Problem of the 8th Experimental Physics Olympiad, Skopje, 8 May 2021 Determination of Planck constant by LED

TL;DR

This paper presents a physics Olympiad problem where participants are tasked with determining the Planck constant using an LED setup, serving as an educational experiment to engage students in quantum physics concepts.

Contribution

It introduces a practical experimental problem for physics education that enables students to determine the Planck constant using simple LED-based methods.

Findings

Participants can successfully determine Planck's constant using the provided setup.

The problem promotes hands-on understanding of quantum physics principles.

Educational value in physics competitions and teaching methods.

Abstract

This is the problem of the 8$^\mathrm{th}$ International Experimental Physics Olympiad (EPO). The task of the EPO8 is to determine Plank constant $\hbar=h/2\pi$ using the given set-up with LED. If you have an idea how to do it, do it and send us the result; skip the reading of the detailed step by step instructions with increasing difficulties. We expect the participants to follow the suggested items -- they are instructive for physics education in general.Only the reading of historical remarks given in the first section can be omitted during the Olympiad without loss of generality. Participants should try solving as much tasks as they can without paying attention to the age categories: give your best.