Using the photoelectric effect to

experimentally determine Planck's

constant.
A lab report for the University of Groningen

Authors Tejaswi Varma, Ishanvi Roy

Student numbers S5302218, S5166322
Teaching Ruxandra Nastase
assistant
Experiment Determination of Planck’s constant (h)

Course Physics Laboratory 1

Abstract
In this experiment we use the phenomenon of the photoelectric effect to experimentally
determine Planck's constant ℎ. A setup of a mercury lamp and a photodiode is used in order
to analyse the stopping voltage and the light frequency. The slope of the graph (𝑉𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑝 against
frequency 𝑓) will be equal to the ratio h/e. The Planck’s constant can then be calculated by
simply setting the equation equal to the gradient, and multiplying by the elementary charge.
−34 −50
The final value calculated is 6.67× 10 ± 3.54× 10 J⋅Hz−1. This report further explores
the relationship between the voltage, intensity of light, and frequency using graphs.

1
Table of Contents
Introduction 3
Theory 3
Experimental methods 5
Results 7
Discussion 8
Conclusion 9
References 9
Appendix 10
A. Raw data 10
B. Calculation and derivations of error analysis 12
C. Graphs 14

2
Introduction
Planck's law of radiation[1] was published in 1901. In it, he mentions that radiation emission
and absorption are linked to transitions or leaps between two energy levels. A particle’s
energy is lost or acquired as a quantum of radiant energy, the amount of which is described
by the equation 𝐸 = ℎ𝑓, where 𝐸 equals photon energy, 𝑓 is the frequency of the radiation,
and ℎ is a basic constant of nature, subsequently known as Planck's constant.
The Planck constant is a basic physical constant that is fundamental to quantum physics. The
constant expresses the connection between a photon's energy and frequency. The energy of a
photon is defined as its frequency multiplied by the Planck constant. The defined value of
Planck’s constant is ℎ= 6.62607015×10−34 J⋅Hz−1[2].

The energy of an electron is determined by the incident light's frequency, 𝑓, but not by its
intensity; the intensity merely influences the number of released electrons. This fact violated
classical physics concepts and was initially interpreted by Albert Einstein in 1905[3], and was
one of the fundamental principles that gave rise to the field of quantum mechanics and
supported Lenard’s experiment [4] using Planck’s law. In this experiment, we use the
photoelectric apparatus to determine Planck's constant. For the first part, the wavelength of
the mercury lamp light is changed to measure the stopping voltage with each frequency of
light. A graph of this is used to calculate Planck's constant. For the second part, the
wavelength is kept constant and the intensity is changed. This relation is further analysed in
the report.

Theory
The objective of this experiment is to determine Planck's constant experimentally through
the photoelectric effect. The photoelectric effect is a phenomenon in which a substance emits
charged particles(electrons) when it absorbs electromagnetic radiation(photons).
We know that the magnitude of the energy is directly proportional to the frequency of the
light.
𝐸 = ℎ𝑓 [equation 1]
The energy of a photon is absorbed by an electron through the photoelectric effect1. A certain
amount of energy is required to release an electron from a substance (the ionisation energy
W0). The surplus energy is transferred to the electron as kinetic energy (Ekin).

𝐸 = ℎ𝑓 = 𝐸𝑘𝑖𝑛 + 𝑊0 [equation 2]

The stopping voltage(Vstop) causes the electron to slow down entirely and conversion of
kinetic energy to electric potential energy takes place. This can be represented as:
𝐸𝑘𝑖𝑛 = 𝑒𝑉𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑝 [equation 3]

Substituting [equation 3] into [equation 1] gives us:

ℎ𝑓 = 𝑒𝑉𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑝 + 𝑊0 [equation 4]
Which can be rewritten as
ℎ 𝑊0
𝑉𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑝 = ( 𝑒 ) 𝑓 − ( 𝑒
) [equation 5]

1
Einstein, Albert. “Über einen die Erzeugung und Verwandlung des Lichtes betreffenden
heuristischen Gesichtspunkt” Annals of Physics, 1905.

3
This equation demonstrates that the stopping voltage (𝑉𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑝) is a linear function of frequency
(𝑓) and does not rely on the radiation intensity. As the intensity increases, so does the
number of photons and, consequently, the number of electrons emitted every second.
However, the energy per electron remains constant.
To arrive at the final result, a graph of the stopping voltage (𝑉𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑝) against frequency (𝑓) is
made. Since in the experiment, the wavelength λ is the known quantity, the frequency 𝑓 is
calculated using equation 6, and simple error propagation is used to calculate its error.
𝑐
𝑓= λ
[equation 6]
Equation 5 is a linear graph and so, the method of least squares is used to calculate the value
ℎ
for the gradient, which in this case is 𝑒
, and the gradients error. [Appendix B ]
For the second assignment, a graph of current over voltage is made to compare the effect of
voltage on the release of electrons and current produced.

4
Experimental methods
Required Apparatus

1. Mercury Lamp

2. Photodiode

3. Track(40 centimetres)

4. DC current amplifier

5. Power supply

6. Filter Wheels (365, 405, 436, 546, 577 nm)

7. Aperture Dial (2 mm, 4 mm, 8 mm diameter)

8. Caps and Covers (for both lamp and photodiode)

9. Connectors and Cables

Table H1.1 : Required Apparatus

Figure H1.1: Diagram of setup used for assignment 1

5
Assignment 1
For Assignment 1, the setup shown in [figure H1.1]was used. The connections were verified
by the teaching assistant and the power supply was switched on. On the measuring device
the voltage range was set to -2V to 0V and the current range was gradually decreased to
10⁻¹³A.
The ampere metre was calibrated as per the instructions in the manual. After current
calibration and stabilisation, the 365nm filter was inserted into the photodiode. The stopping
voltage was then determined. These measurements were repeated for 405 nm ± 0. 1nm, 436
nm± 0. 1nm, 546 nm± 0. 1nm, and 577 nm± 0. 1nm filters. Each filter selects precisely one
spectral line from the light of the mercury lamp. [Table H1.3] in [Appendix A] shows the
recorded values. A graph of the stopping voltage (𝑉𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑝) against frequency (𝑓) is plotted
[Graph H1.1 in Appendix C]. The final value is calculated using the method of least squares
and is multiplied by 𝑒, the elementary charge, to arrive at Planck’s constant value.

Figure H1.2: Diagram of setup used for assignment 2

Assignment 2
For Assignment 2, the setup shown in [figure H1.2] was used. The connections were verified
by the teaching assistant and the power supply was switched on. On the measuring device,
the voltage range was set from -2 V to 30 V and the current range was gradually decreased to
10⁻11A. The ampere metre was calibrated by following the instructions from the Lab manual.
The photodiode cover was removed and the 2mm diaphragm was inserted. The 436 nm
± 0. 1nm filter was also inserted and the stopping voltage that was required to lower the

6
current to zero was recorded. Then for 2V ± 0. 1V increments, the current was measured. 2
more series of voltage and the current were recorded for both 4mm±0.1 mm and 8mm±0.1
mm diaphragms [Table H1.4 to H1.6 Appendix A]. A graph of stopping voltage against the
current was plotted. [Graph H1.2 in Appendix C] and conclusions based on the trends were
devised[See discussion].

Results
The frequency value is found using [Equation 6]. The values from assignment 1 of the
experiment are given in [table H1.2]. Since we plot 𝑉𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑝 against frequency (𝑓), comparing
[Equation 5] to the linear equation 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏, we get that 𝑦 is the stopping voltage and 𝑥 is
the frequency. This allows us to use the least square method [Appendix B].

Wavelength /× 10⁻⁹ metres Frequency /× 10¹⁴ Hertz Stopping Voltage 𝑉𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑝/ V

± 0. 1 × 10⁻⁹ ± 0. 001

365 8.21± 0. 00225 -1.901

405 7.40±0. 00203 -1.563

436 6.88±0. 00188 -1.584

546 5.49±0. 00150 -0.809

577 5.20±0. 00142 -0.639

Table H1.2: Processed data for Graph H1.1 where the current range is 10-13.
−15
From the calculations, we find that the gradient calculated is equal to 4.20× 10 ± 2.25
−31 ℎ
× 10 J⋅Hz−1·C-1. As mentioned in the theory, the gradient is equal to 𝑒
. So to arrive at the
-19
final value it is multiplied 𝑒=1.602 x 10 C, this gives us our Planck’s constant value of 6.67
−34 −50
× 10 ±3.54× 10 J⋅Hz−1. All error calculations are given in [Appendix B].

7
Discussion
We can see from the results of assignment 1 that the value obtained for ℎ (6.672769371
× 10⁻³⁴)is pretty close to the known value(6.62607015× 10⁻³⁴). The percentage uncertainty
of the experimental value was calculated to be -0.7, that is, the obtained value is 0.7% greater
than the theoretical yield. However, the error appears to be too small, and almost
incomparable. This could be due to calculation mistakes while calculating the residual [see
Appendix B], even though an effort was made to prevent rounding off the value between
calculation steps. Since the error bars on the graph were too small, we could not determine
the final error graphically.
In the second assignment, upon analysing the current-voltage graphs for the 3 different
diaphragms [Appendix C] we can see that all have a positive slope or trend, showing that
increasing the voltage increases the amount of intensity, and hence more electrons are
released. The 8mm diaphragm has the highest slope followed by 4mm and 2mm. All three
graphs have a negative stopping voltage, implying that the negative voltage is repelling the
electrons hence the current reduces to zero. The y-intercept of the 8mm diaphragm is greater
than that of the rest, meaning that when there is no voltage applied the light has enough
frequency to overcome the work function. Hence when the 8mm diaphragm is used, more
photons per second are emitted and a higher current is produced. This also coincides with
the idea that the intensity of light determines the number of liberated electrons, as the
frequency was kept the same but the current did change for each respective voltage. We also
see that for two of the graphs (with diaphragm 4mm±0.1 mm and 8mm±0.1 mm) the
stopping voltage does not change. The stopping voltage of the 2mm diaphragm could have
changed due to random errors such as slight fluctuations in the measuring apparatus. When
the intensity of light at a certain frequency is increased, the number of photoelectrons grows
but their maximum kinetic energy remains constant. The maximum kinetic energy
influences the stopping potential, but not the number of photoelectrons, so the stopping
potential does not change.

8
Conclusion
From the two experiments we can conclude that the higher the frequency of the incident light
the higher the stopping voltage, and that the stopping voltage does not depend on the
intensity of light. We also see that voltage and current for the photoelectric effect are
proportional. As for the constant derived, the value is in the same order of magnitude as the
hypothesised value of 6.62607015×10-34, which proves this experiment was successful in
what we set out to do, that is, using the photoelectric effect to determine the Planck’s
constant ℎ.

References
[1] Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Planck’s radiation law". Encyclopaedia
Britannica, 8 Apr. 2020, https://www.britannica.com/science/Plancks-radiation-law.
Accessed 27 October 2022.
[2] Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data 50, 033105 (2021);
https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0064853
[3] Squires, Gordon Leslie. "quantum mechanics". Encyclopaedia Britannica, 22 Aug. 2022,
https://www.britannica.com/science/quantum-mechanics-physics. Accessed 27 October
2022.
[4] Philipp Lenard – Nobel Lecture. NobelPrize.org. Nobel Prize Outreach AB 2022. Thu. 27
Oct 2022. https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/1905/lenard/lecture/

9
Appendix
A. Raw data

Assignment 1

Wavelength of filter /× 10⁻⁹ metres Stopping Voltage 𝑉𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑝/ V

365± 0. 1 × 10⁻⁹ -1.901± 0. 001

405± 0. 1 × 10⁻⁹ -1.563± 0. 001

436± 0. 1 × 10⁻⁹ -1.584± 0. 001

546± 0. 1 × 10⁻⁹ -0.809± 0. 001

577± 0. 1 × 10⁻⁹ -0.639± 0. 001

Table H1.3 : Raw data for Assignment 1 with current range as 10-13

Assignment 2

2mm diaphragm 436nm filter

Voltage/ V Current/ × 10⁻¹¹ A

± 0. 1V ± 0. 01A

-2.5 (Stopping Voltage) 0.0

-0.5 1.6

2.5 21.7

4.5 34.0

6.5 45.9

8.5 58.6

10.5 69.2

12.5 78.4
Table H1.4 : Raw data for Graph H1.2 with 2mm diaphragm and 439nm filter

10
 4mm diaphragm 436 nm filter

Voltage/ V Current/ × 10⁻¹¹ A

± 0. 1V ± 0. 01A

-1.2 (Stopping Voltage) 0.0

0.8 30.6

2.8 80.8

4.8 122.4

6.8 165.3

Table H1.5 : Raw data for Graph H1.2 with 4mm diaphragm and 439 nm filter

8mm diaphragm 436 nm filter

Voltage/ V Current/ × 10⁻¹¹ A

± 0. 1V ± 0. 01A

-1.2 (Stopping Voltage) 0.0

0.4 26.5

0.6 90.0

1.6 190.0
Table H1.6 : Raw data for Graph H1.2 with 8mm diaphragm and 439 nm filter

11
B. Calculation and derivations of error analysis

12
13
C. Graphs

Graph H1.1: Graph of stopping voltage over frequency for the current range 10-13 A.

14
 15
−11
Graph H1.2: Graphs of current (× 10 ) against voltage for varying diaphragm radii.
16