The discussion focuses on measuring stopping voltage in the photoelectric effect, emphasizing the impracticality of using a voltmeter due to potential biases and system discharge. Participants agree that connecting a battery to the circuit and adjusting until the current reaches zero is a more effective method. This approach accounts for the distribution of electron velocities, ensuring that only electrons with sufficient energy contribute to the measured stopping voltage. The consensus is that measuring stopping voltage directly provides a more accurate representation of the system's behavior.
PREREQUISITESPhysics students, experimental physicists, and educators interested in the practical applications of the photoelectric effect and accurate voltage measurement techniques.
mfb said:In theory, you could wait until all the photo-electrons generate the voltage themself - but that would require so many photo-electrons that it is not practical. In addition, no isolation is perfect (especially with an attached voltmeter), the system would discharge itself.
tomz said:Thanks. After some thinking I guess there is also the problem that not all electrons released have the theoretical maximum energy, so the potential get from a voltmeter will be biased