Dr.
Farah Aziz PHY-2101P Lab III
Experiment: Find the Work Function of a Tungsten
filament using a Guard Ring Diode (GRD-7)
tube.
Theory
Work function
o Definition
Types of electron emission
o Photo electric emission
Definition
o Field emission
Definition
o Secondary emission GRD-7 Tube
Definition
o Thermionic emission
Definition
Detailed description
Richardson-Dushman equation
𝐼𝐴 = Anode Current
2 −
o = (original form of the law)
𝑇 = Temperature of the filament in Kelvins
We modify it to the following form
k = Boltzmann constant = 1.38 × 10−23 J/K
1
ln 2 = ln 𝜑 = work function in electron Volts
k
𝑒 = Charge on an electron = 1.602 × 10−19 C
y-axis
x-axis
slope
Types of Cathodes
o Directly Heated Cathode
o Indirectly Heated Cathode 𝑅𝑓
= Resistance of the filament at temperature 𝑇(℃)
Finding Temperature from Resistance
𝑅0 = Resistance of the filament at zero ℃
o = 0 (1 ) = 0.28 𝛺
𝛼 = Temperature coefficient of resistance
= 0.0045℃−1
𝑇 = Temperature of the filament in ℃
Dr. Farah Aziz PHY-2101P Lab III
−
So that temperature in ℃ is given as: = (℃)
Temperature in Kelvin = ( in ℃) 273
Guard Ring Diode (GRD-7) Tube
Procedure
Remember to write the reference/source after each
article!!
filament
Anode
Guard Rings
RingsRings
Observations and Calculations
=
0
273 1⁄
= 0 ln ( 2
)
Filament Filament Filament Filament Anode
voltage current resistance temperature Current
(V) (A) (Ω) (K) (µA) K −1
Here, = 0.0045 C−1 and 0 = 0.28 Ω.
Take more than 10 readings.
Dr. Farah Aziz PHY-2101P Lab III
Plot a graph between
ln ( ) (-y axis) and 1⁄ (+x axis). The graph should be a Straight line, with a negative
slope
−
Find the slope of the Straight line using the formula i.e. = .
−
The experimental value of the work function in eV is proportional to the slope.
Use the formula
×
= = eV
The expected value of the work function is around 2 eV
1⁄ (K −1 )
𝑇 Remember your graph must have
+x axis
SALT!!
ln ( 2 )
𝐼𝑎𝑛
SALT
𝑇
Scale Title
Axes Label
-y axis