EXPERIMENT 4

PHOTELECTRIC EFFECT

AIM: To verify the first law of photoelectric effect and to determine the work function of a
photocell.

APPARATUS: Light source, photocell, cardboard slits of varying width, variable power
supply with voltmeter, sensitive micro-ammeter, monochromatic filters and connecting
wires.

BRIEF THEORY: Electrons are emitted from a metal surface when light of sufficiently high
frequency falls upon it. This phenomenon is known as photoelectric effect. The no of
electrons emitted by a given surface (for a given frequency of radiation) is directly
proportional to the intensity of radiation (I law). The max kinetic energy of photoelectrons
varies directly as the frequency of radiation (II law). To explain the latter effect, analytically
represented by

Tmax = (m vmax2) / 2 = h - ho ,

Einstein proposed that light energy, emitted from a source discontinuously as quanta, also
propagates in space as quanta.

Quantum energy =maximum electron kinetic energy + work function of the emitter
h = Tmax + ho
h = energy content of each quantum of the incident light
ho = minimum energy needed to liberate an electron from the metal
Tmax = maximum kinetic energy of photoelectron.

There must be a minimum energy required by an electron in order for it to escape from a
metal surface. This energy, ho, characteristic of a particular surface, is called its work
function.

Tmax = eVs, where Vs called the stopping potential, is the minimum negative potential
applied to the collector to reduce the photoemissive current to zero.

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

Photo cell
I/A
Micro I/A I/A
Ammeter

Commutator

Volt meter

Vs
Slit width -V 0 +V

Variable Power supply

PROCEDURE:
1 Adjust the position of light source such that a beam of white light after passing
through a coloured filter and a narrow rectangular slit of wooden framework is incident on
the photocell emitter.
2. On application of voltage, which can be adjusted by potentiometer and read directly
from the voltmeter, you will observe a deflection on the micro-ammeter. The commutator
key C has to be switched to ensure accelerating potential (Photosensitive cathode receiving
negative bias).
3. Intensity is controlled by using cardboard slits of varying width, the amount of light
falling on the photocell being directly proportional to slit width. For a constant accelerating
potential (say 1 V), these cardboard slits can be inserted in the slit provided and recorded the
readings of photoelectric current for various slit widths.
4. Plot the graph photoelectric current vs slit width.
5. For second part of the experiment, select a suitable intensity (say slit width = 10mm).
In accelerating bias, record photoelectric current against various values of applied voltage(in
small steps of voltage), starting from maximum on reducing the voltage, to zero deflection is
still not zero in ammeter. Now by reversing the polarity of the battery by commutator and
applying retarding potential, record photoelectric currents for increasing applied voltages.
6. plot a graph photoelectric current versus for both accelerating and retarding potentials
of the photocell.
7. Assume wavelength of light after passing from violet filter is 450 nm, and calculate
the work function of the photocell.
8. Write down your conclusions.

PRECAUTION: Mcro-Ammeter is a sensitive instrument. Never apply voltage directly

to it. It will burn off. Keep it in off mode, when not in use.

OBSERVATION TABLES:

VOLTAGE = 1V.

S. No. Intensity of light Photoelectric current in micro ampere

(width of slit in mm)

Intensity = mm.

Accelerating potential Retarding potential

S. No. V I V I

CONCLUSIONS:

QUESTIONS
1. What is Photoelectric effect?
2. What is work function?
3. What is Fermi-level of a metal?
4. What are the uses of the photoelectric cell?
5. Name some the materials of which the photoemissive surfaces are made.
6. What do you mean by the photoelectric yield?
7. What is photoconductive cell?
8. Why does the existence of a cutoff frequency speak in favor of the photon theory and
against the wave theory?
9. Why are photoelectric measurements so sensitive to the nature of the photoelectric
surface?
10. Does Einstein’s theory of photoelectricity, in which light is postulated to be a photon,
invalidate Young’s interference experiment?