Measuring Planck’s Constant

Using Light Emitting Diodes

(LED’s)
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Youngstown State University
Dr. Michael Crescimanno
Snowflake Kicovic
 Purpose
 To find an essentially simple, straightforward
method for deriving Planck’s constant using a
device that we can build.
 This device has to be build easily. It should be
durable and feasible.
 The results yielded should give an accurate
value for Planck’s constant.
 This method, depending on the results, can then
be used in an entry level physics lab, such as
that of a high school physics lab.
 Planck’s Constant
 1900, Max Planck proposed discrete behavior for an
object of subatomic dimensions - Planck’s constant h -
the natural unit of action
6.626 x 10-34 J-s, or kgm2/s
 It also represents angular momentum.
 1905, Einstein stated that electromagnetic radiation is
localized in photons with frequency f and energy: E = hf
 1913, Niels Bohr extended idea to electron existing
between states of discrete energy. Transitions are
accompanied by absorption or emission of photons with
f = E/h.
 The Photoelectric Effect
 1902 it was proven that the KEmax of an electron
is independent of intensity of light ray and
dependent on the frequency f.
 1905, Einstein formed a fundamental theory
where light is composed of photons = energy
quanta.
 Electrons are ejected (with great velocity from
the atom) by the E of the photon.
 Each light quantum consists of an amount of
E = hf
 Light Emitting Diodes
 Light Emitting Diodes have p-n junctions where voltage yields
a flow of current. The carriers (electrons and holes) are
injected across the junction producing light.
 Procedure
 We first build the device, approximately
taking 15 minutes. The device consists of 5
different colored LED’s, a 6 volt battery
pack, a potentiometer, an on/off switch, a
330resistor, a loose set of black and red
wire, and a wire with an alligator clip.

 The apparatus is turned on.

 The alligator clip is attached to a LED lead.
 Procedure (cont’d)
 The loose wires (black and red) are connected
to a Multimeter (which reads the voltage across
the LED).
 Turning the room lights off, we vary the
voltage (with the potentiometer) to see the max
voltage before shutoff of the LED.
 We record the value.
 After, we turn the potentiometer back to
maximum, and we measure the wavelength of
each diode with a spectrometer.
Apparatus
Circuit Diagram
The Setup
Blue Diode
Green Diode
Orange Diode
Large Red Diode
Small Red Diode
 Data

Diode Voltage (V) Wavelenghts (

Blue 2.196 640
Green 1.536 695
Orange 1.507 695
Large Red 1.530 700
Small Red 1.287 680
 Experimental Results
 From before E = hf, therefore, we used the
formula
h = (e V c
 <h> = 5.84 x 10-34
 h = (5.84 + ) x 10-34
 n)in (hi – h)2]-1
 
 Conclusion
 Being that the  was 1.05, it is evident that the
errors in the experiment were random rather than
systematic.
 This goes to show that this experiment is very
effective and efficient, while at the same time
being very simplistic.
 These conclusions therefore exhibit the perfect
characteristics for an entry level physics course
while making it an interesting and EASY
method for obtaining one of nature’s constants.
Questions?