Somaiya Vidyavihar University

K. J. Somaiya College of Engineering, Mumbai -77

(A Constituent College of Somaiya Vidyavihar University)

.F Y B Tech SEM II 2021-22

Engineering Physics Lab Course

Experiment No.: 2
Title: Photoelectric effect

Name: Arpan Soni

Roll No: 16010421113
Branch: IT
Batch: H2

Aim:
• To understand the phenomenon of Photoelectric effect as a whole.
• To plot a graph connecting photocurrent and applied potential for (i) varying
intensity; (ii) varying wavelength/frequency.
• To draw stopping potential as a function of frequency of incident radiation to
determine the Planck's constant (home assignment)

Apparatus: Evacuated quartz tube, anode plate, cathode plate, voltmeter, ammeter, battery,
rheostat.

Diagram:

Page 1 of 6
 Somaiya Vidyavihar University
K. J. Somaiya College of Engineering, Mumbai -77
(A Constituent College of Somaiya Vidyavihar University)

Observation Table:
PART I: Fixed wavelength, varying intensity:

Wavelength: 150 nm

Intensity = 15 W/m2 Intensity = 20 W/m2 Intensity = 25 W/m2

Voltage (V) Current (µA) Voltage (V) Current (µA) Voltage (V) Current (µA)

0 44.98 0 59.97 0 74.96

-0.5 41.23 -0.5 54.97 -0.5 68.71

-1 37.48 -1 49.97 -1 62.46

-1.5 33.73 -1.5 44.97 -1.5 56.21

-2 29.98 -2 39.97 -2 49.96

-2.5 26.23 -2.5 34.97 -2.5 43.71

-3 22.48 -3 29.97 -3 37.46

-3.5 18.73 -3.5 24.97 -3.5 31.21

-4 14.98 -4 19.97 -4 24.96

-4.5 11.23 -4.5 14.97 -4.5 18.71

-5 7.48 -5 9.97 -5 12.46

-5.2 5.98 -5.2 7.97 -5.2 9.96

-5.4 4.48 -5.4 5.97 -5.4 7.46

-5.5 3.73 -5.5 4.97 -5.5 6.21

-5.6 2.98 -5.6 3.97 -5.6 4.96

-5.7 2.23 -5.7 2.97 -5.7 3.71

-5.8 1.48 -5.8 1.97 -5.8 2.46

-5.9 0.73 -5.9 0.97 -5.9 1.21

-6 0 -6 0 -6 0

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 Somaiya Vidyavihar University
K. J. Somaiya College of Engineering, Mumbai -77
(A Constituent College of Somaiya Vidyavihar University)

PART II: Fixed intensity, varying wavelength:

Intensity: 30 W/m2

Wavelength = 200 nm Wavelength = 300 nm Wavelength = 400 nm

Voltage (V) Current (µA) Voltage (V) Current (µA) Voltage (V) Current (µA)

0 58.92 0 27.88 0 12.36

-0.5 51.42 -0.2 24.88 -0.1 10.86

-1 43.92 -0.4 21.88 -0.2 9.36

-1.5 36.42 -0.6 18.88 -0.3 7.86

-2 28.92 -0.8 15.88 -0.4 6.36

-2.5 21.42 -1 12.88 -0.5 4.86

-2.7 18.42 -1.2 9.88 -0.6 3.36

-2.9 15.42 -1.4 6.88 -0.7 1.86

-3.1 12.42 -1.5 5.38 -0.8 0.36

-3.3 9.42 -1.6 3.88 -0.9 0

-3.5 6.42 -1.7 2.38

-3.6 4.92 -1.8 0.88

-3.7 3.42 -1.9 0

-3.8 1.92

-3.9 0.42

-4 0

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 Somaiya Vidyavihar University
K. J. Somaiya College of Engineering, Mumbai -77
(A Constituent College of Somaiya Vidyavihar University)

Graphs*:
PART I: Fixed wavelength, varying intensity:

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 Somaiya Vidyavihar University
K. J. Somaiya College of Engineering, Mumbai -77
(A Constituent College of Somaiya Vidyavihar University)

PART II: Fixed intensity, varying wavelength:

Results: In the case of fixed wavelength and varying intensity, the stopping potential remains
the same but for fixed intensity varying wavelength, stopping potential varies.

Home assignment:
Observation table:
Wavelength(nm) VS Frequency (Hz)
200 -4 15 x 1014
300 -1.9 1015
400 -0.9 7.5 x 1014

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 Somaiya Vidyavihar University
K. J. Somaiya College of Engineering, Mumbai -77
(A Constituent College of Somaiya Vidyavihar University)

Graph:

Calculations:
1) h = q x slope = 1.6 x 10-19 x 0.42 x 10-14 = 6.72 x 10-34
2) Threshold frequency = X-intercept = 5.025 x 1014 Hz
3) Work function = Y-intercept = -2.15 V

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