A guide for conducting experiments on the determination of Planck's constant

• Main Author: Jeresano, Lamberto A.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1974
• Subjects: Photons; Electron nuclear double resonance spectroscopy; Physics > Experiments; Physics
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/280
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study aims to search for answers to certain problems concerning the conduct of the experiments on the determination of Planck's constant using the Leybold apparatus and the Berkeley equipment. Two principal approaches were used in this study, namely, readings on the subject and the experimental method. Aside from several references in modern physics, translations of some original papers relating to Planck's theory were perused. Publications and literature from the suppliers of the equipment were also consulted. Try-outs of the two experiments were made. Quantitative measurements of the photocurrent, as affected by the frequency of the incident light varying potential difference between cathode and collector of the photocell, were obtained for the two set ups on the determination of Planck's Constant. These results were tabulated and graphed. Qualitative observations were also made from the experiments. The findings of the two experiments were analyzed and compared with the data and information published in available literature. Findings of this study indicated that the Planck's Constant experiment using the Leybold set up yielded a more accurate result than the one obtained from the Berkeley equipment. A knowledge about lenses, electrical connections, vacuum tubes, safety precautions, and the use of electrical measuring instruments was essential in the conduct of the two experiments. The total cost of the apparatus and accessories used in the Berkeley set up was very much less than that of the Leybold set up. The higher cost of the Leybold set up, however, should not be considered a negative factor considering that the apparatus and accessories included were also used in experiments in optics and electricity.