Determining Plancks Constant Purpose: To experimentally determine Plancks constant h by measuring the kinetic energy of photons propagating at dierent

frequencies and to conrm the independence of intensity on the energy of the emitted photoelectrons. Introduction: As the century came to a close in the late 1800s, physicists discovered inconsistencies that could not be easily explained with classical physics. One such problem resulted from unexplained observations of the blackbody radiation spectrum. In 1901, Max Planck proposed a law of radiation making the assumption that a light wave of frequency f is due to oscillating molecules whose energy can only take on discrete values. He claimed that these allowed energy levels are separated by the amount E = hf
34

(1)

In this equation h refers to a constant called Plancks constant and has the value of 6.626 10 J s. This assumption represents a radical departure from classical physics in which any energy is allowed for oscillating molecules. When Planck put forth his theory, his estimate of h was considered a mathematical value contrived to t an explanation to observation rather than a discovery of a fundamental constant in its own right. It was not until later that the signicance of Plancks constant was further fortied with experimental results, particularly from Einsteins theoretical explanation of the photoelectric eect. In this experiment we will verify Plancks constant using our own quantitative measurements of the photoelectric eect. In the photoelectric eect, light strikes a material, causing electrons to be emitted. The classical model predicted that as the intensity of incident light was increased, the amplitude and thus the energy of the wave would increase. This would then cause more energetic photoelectrons to be emitted. The new quantum model, however, predicted that higher frequency light would produce higher energy photoelectrons, independent of intensity, while increased intensity would only increase the number of electrons emitted (i.e. higher current called the photoelectric current). In the early 1900s it was found that the kinetic energy of the electrons emitted in the photoelectric eect was dependent on the wavelength, or frequency, and independent of intensity, while the magnitude of the photoelectric current was dependent on the intensity as predicted by the quantum model. Albert Einstein proposed the quantum model of light and explained the key experimental features of the photoelectric eect using his famous equation for which he received the Nobel prize in 1921: E = hf = KEmax + Wo (2)

where KEmax is the maximum kinetic energy of the emitted photoelectrons, and Wo , the work function, is the energy needed to remove them from the surface of the material. E is the energy supplied by the quantum of light known as a photon. We will be able to test the independence of intensity on the energy of the emitted photoelectrons as well as experimentally determine Plancks constant in this laboratory. In this apparatus a light photon with energy hf is incident upon an electron in the cathode of a vacuum tube. The electron uses a minimum of its energy, Wo , to escape the cathode, leaving it with a maximum energy of KEmax in the form of kinetic energy. The emitted photoelectrons can reach the anode of the tube and be measured as electric current. However, by applying a reverse potential Vo between the anode and cathode, the current can be stopped. KEmax can be determined by measuring the minimum reverse potential needed to stop the electrons and reduce the current to zero. Relating kinetic energy to the stopping potential gives the equation:

KEmax = eVo Using Einsteins equation, hf = eVo + Wo When solved for Vo the equation becomes: Vo = h f e Wo e

(3)

(4)

(5)

If we plot Vo vs f for dierent frequencies of light the slope is equal to h/e. Thus using the accepted value for e, of 1.602 1019 coulombs, we can determine Plancks constant h. Laboratory Procedure: Part I.I - Taking Direct Measurements 1. Make a table in your notebook of values to be measured. 2. The equipment should be set up as shown in the diagram below. Turn on the h/e apparatus.

As a source of monochromatic light it is customary to use a mercury bulb. The most readily available lines are:

Color
Yellow Green Blue Violet Ultraviolet

Frequency (Hz)
5.187 x 1014 5.490 x 10
14

Wavelength (nm)
578.0 546.1 435.8 404.6 365.5

6.879 x 1014 7.409 x 10

14

8.203 x 10 14

Although invisible, the ultraviolet light can be seen on the white reective mask of the h/e apparatus, which is made of a special uorescent material. The ultraviolet line will appear as blue and the violet line will also appear bluish. 3. You can see these ve colors in two orders of the mercury light spectrum as shown in the diagram below. Focus the light from the mercury light source onto the slot in the white reective mask on the h/e apparatus so that only yellow spectral line from the rst order falls on the opening of the mask. Notice that the grating is blazed to produce a brighter spectrum on one side, make sure you have aligned the correct side. Your instructor can give further details on this step. 4. Tilt the light shield of the apparatus out of the way to reveal the white photodiode mask inside the apparatus. Align the system by rotating the h/e apparatus on its support base so that the same color light that falls on the opening of the light screen falls on the window in the photodiode mask with no overlap of color from the other spectral bands. 5. Adjust the lens/grating assembly on the mercury lamp until you achieve the sharpest image of the aperture centered on the hole in the photodiode mask. Return the light shield to its closed position. 6. Place the yellow lter onto the mask then again rotate the h/e apparatus to maximize the voltage. The lters have frames with magnetic strips that mount on the outside of the reective mask and prevent the ambient room lighth/e from interfering with the lower frequency green and yellow lines from the mercury spectrum. Only Apparatus and h/e Apparatus Accessory Kit 012-04049J use the respective lters on the green and yellow spectral lines.
White

1s t

rd er

Ultraviolet Violet Blue Green Yellow

2n d

rd er

3r d

rd e

2nd and 3rd Order Overlap

Green & Yellow Spectral lines in 3rd Order are not Visible.

Color

Frequency (Hz)

Wavelength (nm)

7. 8.

varies in determining o. NOTE: V The yellow line is actually a doublet 9. Determine the fractional uncertainty (
with wavelengths of 578 and 580mm. Vo
Vo

All values except wavelength for yellow line are Yellow 5.18672E+14 578 Record the stopping potential, Vo , with the DVM yellow line in your notebook. from Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 46th ed. for the Green 5.48996E+14 546.074 The wavelength of the yellow was determined exDetermine Vo based on the precision of the DVM. If this value is not stable, consider perimentally using a 600 line/mm grating. Blue 6.87858E+14 435.835
Violet Ultraviolet measurement 7.40858E+14 404.656

how much the value data table.

) for this

8.20264E+14 365.483 and record this in your

10. Repeat steps 39 for each color for a total of ve dierent stopping potentials for the rst order. 11. Using the values for the frequencies ofaccumulated each spectral line given in the table above, plot a graph of Vo vs f . of the h/e Apparatus to discharge any poThe (AP-9368) h/e Apparatus includes three filters: one Determine the slope and calculate Plancks constant. tential in the unit's electronics. This will assure the ApGreen and one Yellow, plus a Variable Transmission Filter. 12. Compare your experimental value h and theoretical value of 6.626 1034 J s. measuring. Note that the outputof voltage will the drift with side of the White Reflective Mask of the h/e Apparatus.
the absence of light on the photodiode. paratus records only the potential of the light you are The filter frames have magnetic strips and mount to the outUse the green and yellow filters when you're using the green and yellow spectral lines. These filters limit higher frequencies of light from entering the h/e Apparatus. This prevents ambient room light from interfering with the lower energy yellow and green light and masking the true results. It also blocks the higher frequency ultraviolet light from the higher order spectra which may overlap with lower orders of yellow and green. The Variable Transmission Filter consists of computergenerated patterns of dots and lines that vary the intensity

Figure 10. The Three Orders of Light Gradients

14. Press the PUSH TO ZERO button on the side panel

Using the Filters

Part I.II - Taking Direct Measurements a direct measurement of the stopping potential for the

15. Read the output voltage on your digital voltmeter. It is

photoelectrons. (See Theory of Operation in the Technical Information section of the manual for an explanation of the measurement.) NOTE: For some apparatus, the stopping potential will temporarily read high and then drop down to the actual stopping potential voltage.

1. Adjust the h/e apparatus as in Part I.I so that the rst order green spectral line is focused on the photodiode mask. Remember again to use the green lter. 2. Now place the variable transmission lter on the white reective mask (and over the colored lter) such that the light passes through the 100% transmission window and reaches the photodiode. This lter does not aect the frequency of the incident light, but only its intensity. 3. Record the stopping potential Vo . 4. Determine Vo based on the precision of the DVM. If this value is not stable, consider how much the value varies in determining Vo .
o 5. Determine the fractional uncertainty ( V Vo ) for this measurement and record this in your data table.

6. Repeat steps 25 with the light passing through the 80%, 60%, 40%, and 20% transmission windows. 7. Adjust the h/e apparatus as in Part I.I so that the rst order ultraviolet spectral line is focused on the photodiode mask. 8. Record the stopping potential Vo of the ultraviolet rst order spectral line for the 100% transmission percentage. 9. Determine Vo based on the precision of the DVM. If this value is not stable, consider how much the value varies in determining Vo .
o 10. Determine the fractional uncertainty ( V Vo ) for this measurement and record this in your data table.

11. Repeat steps 810 with the light passing through the 80%, 60%, 40%, and 20% transmission windows for the ultraviolet rst order spectral line. Part II - Determining Uncertainties in Your Final Values In the results section of your notebook, state the results of part I.I of your experiment in the form hh. Note, h should be equal to the largest fractional uncertainty from your values of voltage. h = h Vo Vo

You should also address the following questions with regards to Part I.I and Part I.II: 1. Do dierent colors of light aect the maximum energy of the photoelectrons? 2. Does this experiment support the quantum model of light? 3. Does your result for h in part I.I agree within the uncertainties to the theoretical value? Be sure to clearly state the quantitative values you are comparing. If there are any large discrepancies, quantitatively comment on their possible origin.