Experiment 2

Navya Nagananda
IMS12075
Aim:
To study the characteristics of photoelectric emission (I-V for different wavelengths/frequencies)
and to determine Plancks constant from voltage frequency curve.
Apparatus:
PASCO Photoelectric apparatus [includes Mercury Lamp, Photodiode, DC Power Supply, DC Current
Amplifier, 850 Universal Interface], Optical Filters (365, 405, 436, 546, 577 nm), Aperture Dial (2, 4 &
8 mm diameter), Power Cord, Connecting Cables.
Theory:
Photoelectric effect is the emission of electrons from the surface of a metal when electromagnetic
radiation of suitable frequency falls on its surface. This is one of the experiments that went on to
prove the particle nature of electromagnetic radiation.
The photoelectric material is chosen on the basis that it has free electrons that are loosely bound
and on excitation can be ionized. The work function of such a metal is described as the minimum
amount of energy required to just remove the electron from the solid. Thus, only radiation wi th
energy greater than the work function of a metal can eject electrons from its surface. The ejected
electrons are called the photoelectrons and the current constituted by it is the photocurrent. The
extra energy imparted by the photons of radiation are exhibited as the kinetic energy of the electron
after ejection.
h = W + K.E
Where, h is the energy of the incident photons
W is the work function of the metal and
K.E is the maximum kinetic energy of the ejected electron.

If a negative potential is applied to the collector plate as shown in the diagram above, the electrons
being emitted slow down and gradually photocurrent decreases. At a particular voltage the
photocurrent becomes zero. This potential is called the stopping potential (V s ) and for a given
frequency is equal to the maximum kinetic energy of the emitted photoelectron.
K.E = eV s = W - h

Observations:
1. Characteristics of photodiode:
The characteristics of photoelectric emission was obtained by varying the potential at a given
aperture diameter of 8mm and noting the corresponding value of photocurrent for different
frequency filters. If different frequencies of light are incident on the metal, the electrons will be
emitted with different kinetic energies, and thus it will take different potential differences to stop
the electrons. The stopping potentials are obtained by the graph.

2. Determination of Plancks constant and work function of the metal:

We can see, as the frequency decreases, the stopping potential increases linearly, as seen in the
graph below.
Frequency(x1014
Hz)

7.408

Stopping
Potential
(V)
-1.75
-1.4

6.879

-1.17

5.49

-0.65

5.196

-0.546

8.214

The slope of the graph is positive here because I have plotted the negative of the stopping potential.
The equation of the line obtained for the above graph is:
y = 0.413.x - 1.72
Where, x is the frequency and y is the stopping potential.
The slope of the line is 0.413. We have,

-V s = W/e (h)/e
On comparing the 2 equations we get that,
Slope = h/e = 0.413
Thus, h = 6.608 x 10-34 J.s
The work function of the metal is W = 1.72 eV. (Actual value of work function for Potassium is 2.3,
this value is a bit off.)
3. Effect of intensity on the stopping potential:
The plot of the potential v/s photocurrent was plotted for different aperture diameters and in each
case, it was found that the stopping potential is the same for al l apertures. This can be seen for the
case of 436 nm, as shown below.

As the aperture increases, the intensity of light hitting the metal increases and photocurrent
increases as shown in the graph, but the stopping potential remains the same in all 3 cas es. This is
because the stopping potential depends on the frequency alone. The frequency is kept constant in
this case.
4. Effect of distance between the source and photodiode (extra):
The distance between the photocathode and source was varied and the resulting stopping potential
was found for different combinations of apertures and frequencies as shown below.
Distance

365 nm, 4mm

436 nm,2mm

577 nm, 8mm

50 cm
45 cm

-1.91 V
-1.91 V

-1.29 V
-1.29 V

-0.685 V
-0.685 V

40 cm

-1.91 V

-1.29 V

-0.685 V

35 cm

-1.91 V

-1.29 V

-0.685 V

30 cm

-1.91 V

-1.29 V

-0.685 V

The stopping potential in independent of the distance between the source and photodiode, as it
depends only on the frequency of incident radiation.

Results:
Plancks constant is calculated as 6.608 x 10-34 J.s (0.27% error)
Work function of Potassium is 1.72 eV
Characteristics were plotted.
Proved that stopping potential does not depend on the intensity of light or distance between the
source and photodiode.