Photoelectric Effect

Michael Angelo A. Racelis1, John Lorenzo M. Reyes 1*, Thor Jason Roi T. Tenefrancia1, and Rock
Christian V. Tomas 1
1
Department of Electrical Engineering- CEAT, UP Los Baos
*Corresponding author: johnlorenzoreyes@gmail.com
Abstract
The experiment aims to determine the effect of the frequency and intensity
of light, on a given metal surface, to the photocurrent produced. Other
quantities such as the cut-off frequency were also derived. The relationship
of the current produced and the wavelength of light were graphed such as
the relation of the stopping potential and the light frequency. As for the setup, a black box containing the metal was used to study the phenomenon
with a lamp as the light source and a voltmeter and an ammeter to measure
the current produced and the stopping potential respectively; color filters
were used as to change the lights frequency. The group concludes that an
increase in the frequency of light amounts to an increase in the maximum
current attainable, given that the energy of the light is greater than that of the
metals work function, while the intensity is to the magnitude of the
photocurrent produced. Graphically, the potential-frequency equation is a
linear equation with a positive slope.
Keywords: cut-off frequency, photocurrent, work function
I. Introduction
During the mid-century of the nineteen hundredths, James Clerk Maxwell formulated four equations
that stand as the foundation of electromagnetic theory. While the equations were successful in modeling various
phenomena concerning electromagnetic waves, such as those that appear in magnetism, circuit theory, and ray
optics, it was unable to explain others; one of these phenomena is the photoelectric effect.
The photoelectric effect is a phenomenon where in an electron is emitted from a surface when such
surface is illuminated by a light of certain frequency. This phenomenon was explained by Albert Einstein, which
earned him his Noble Prize. Einstein, taking Max Planks quantization idea into account, described a ray of light
composed of photons in the quantity of the Avogadros number. In his winning paper, he depicted light not as a
wave but as a particle (photon), interacting with the electrons such as billiard balls in a pool table. Given the
assumptions Einstein was able to explain the various experimental observations that Maxwells equation failed
to perceive, such as why a red light could never release photoelectrons given a certain metal sample, while a
blue light is able.
The experiment aimed to explain various experimental observations through using the photon theory of
light. The effect of the intensity and the frequency (color) of light to the photocurrent produced was also
addressed. Furthermore, given the frequency and the data provided through the experiment, the Plancks
constant was derived and so as other parameters such as the maximum electron kinetic energies. The group
hopes to further validate the photon theory of light through such experiment; a theory which is the foundation of
numerous technological innovations today, such as solar panel technology, night vision, sensors, and many
more.
II. Methodology
The researchers set up the materials according to the image shown to them. They turned on the light
source for 15 minutes before performing the experiment in order for the bulb to attain thermal equilibrium. They
positioned the light source 3 centimeters away from the filter. The light from the light source was blocked before
placing the filter into the opening of the Photoelectric Effect setup. Then, the researchers turned the VOLTAGE
knob to zero. They adjusted the ZERO knob until the pointer of the nano-ammeter reads zero. Then, the cover
was removed and the researchers adjusted the VOLTAGE knob until the current reads zero. The researchers then
recorded the voltage in Table 1.1. Then, they lowered the voltage until they get a maximum current reading and
divided the difference of it and the voltage that zeroed the current into ten parts. Each part they recorded the
current reading in Table 1.1 also.

zero
voltage
The researchers repeated the procedure for all color filters until Table 1.1 was completely filled out
nAare repeated in three trials and the researchers get the average. Then, the researchers
where all observations

plotted the I-V curve for each light color in Figure 1A. And then, they recorded the stopping potential, the
voltage at which the current reads zero, for each color in Table 2.2. The researchers then plotted the stopping
potential against the frequency of light in Figure 1B. And they performed linear regression of the stopping
potential frequency plot and they computed for the slope and y-intercept.

Figure 1.1. Experiment setup

III. Results and Discussion
Upon conducting the experiment, it was observed that light intensity has an effect on the photocurrent.
This phenomenon was seen when an object accidentally blocked the light source on the ceiling from the
instrument on the setup and the current reading on the instrument decreased. When the object moved away from
the setup, the current reading increased. Hence, it can be said that as the intensity of the light increases, the
photocurrent increases.
Based on Figure 1.1A, it can be inferred that current decreases with increasing voltage. The statement
holds for every wavelength of light used in the experiment. Also, it can be observed that the magnitude of the
current is independent of the wavelength of the light used, as most of the observations for current have
approximately the same range of values. The physical quantity represented by the slope of each respective graph
represents the conductance (-1) of the conductor used.
From the experiment, the cut-off energy of red light averages 0.4237 V, 0.669 V for green light and for
blue, 0.8137 V. We can say that lower frequencies of light, has lower cut-off energy. Hence, the cut-off energy of
light is directly proportional to its frequency.
40
30
Current (nA)

blue

20

red

10

green

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9

white

Voltage (V)

Figure 1.1A. IV Characteristics at different wavelength of light.

After finding the best-fit line of the voltage-frequency curve, the researchers obtained this equation: y =
(2.1705 x 10-15) x 0.6102, where y is the stopping potential, V 0, x is the frequency of light and 0.6102 is the
work function of the metal used in volts. This equation is from eV0 = hf , dividing both sides by e results into
V0 = (h/e) f /e. Therefore, the ratio h/e in the experiment done is 2.1705 x 10-15 Weber, since h is in Js and e is
in C, then h/e is in Js/C = J/A = Wb.
The physical quantity which the slope represents is the Plancks constant divided by the charge of an
electron (e -). Knowing that the slope of the graph is constant, it can be inferred that stopping potential has a
linear relationship with the frequency of light. Based on the experiment, the computed value of Plancks
constant, after converting is 3.478 x 10-34 Js which has a percent error of 47.52%.

Due to the presence of flowing current, as measured by the ammeter, it can be determined that there are
moving electrons. The electrons are moving due to energy absorption from the photons beamed onto the
conductive surface where they are found. The nature of the absorption follows the law of conservation of
energy.

1
0.8
Stopping Voltage ()

0.6
0.4
0.2
0
600000000000000
400000000000000
800000000000000
Frequency of light (Hz)

Figure 1.1B. Stopping voltage versus the frequency of light, excluding the wavelength of white light
.
Since minimum amount of energy to remove an electron from a surface is equal to work function, we
can write Einstein equation as:
Energy Supplied = Energy Consumed in ejecting an electron + maximum Kinetic energy of electron

Etotal=KE max +
It is known that the slope is equal to the value of Plancks constant. Recall that Einstein proposed that
the energy of a photon is equal to the frequency multiplied by Plancks constant.

E photon=hf =Etotal
Since

=h f o

and

KE max =e V o ,

hf =e V o +h f o hf h f o =e V o h( f f o )=e V o
c
f= ;
Since

f 0=

c
o ,
c c
h( )=e V o
o
hc
=e V o

Rearranging and substituting,

e V o =hf

This equation can be used to determine the relationship of stopping potential with frequency, as
illustrated in the graph above.
From the experiment, the kinetic energy of red light averages 6.7879 x 10 -20 J, 1.0719 x 10-19 J for green
light and for blue, 1.3036 x 10-19 J. Photoelectrons produced by different color of light have different kinetic

energy. This is supported by the equation K max = eV0 = hf = hc/ , where is the work function of the
metal that is subjected to the photoelectric effect. Thus, longer wavelengths of light yield photoelectrons with
lower kinetic energy.
Also, even if a more conductive metal is used, the slope would remain the same because its value is
equal to that of the value of Plancks constant.
IV. Conclusion
Based on the results of the experiment, the light intensity is directly proportional to the photocurrent.
Moreover, the cut-off energy of light is also directly proportional to its frequency. Also, it was found that a
lights wavelength determines the level of kinetic energy that the photoelectron. A photoelectron with low
kinetic energy yielded from light with a long wavelength. Plancks constant was also obtained through acquiring
the slope of the stopping voltage versus light frequency graph. The experimental Plancks constant obtained was
3.478 x 10-34 Js and had 47.52% as its percent error. Also, the ratio h/e is the computed magnetic flux since the
dimensions it gave was J-s/C or Wb.
For the people who are about to repeat the experiment, the researchers recommend to turn off the light
if all trials will also be performed with the lights off. Otherwise for consistency, it is recommended that the
environmental conditions for the initial trial be followed for the rest of the experiment.

References:
1.
2.

H. Young, R. Freedman, University Physics, Chapter 40, Addison-Wesley of Pearson Education, Inc.
CA, 2012. Pp 1232-1236.
Notes on Professor Anthony Allan D. Villanuevas Lectures