PLANCK’S CONSTANT AND IR LED WAVELENGTH DETERMINATION

Experiment-80 F

PLANCK’S CONSTANT AND IR LED

WAVELENGTH DETERMINATION
Dr Jeethendra Kumar P K

KamalJeeth Instrumentation & Service Unit, No-7, NTI Layout, RMV 2nd Stage, Bangalore-560 094.
INDIA
Email: [email protected]

Abstract

Using know wavelength LED light sources, Planck’s constant is determined. It

is observed that for LED light the product of wavelength (λ) and knee voltage
remained a constant. Using this relation the unknown wavelength of the Infra
red LED (IR LED) is determined.

Introduction

Max Planck’s quantum theory and Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity have forced man to
change some of his most cherished philosophical beliefs. Understanding atomic and subatomic
process in quantum theory and understanding space and time in relativity are the fundamental
theories of 20th century physics.

Max Planck in his paper published [1] in 1900 announced his derivations based on his
revolutionary idea. “ The energy emitted by a resonator (black body radiator) is in discrete
values or in quanta”

The packet of energy is given by

E = hυ …1

Where “h” is a universal constant now called as Planck’s constant in honor of the inventor. For
Planck it was a “lucky guess” rather than a firm conclusion. He theoretically calculated the value
of the constant appearing in his equation and obtained

h = 6.55x10-34 Joules Second ( Js).

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PLANCK’S CONSTANT AND IR LED WAVELENGTH DETERMINATION

Which is very close to the present value h = 6.626x10-34 Js. In 1913, R M Millikan performed
series of experiments and determined Planck’s constant (h = 6.626x10-34 Js) very accurately.

Very recently high-precision measurements of Planck’s constant is performed using laser

interferometer and super conducting magnets [2,3]. The value obtained is h = 6.62606891x10-34
Js, which is the same as the one obtained by Millikan.
In lab experiments, Planck’s constant is determined using Phototube and Einstein’s equation.
Phototube is obsolete at present and the one available in the market are more than 50 years old.
Because of the aging effect, these tubes are not reliable. Getting accurate and consistent results
are not guaranteed in such phototubes. Hence, we are introducing a new method based on solid-
state lamp. LEDs are available in different colors and could be made use in the determination of
“h”. Wavelengths of the light emitted can be determined either forming Newton’s rings [4] or
using a diffraction grating [5].

Light Emitting Diode (LED)

LED is a two terminal solid-state lamp, which emits light with very low voltage and current. The
light energy radiated by forward biasing is given by equation-1.

hc
E= …2
λ

Where c is the velocity of the light

λ is the wavelength of the light emitted and 1/λ is the wave number
h is Planck’s constant

If V is the forward voltage applied across the LED terminals that makes it emit light (it is also
called forward knee voltage) then the energy given to the LED is given by

E = eV …3

Where e is electronic charge

LEDs are very high efficiency diodes and hence this entire electrical energy is converted into
light energy, then equating equations 2 and 3,

hc
eV = …4
λ

From which Planck’s constant is given by

eVλ
h= …5
c

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PLANCK’S CONSTANT AND IR LED WAVELENGTH DETERMINATION

In equation-5 for different wavelength light, the forward knee voltage is determined and the
value of h is calculated. Moreover, e/c =5.33 x 10-28 coulomb/meter is a universal constant and
hence the product λV must be a constant. This enables the determination of Planck’s constant.

Wavelength of LED light

The LED manufacturers are the best source for knowing wavelengths because they know the
material used. However, it is very difficult to get LEDs from the manufacturer directly in small
quantities for lab experiments. LED wavelength can be determined accurately in lab experiments
by forming Newton’s rings with Plano convex lens of know radius of curvature and sodium light
[4].

LED Knee voltage

Knee voltage of diode is the potential applied across the pn junction, that is self-sufficient to over
come barrier potential and a constant current flow is maintained through the diode. In lab
experiments by plotting I-V characteristics, the knee voltage can be determined. Another way of
determining knee voltage is using sweep technique in which the CRO sweep is fed by an ac
signal that varies from 0 to a peak value. During this rising voltage, the current through the LED
will also vary. A resistor in series with the LED samples this changing current. CRO time base in
external mode generate the I-V characteristics as shown in Figure-1. The knee voltage can be
easily read on the X-axis of the CRO. The voltage across the LED is a pulsating unidirectional.
The peak value of which can also be measured using a peak reading meter [6].

V
0

Knee
Voltage

Figure-1, LED characteristics and knee voltage

Apparatus Used

Planck’s constant experimental setup consisting of 0-10V peak to peak sine wave generator,
digital peak reading voltmeter, six different know wavelength LED lights and dual trace
oscilloscope.

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PLANCK’S CONSTANT AND IR LED WAVELENGTH DETERMINATION

Experimental Procedure
The experiment consists of three parts

Part A, Knee voltage determination using peak reading voltmeter

Part-B, Determination of IR LED wavelength
Part-C, Knee voltage determination using dual traces CRO.

Part A, Knee voltage determination using peak reading voltmeter

1. The circuit is rigged as shown in Figure-2. The input to the LED is an ac signal. The rectified
output appears across the LED is a unidirectional pulsating. Hence, a peak reading meter is
used to read voltage across the LED.
2. Using a digital peak reading voltmeter the voltage across the LED is measured and recorded
in Table-1 for given color LED light.
3. Trial is repeated by changing the LED and the corresponding knee voltage is noted in Table-
1.

4. The product of wavelength and knee voltage is determined and its average value is
calculated.

Average λV = 1233x10-9

1K

+10V
+5V Input 200Hz
Sine wave LED under V Peak reading
0 test voltmeter

Figure-2, Knee voltage determination

5. Planck’s constant is calculated using equation-5.

eVλ 1.6x10 −19

h= = x1233x10 − 9 = 6.57 x10 − 34 Js
c 8
3x10
Table-1
Color Wavelength (nm) Knee Voltage (V) λVx10-9
Yellow 576 2.15 1238
Green 548 2.26 1238
Blue 350 3.60 1260
Red 620 2.00 1240
Average λV = 1244x10-9
Knee voltage for different color LED using peak reading meter
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PLANCK’S CONSTANT AND IR LED WAVELENGTH DETERMINATION

Knee Volatge (Vpp)

3

0
300 500 700 900 1100
Wavelength (nm)

Figure-3, Variation of knee voltage with wavelength

6. A graph is drawn taking wavelength along X-axis and knee voltage along Y-axis as shown in
Figure-3.

Part-B, Determination of IR LED wavelength

The IR LED is now connected and the knee voltage is noted. Using the graph in Figure-3, the
wavelength corresponding to VIR is noted (VIR = 1.35V) . The wavelength is also calculated
using

1233x10 −9 1233x10 −9
λ= = = 913nm
V 1.35

Part C, Knee voltage determination using dual trace CRO.

7. Experiment of determing knee voltage is continued using CRO in place of peak reading
voltmeter. The circuit connections are made as shown in Figure-4.

Channel-B

1K
Channel-A

LED under
test
Common

Figure-4, Knee voltage determination using CRO

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PLANCK’S CONSTANT AND IR LED WAVELENGTH DETERMINATION

Table-2
Color Wavelength (nm) Knee Voltage (V) λVx10-9
Orange 555 2.3 1276
Yellow 535 2.4 1284
Green 500 2.6 1300
Blue 350 3.6 1260
Red 600 2.2 1320
Average λV = 1288x10-9 and h = 6.86x10-34
Knee voltage for different color LED-using CRO

8. The CRO time-base knob is set to external position and the two channels are fed with signals
as shown in Figure-3. The CRO display is recorded as shown in Figure-1.

9. Knee voltage corresponding to bending of the curve as shown in Figure-3 is read on the X-
axis of the CRO for different color LED and tabulated in Table-2.

Results

The results obtained are tabulated in Table-3.

Table-3
Parameters Experimental Theoretical
h(Js) 6.56x10-34 6.526x10-34
IR- λ (nm) 913 910
λV (nmV) 1233 1240
Table-3, Experimental results
Discussions

Planck’s constant measured using CRO 6.86x 10-34 is 4.5% higher than the value obtained using
peak reading voltmeter. This is because of 10mV resolution of the peak reading in compared to
200mV resolution of CRO. The peak reading meter is similar to CRO with out display unit. Both
measure peak-to-peak amplitude. Knee voltage also can be determined by I-V characteristics
curve using dc power supply and dc meters. The knee voltage obtained from such measurement
is listed in Table-4. The average λV =1056 nmV is very small compared to the value obtained in
above measurements. The difference ratio is about 1.16, which represents the crest factor (1.11)
between ac (rms) and dc measurements [7]. Hence, if you make the measurements with dc
meters then the knee voltage has to be multiplied by 1.11.

Table=4
Color Wavelength (nm) Knee Voltage (V) λVx10-9
Orange 555 1.823 1011
Yellow 535 1.980 1089
Green 500 1.939 1066
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Blue 350 2.876 1006

Red 600 1.697 1018
IR 913 1.295 1179
-9 -9
Average λV = 1056x10 after correction = 1056x10 x1.11
=1172 and h 6.24x10-34
Knee voltage measured using dc voltmeter

References

[1] MaxPlanck,http://astro.estec.esa.n1/SA-general/Project/Planck/mplank/mplank.html.

[2] Edwin R Williams, Richard L Steiner, David B Newell and Paul T Olsen, Physical
Review Letters, Vol-81, Page 2404, 1998.

[3] Physics News Graphics, Measuring Planck’s constant, http://

www.aip.org/physnews/graphics/plank.htm

[4] Dr Basavaraju S P, Wavelength and energy gap determination using Newton’s rings, L E
Vol-2, No-2, Sept-2002, Page –10.

[5] Tel- Atomic, Planck’s constant, http:// www. Telatonic .com/ Planck.html

[6] Dr Jeethendra Kumar P K, Wide band ac voltmeter, LE, Vol-2, N0-3, Dec-2002, Page -49

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