In a tube containing mercury vapor at low pressure, a heated cathode emits electrons, which are accelerated by a positively-charged grid and collected at the anode. The anode is at a slightly negative potential relative to the grid, so that electrons require a small amount of kinetic energy to reach it after passing through the grid. The electrons undergo elastic collisions with the mercury atoms and are detected at the anode until the grid potential is increased to approximately 4.9 volts. At this point, the anode current decreases precipitously. This is attributed to the collisions becoming inelastic, as the electron kinetic energy excites mercury atoms to the lowest available excited state. This energy difference agrees well with the 254 nm transition in the emission spectrum of mercury.

As the grid potential is further increased, this behavior recurs at 9.8 and 14.7 volts, multiples of 4.9 volts, as the electrons are able to excite two or more mercury atoms.

Franck and Hertz were awarded the 1925 Nobel Prize in Physics for this work.