College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
7B30.20 - Franck-Hertz
Plug the power supply into the oven observing the correct connections by symbol. Turn the oven to about 200 degrees C and let warm up for at least 50 minutes.
NOTE: The heater thermostat on the unit allows the temperature to swing 10 to 20 degrees C under normal operation. It is better to crank the thermostat to maximum, and then regulate the heater with a variac. 90 to 95 volts should give you a temperature of about 200 degrees C and keep it within two degrees of this. Put the oscilloscope on xy plot and turn up the acceleration and heater knobs until peaks are observed. By adjusting the acceleration, heater and RF knobs you should be able to fine tune the system to see at least 7 peaks and as many as 11.
- Kenneth H. Carpenter, "An automated Franck-Hertz experiment using an X-Y Recorder", AJP, Vol. #43, #2, Feb. 1975, p. 190.
- Budford L. Williams, "The Franck-Hertz Experiment Using A Thyratron", TPT Vol. 6, # 6, Sept. 1968, p. 322.
- Andrew Ahlgren, " A Modified Experiment with the Franck-Hertz Apparatus", TPT, Vol. 2, # 6, Sept. 1964, p. 282.
- Daniele Faccio, Matteo Clerici, Davide Tambuchi, "Revisiting the 1888 Hertz Experiment", AJP, Vol. 74, # 11, Nov. 2006, p. 992.
- Gerald Rapior, Klaus Sengstock, Valey Basv, "New Features of the Franck-Hertz Experiment", AJP, Vol. 74, # 5, May 2006, p. 423.
- W. Fedak, D. Bord, C. Smith, D. Gawrych, and K. Lindeman, "Automation of the Franck-Hertz Experiment and the Tel-X-Ometer X-Ray Maching Using LABVIEW", AJP, Vol. 71, # 5, May 2003, p. 501.
- G. F. Hanne, "What Really Happens in the Franck-Hertz Experiment with Mercury?", AJP, Vol. 56, # 8, Aug. 1988, p. 696.
- F. H. Liu, "Franck-Hertz Experiment With Higher Excitation Level Measurements", AJP, Vol. 55, # 4, Apr. 1987, p. 366.
- D. R. A. McMahon, "Elastic Electron-Atom Collision Effects in the Franck-Hertz Experiment", AJP, Vol. 51, #12, Dec. 1983, p. 1086.
- J. S. Huebner, "Comment on the Franck-Hertz Experiment", AJP, Vol. 44, #3, March 1976, p. 302.
- Wendell J. Caley, Jr., "Suggestions on 'An Automated Franck-Hertz Experiment'", AJP, Vol. 40, # 12, Dec. 1972, p. 1877.
- R.E. Adelberger, K. F. Kinsey, "An Automated Franck-Hertz Experiment", AJP, Vol. 40, # 2, Feb. 1972, p. 349.
- Bailey L. Donnally, "Comparison of Franck-Hertz Tubes and Apparatus", AJP, Vol. 34, #4, Apr. 1966, p. 366.
- J. Rosenfeld and C. Tyler, "Homemade Franck-Hertz Tube", AJP, Vol. 33, # 10, Oct. 1965, p. 849.
- Yaakov Kraftmakher, "6.5, Franck-Hertz Experiment", Experiments and Demonstrations in Physics, ISBN 981-256-602-3, p. 397.
- Keithley Instruments, "Physics Experiment # 2: Franck-Hertz Experiment", Series I.
- Keithley Instruments, Paul W. Zitzewitz, "Physics Experiment # 1: Franck-Hertz Experiment", Series II.
- W. Bolton, "The Controlled Excitation of Spectra", Book 3 - Atomic Physics, Physics Experiments and Projects, 1968, p. 24-26.
Disclaimer: These demonstrations are provided only for illustrative use by persons affiliated with The University of Iowa and only under the direction of a trained instructor or physicist. The University of Iowa is not responsible for demonstrations performed by those using their own equipment or who choose to use this reference material for their own purpose. The demonstrations included here are within the public domain and can be found in materials contained in libraries, bookstores, and through electronic sources. Performing all or any portion of any of these demonstrations, with or without revisions not depicted here entails inherent risks. These risks include, without limitation, bodily injury (and possibly death), including risks to health that may be temporary or permanent and that may exacerbate a pre-existing medical condition; and property loss or damage. Anyone performing any part of these demonstrations, even with revisions, knowingly and voluntarily assumes all risks associated with them.