How Should Voltage Spacings Be Plotted in the Franck-Hertz Experiment?

[wavingerwin]

A little background: I am doing the Franck-Hertz experiment and was asked to plot the spacing of acceleration voltage between peaks of output (anode) voltage.

Homework Statement

Plot/sketch the resulting spacings with the uncertainties on a number line!

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

Please see attached for my tow attempts (note that I forgot to include the title, labels, etc..).

Please verify which, or perhaps if none, of my two attempts is correct...
Thanks in advance

 

[anathema]

!

Dear student,

Thank you for sharing your attempts at plotting the spacing of acceleration voltage in the Franck-Hertz experiment. After reviewing your plots, I can confirm that your second attempt is correct.

In the Franck-Hertz experiment, the output (anode) voltage increases in a step-like manner as the acceleration voltage is increased. This is because the electrons in the tube are gaining energy from the acceleration voltage and reaching a certain threshold energy, causing a spike in the output voltage. As you correctly plotted in your second attempt, the spacing between these peaks is not constant, but rather increases as the acceleration voltage increases.

Additionally, your inclusion of uncertainty bars is also correct. In experiments, it is important to account for uncertainties in measurements, and your uncertainty bars show a reasonable range of uncertainty for each peak.

Keep up the good work and good luck with the rest of your experiment!