IP PR AI CT

Lab 10: LEDs and Planck’s Constant

Manipulated wavelength
Variables:
Responding energy

Purpose: To verify Planck’s constant

Background Information:
A LED, or a Light Emitting Diode, is a semi-conductor device emits light
when activated. In order to activate a LED, the current must be in the
correct direction and the voltage must be at or above the activation energy of
the diode. The LEDs we are going to work with in the lab today are
monochromatic. The activation energy for these LEDs can be predicted
using their wavelength and Planck’s formula.

Red 620-625
Yellow 590-595
Green 520-525
Blue 460-465
UV 390-405
Orange 600-605
Chartreuse 520-525
Pink? 445?
Procedure:
• Ensure that the Power Supply is off and turned fully down to zero.
• Select a LED and connect it to the power supply. Connect the short leg to the negative side of the circuit and the long leg to the
positive side of the circuit.
• Turn on the power supply and slowly turn the voltage up until you just see a dim light. Record this activation voltage in volts and
the wavelength of the LED in your observations data table.
• Turn the voltage back down to zero, disconnect the circuit. The order of this process is critical to prevent burning
out the LED! Leave power supply on throughout the experiment!
• Repeat the above steps for all the different colours of LEDs available in the lab.

Observations: V
• Create a data table to record the activation voltage and the wavelength of each LED. USE UV 2.6
COVID INTERRUPTION DATA TO THE LEFT pink 2.3
green 1.8
red 1.5
blue 2.2
yellow 1.6
Analysis:
• Create a new data table to record the activation energy (E=qV) and the wavelength of each LED (use the average of each color).
• Plot its graph. Determine how to straighten the curve.
• Plot the linear graph. Analysis the graph, the slope x intercept and y intercept.
• Determine Planck’s constant and calculate the percent error between this and the expected value.

Submit your labs on D2L in word format.

Perform and Record: Conduct investigations into relationships and use a range of tools and techniques to gather and record.
General Format Criteria
 C P
N Sections and content are in order and titled
C P
N Writing is neat and legible or properly formatted using software
C P
N Only directly observable data in the Observations Section (no inferences, analysis, or calculations)
Data
Tables
Criteria
C P N Always have a title that is both numerical and descriptive (Data Table 1: _______)
C P N Writing/Data is neat and legible, and Data has appropriate and consistent decimal places
Are neatly drawn using a straight edge to make lines separating row and columns. If computer generated,
C P N
then it must have proper formatting (example: alignment of data within columns).
C P N The first row is a label row and designates the units for the quantities in the column.
Diagrams Criteria
C P N Always have a title that is both numerical and descriptive (Figure 1: _______)
C P
N Neat and labeled (use a legend if appropriate).
C P
N Logically organized to support written text or calculation
C P
N Hand drawn or use a graphic editor to create your own
Calculations Criteria
C P
N Always have a title that is both numerical and descriptive (Calculation 1: __________)
C P
N Are neat and organized in a logical sequence. Do not leave out a single step no matter how trivial.
C P
N Have written explanations to clarify processes and identify underlying physical concepts (how & why)
C P
N The final answer is highlighted somehow
C P
N The calculation contains units including the final answer
Graphs Criteria
C P
N Have titles: Graph 1: “y as a function of x”
C P
N Graphs are drawn Correctly and on actual graph paper or specific software with small grid lines
____ / 20 C P
N Each axis is labeled and given an appropriate unit
C P
N Appropriate scale is chosen (graph 75% of the scale), legend if need, must have zero on both axis!

Analyze & Interpret: Analyze data and apply mathematical and conceptual models to develop and assess possible solutions.
Analysis Criteria
C P
N All calculations (samples and other) were done correctly.
C P
N Appropriate discussion was had to determine a linear graph (formula, proportional relationship)
C P
N Trend curves and best fit lines are smooth, averaging out the data points.
C P
N Two points for calculating slope are labeled on the best fit line (with coordinates)
C P
N Slope is calculated correctly
C P
N Slope is given as a number and has appropriate units (including units in calculation)
C P
N The appropriate physics equation is identified (Name and describe it)
C P
N The equation has been compared to the slope intercept equation (y=mx+b) (state what each means)
C P
N The physical “meaning” of the slope is identified from the comparison (quantity and value)
C P
N The slope is accurately used to obtain the desired quantity
C P
N Experimental error was calculated
Conclusion
Criteria
Evaluation
C P Paragraph form
 N
C P
N Summarize the hypothesis/goal/question of the experiment
C P
N Summarize the experimental procedures and analysis processes.
C P
N Describe the results both numerically and in words.
C P
N Discuss how the sample size affects the results
C P
N Discuss the sources of error (at least three good ones) and how they affect the results
C P
N Describe the experimental controls/methods (for the variables and any other processes)
____ / 20 C P
N Conclude about the reliability and validity of the results based on sample size/controls/error discussed.
C P
N Discuss improvements that could be made to procedures/apparatus… to improve reliability and validity.