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II. The Photoelectric Effect

The maximum kinetic energy of electrons ejected from a metal surface by monochromatic light, is measured for several wavelengths. The value of Planck's constant, h, is derived by an analysis of the data in the light of Einstein theory of the photoelectric effect.

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References (certificates required)

  1. 1918 Nobel Prize to Max Planck for his discovery of the energy quanta
  2. 1921 Nobel Prize to Albert Einstein for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect.
  3. [1916] R.A. Millikan, A Direct Photoelectric Determination of Planck's `h'. Phys. Rev., 7, 355 (1916)
  4. Hughes and Dubridge, Photoelectric Effect, McGraw-Hill (1932)
    Hayden Stacks: QC 715.H8
    Discusses phenomena such as the velocity distribution of the electrons, effects of polarization and angle of incidence of the light, influence of the surface temperature, photoelectric behaviour of thin films and composite materials, etc.
  5. Harnwell and Livingood, Experimental Atomic Physics, McGraw-Hill (1933)
    Notes on the photoelectric effect
  6. [1966] A. Melissinos, Photoelectric Effect Notes, Experimental Physics (1966)

Selected Resources

  1. Oriel High Power Mercury Lamp Specifications
  2. Leybold 55877 Photocell Specifications
  3. Theory of Interference Filters
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