature value: h = 6.62 · 10-34 Js.

2 P2510401 PHYWE series of publications • Laboratory Experiments • Physics • © PHYWE SYSTEME GMBH & Co. KG • D-37070 Göttingen
 LEP
Planck’s “quantum of action” from photoelectric effect
5.1.04
(line separation by interference filters) with electrometer amplifier
-05

Related Topics to bring the electrometer amplifier entrance to ground poten-

External photoelectric effect, work function, absorption, pho- tial into the support rod with hole and to plug a connecting
ton energy, anode, cathode. plug into the socket of the electrometer amplifier entrance. If
you hold the rod firmly in your hand, your body is brought to
the same potential as the experiment and touching the
Principle
connecting plug with the rod will discharge the amplifier's ent-
A photocell is illuminated with monochromatic light of different rance properly. Otherwise the electrostatic charge of your
wavelengths. Planck ’s quantum of action, or Planck ’s con- body will cause an influence charge on the amplifier's entran-
stant h, is determined from the photoelectric voltages measu- ce in the moment of unplugging the ground cable from the
red. electrometer. Set the digital multimeter's range to 2 V. Set an
interference filter on the entrance of the photocell housing and
Equipment the lamp right in front of it. Discharge the electrometer ampli-
Photocell, for h-det., with housing 06778.00 1 fier entrance and open the light entrance of the photocell hou-
Interference filters, set of 3 08461.00 1 sing. Wait until the voltage reading is steady – or if not,
Interference filters, set of 2 08463.00 1 discharge again. Note down the measured voltage and the fil-
Experiment lamp 6 11615.05 1 ter's wavelength. Repeat with the other filters. The
Spectral lamp Hg 100, pico 9 base 08120.14 1 frequency f of the light is calculated by f = c/l with light
Screened cable, BNC, l = 750 mm 07542.11 1 speed c = 3 · 108 m/s.
Connecting cord, l = 250 mm, red 07360.01 1
Connecting cord, l = 250 mm, blue 07360.04 2
Power supply for spectral lamps 13662.97 1
Digital multimeter 07134.00 1
Electrometer Amplifier 13621.00 1
Adapter, BNC socket / 4 mm plug pair 07542.27 1
Power supply 12 V AC / 500 mA 11074.93 1
Support rod, 100 mm with axial hole 02036.00 1
Connecting plug, pack of 2 07278.05 1

Tasks
Determine Planck's quantum of action from the photoelectric
voltages measured at different wavelengths.

Set-up and Procedure

Set up the equipment as seen in Fig. 1. Connect the electro-
meter amplifier as seen on Fig. 2. To avoid problems with elec-
trostatic influence, you should plug the end of the cable used Fig. 2: Connection of the electrometer amlpifier

Fig. 1: Experimental set-up

PHYWE series of publications • Laboratory Experiments • Physics • © PHYWE SYSTEME GMBH & Co. KG • D-37070 Göttingen P2510405 1
 LEP
Planck’s “quantum of action” from photoelectric effect
5.1.04
(line separation by interference filters) with electrometer amplifier
-05

Theory and evaluation

Half of the inside of the high-vacuum photo-cell is a metal-
coated cathode. The anular anode is opposite the cathode.

If a photon of frequency f strikes the cathode, then an elec-

tron can be ejected from the metal (external photoelectric
effect) if there is sufficient energy.

Some of the electrons thus ejected reach the (unilluminated)

anode so that a voltage is set up between anode and catho-
de, which reaches the limiting value U after a short (charging)
time. The electrons can only run counter to the electric field
set up by the voltage U if they have the maximum kinetic ener-
gy, determined by the light frequency,

m 2
hf  A
v (Einstein equation),
2

where A = work function from the cathode surface, v = elec-

tron velocity, m = rest mass of the electron.

Electrons will thus only reach the anode as long as their ener- Fig. 3: Voltage of the photo-cell as a function of the frequency
gy in the electric field is equal to the kinetic energy: of the irradiated light.

m 2
eU
v
2
with e = electron charge = 1.602 · 10-19 As

An additional contact potential f occurs because the surfaces

of the anode and cathode are different:
m 2
eU  f
v
2

If we assume that A and f are independent of the frequency,

then a linear relationship exists between the voltage U (to be
measured at high impedance) and the light frequency f:

1A  f 2 h
U
  f
e e

If we assume U = a + hf for the values measured in Fig. 3 we

obtain:

h = (6.7 ± 0.3) · 10-34 Js

Literature value: h = 6.62 · 10-34 Js.

The strongest emission lines of mercury in the lamp are (see

Fig. 4):

366 nm (6 1D2 S 6 3P0, 6 3D1,2,3 S 6 3P0) nearly invis.

violet
3S S 6 3P2)
405 nm (7 1 violet
3S S 6 3P1)
436 nm (7 1 turquois
3S S 6 3P0)
546 nm (7 1 green
1D S 6 1P1, 6 3D1,2,3 S 6 1P1) Fig. 4: Atomic spectrum of mercury
578 nm (6 2 yellow

2 P2510405 PHYWE series of publications • Laboratory Experiments • Physics • © PHYWE SYSTEME GMBH & Co. KG • D-37070 Göttingen