Conceptual Physics Lab 08s: LED Lab, Part III By now, you are intimately familiar with LEDs.

In this investigation, you will observe what happens when you shine a flashlight on LEDs connected to a digital multimeter. The Setup:
0.000 V

Procedure: 1. Create a data table to hold the following information for each LED: Color, wavelength, Vmax. 2. Using a Vernier Spectrovis, measure the emission spectra of both the LED flashlight and the incandescent flashlight. Save plots of intensity vs. wavelength for each flashlight. 3. Place a LED within the film canister and illuminate light from a flashlight onto the LED. Record the maximum voltage measured by the multimeter using each flashlight. 4. Repeat for all five LEDs. Summing Up: 1. Rank the LEDs in terms of their ability to generate the greatest amount of voltage. 2. What was the energy source by which the electrical current was generated? Explain how you know. 3. How were LEDs able to generate electricity? Sketch a diagram which shows the process. 4. Why were some LEDs better than others at converting light into electricity? [Hint: How does color relate to energy?] 5. [Research] How are photovoltaic cells similar to LEDs? How do they differ? 6. [Critical Thinking] A special flashlight has the emission spectrum shown below. Which LED would generate the greatest voltage using this flashlight as an energy source? Explain your choice.

7. [Critical Thinking] Design a method which could increase the voltage of one of the LEDs. Include a diagram with your explanation.