AP PHYSICS 2 LAB:

PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT

Google: PHET PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT, run the simulation

1. Start with sodium for target material. Keep the voltage of the battery at 0. Change light intensity and/or light wavelength;

a. Draw your observations (use arrows to represent the relative velocity of electrons)
b. Record the magnitude of the electric current

Intensity: 100% Intensity: 100%

Wavelength: 100 nm, in this wavelength the color of the light is Wavelength: 300 nm, in this wavelength the color of the
dark light is more dark
Electric current: 0.882A,
There are some a few electrons and they are moving from left to Electric current: 0.556
right all are moving fast and they are at the same velocity The quantity of electrons now are more and they are
moving from left to right more, there are some electrons
that are moving more slowly than others

Intensity: 100% Intensity: 100%

Wavelength: 500 nm, in this wavelength the color of the light is Wavelength: 700 nm, in this wavelength the color of the
green light is red

Electric current: 0.000 Electric current: 0.000

There are some a few electrons, and they are moving from left There aren’t electrons in the reaction
to right all are moving slowly and they are at the same velocity
 • What is observed when intensity increases?

When the intensity increases, the current increases, a greater shedding of electrons.

• What is observed when wavelength increases?

When the wavelength increases, the electric current decreases.

• What is observed when frequency increases?

When we increase the frequency, the wavelength decreases, and the electrons will have greater kinetic energy
and therefore more speed.

2. The work function (ϕ ):

Write an expression for the work function in terms of

h , f , q , ΔV

a. Target: Sodium Objective

b. Set the wavelength to 250 nm (closest to)
c. Move the switch of the battery to the point where electrons no longer reach the opposite plate (stopping voltage).
d. Find the frequency of the light
e. Find the work function in Joules and electron Volts.
f. Do the same for other materials (you may need to adjust the wavelength of light)

Wavelengt Stopping voltage Frequency Work Function Work Function

h λ [ nm ] ΔV [ V ] f [ Hz ] ϕ[J ]  ϕ [ eV ]

Sodium 250 -2.65 1.2x1015 3.704 ×10−19 2.315

Zinc 250 -0.65 1.2x1015 6.904 × 10−19 4.315

Copper 250 -0.27 1.2x1015 7.512× 10−19 4.695

250 0 1.2x1015 7.512× 10−19 4.965

Platinum 15
192 -0.16 1.562x10 1.0083 ×10−19 6.302

Calcium 250 -2.02 1.2x1015 4.71210−19 2.945

????? 250 -1.23 1.2x1015 5.976 ×10−19 3.735

3. Stopping Voltage (f):

Write an expression for the stopping voltage in terms of h, f, q, f

What would be the stopping potential if ultraviolet light of wavelength 250 nm were incident on the surface?

f [ Hz ] hf ϕ Stopping voltage
[V ] [V ]
q q ΔV [V ]

Sodium 1.2x1015 4.969 1.4468 ×1019 -2.65

Zinc 1.2x1015 4.969 2.7 ×10 19 -0.65

Copper 1.2x1015 4.969 2.93 ×1019 -0.27

1.2x1015 4.969 3.10 ×1019 0

Platinum 15
1.562x10 6.471 3.93 ×1019 -0.16

Calcium 1.2x1015 4.969 1.84 ×10 19 -2.02

????? 1.2x1015 4.969 2.33 ×1019 -1.23

4 . Threshold frequency (Cutoff Frequency) – Graph

• Draw the Electron Energy vs. Light Frequency graph for all different targets (use different color pencils)
• Intensity: 100
• Voltage: 0.0 V
• Change the wavelength from 100 nm to 850 nm
• See the Electron Energy vs. Light Frequency graph to the right side of the screen

Electron Energy vs. Light Frequency

Sodio
Zinc
Copper
Platinum
Calcium
?????
 5. Threshold frequency (Cutoff Frequency)
ϕ
Write an expression for the cutoff frequency in terms of h, ɸ f c=
h

What would be the stopping potential if ultraviolet light of wavelength 250 nm were incident on the surface?

Work Function Cutoff Frequency f

 [Hz]
[J]

Sodium 3.704 ×10−19 5.6 x1014

Zinc 6.904 × 10−19 1.04 x1015

Copper 7.512× 10−19 1.134x 1015

Platinum 1.0083 ×10−19 1.523x 1014

Calcium 4.712 x 10−19 7.11 x 10 14

????? 5.976 ×10−19 9.027x 1014

6. Kinetic energy

Write an expression for the kinetic energy in terms of q, and ΔV U k =q Δ V

Write an expression for the kinetic energy in terms of h, f, and ɸ U k =hf −ϕ

Based in a wavelength of 150 nm we had this results:

Kinetic Energy Kinetic Energy

% difference
KEmax [ J ] KEmax [ J ]
6.26%
Sodium 2.315 2.46

0.11
Zinc 4.315 4.31
 0.10
Copper 4.695 4.70

0.76
Platinum 6.302 6.35

8.99
Calcium 2.945 2.68

????? 3.735 XXX

XXX

7. Which properties change when target material is changed?

When the material is changed, change the work function and the cut frequency

8. Refer to the Electron Energy vs. Light Frequency graph:

a. Shape of the graph:

The graph results is a linear function

b. Using the expression y = mx + b, find a relationship [mathematical model] that relates, the Kinetic energy of the
electron to the light frequency.

y = Slope · x + intercept

eVs = h · f + ɸ

9. Describe the additional graphs you can view in the simulations (draw the shape and describe the relationship with words)
The first graph is about the sodium with a wavelength of 250nm
and a voltage of -2.65 V, in this graph you should notice how the
Energy of the electrons is grow up but still doesn’t generate
current between the two poles of the tube

The second graph is about the Zinc with a wavelength of 250nm

and a voltage of -0.65 V, in this graph you should notice how the
Energy of the electrons is still in zero and there isn’t current
between the two poles of the tube
For this graph we setup the material in sodium with a wavelength
of 250nm and a voltage of -0.27 V, we can notice the way of the
Energy of the electrons is still in 0eV and the current between the
two poles of the tube are in zero as well

For the Platinum material, we must be search of the right

wavelength in which the electrons will start to move from the
anode to cathode for this we found the wavelength in 192 nm and
a voltage of -0.16V, the graph show how the energy is in the first
point of the cut frequency ready for increase and begin to
generate current