Problems - Quantum Mechanics - 01

1. Find the change in wavelength of the scattered X-ray photon, when it is scattered
through an angle of 60◦ by a free electron.

Soln :

θ = 60◦ , ∆λ =?

We know, Compton shift,,

h
∆λ = λ0 − λ = (1 − cosθ)
mo c

6.63 × 10−34
∆λ = (1 − cos 60◦ )
9.11 × 10−31 × 3 × 108

∴ ∆λ = 0.01213 × 10−10 m

2. Compute the de-Broglie wavelength for a neutron moving with one tenth part of the
velocity of light, given, mass of the neutron = 1.674 × 10−27 kg.

Soln :

1
Velocity of neutron = v = c = 3×107 m/s, Mass of the neutron = mn = 1.674×10−27 kg
10

The equation for de-Broglie wavelength is given by,

h h
λ= =
p mn v

6.63 × 10−34
λ=
1.674 × 10−27 × 3 × 107

∴ λ = 1.314 × 10−14 m

3. A particle of mass 0.5M eV /c2 has kinetic energy of 100eV . Find its de-Broglie wave-
length, where c is the velocity of light.

Soln :

0.5 × 106 × 1.6 × 10−19

m = 0.5 M eV /c2 = = 8.89 × 10−31 kg
(3 × 108 )2

Kinetic Energy, KE = E = 100eV = 100 × 1.6 × 10−19 J = 1.6 × 10−17 J

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 The equation for de Broglie wavelength is given by,

h h
λ= =√
p 2mE

6.63 × 10−34
λ= √
2 × 8.89 × 10−31 × 1.6 × 10−17

∴ λ = 1.24 × 10−10 m.

4. If an electron has a de-Broglie wavelength of 2 nm, find its kinetic energy and group
velocity, given that it has a rest mass energy of 511 keV .

Soln :

deBroglie wavelength of electron, λ = 2 nm = 2 × 10−9 m

Rest mass energy of electron, E = 511 keV = 511×103 ×1.6×10−19 = 8.176×10−14 J

Kinetic Energy of the electron, Ek =?

Group velocity of the electron, vg =?

We have the Einstein Mass-Energy relation, E = mc2

E 8.176 × 10−14
∴ m= 2
= 2 = 9.1 × 10−31 kg.
c 8
(3 × 10 )

p2 h2
 
h h
∴ KE = = ∵ λ= ⇒ p=
2m 2mλ2 p λ

6.63 × 10−34
KE =
2 × 9.1 × 10−31 × (2 × 10−9 )2

KE = 6.038 × 10−20 J.

1
∴ mv 2 = 6.038 × 10−20
2

2 × 6.038 × 10−20 2 × 6.038 × 10−20

v2 = = = 1.327 × 1011
m 9.1 × 10−31
p
v= 1.327 × 1011 = 3.64 × 105 m/s.
Here, v is the particle velocity. But, since the particle velocity is same as group
velocity,

vg = 3.64 × 105 m/s.

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5. Calculate the de-Broglie wavelength of a proton whose kinetic energy is equal to rest
mass energy of the electron. Mass of proton is 1836 times that of electron

Soln :

KE of proton = Rest mass energy of electron

Mass of proton mp = 1836× Mass of electron

de-Broglie wavelength of proton, λ =?

If m0 is the rest mass of electron, then following Einstein’s mass energy relation,

Rest energy of the electron, E = m0 c2

2
E = 9.11 × 10−31 × (3 × 108 )

E = 8.2 × 10−14 J

From given data we have, mass of the proton, mp = 1836 × me . Therefore,

mp = 1836 × 9.1 × 10−31 = 1.6726 × 10−27 kg.

Also by data,

KE of the proton = Rest energy of electron

If v is the velocity of proton, then the above equation becomes

1
mp v 2 = E
2
s
2E
v=
mp

Therefore, de Broglie wavelength of the proton is,

h h h
λ= = q =p
mp v mp m2E 2mp E
p

6.63 × 10−34
λ= √
2 × 1.6726 × 10−27 8.2 × 10−12

λ = 4 × 10−14 m.

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6. Compare the energy of a photon with that of a neutron when both are associated with
wavelength of 1 Å. Given that the mass of the neutron is 1.678 × 10−27 kg

Soln :
Wavelength of the photon = wavelength of the neutron = λp = λn = 1 Å
Ep
Comparison of energy of photon with that of neutron, i.e., En

Energy of the photon is given by,

hc 6.63 × 10−34 × 3 × 108

Ep = hν = = = 19.89 × 10−16 J − − − (a)
λp 1 × 10−10

We have the equation for de Broglie wavelength as,

h h
λn = =√
p 2mEn

2
h2 (6.63 × 10−34 ) −20
En =
2mn λ2
=
−27 −10 2 = 1.31 × 10 J − − − (b)
2 × 1.678 × 10 × (1 × 10 )

Ep 19.89×10−16
From (a) and (b), En = 1.31×10−20
= 1.518 × 105

Ep = 1.518 × 105 En

7. Compare the energy of a photon with that of an electron when both are associated
with wavelength of 0.2 nm. Given that the mass of an electron is 9.11 × 10−31 kg.

Wavelength of the photon = wavelength of an electron = λp = λe = 0.2 nm =

0.2 × 10−9 m

Mass of the electron, me = 9.11 × 10−31 kg.

Ep
Comparison of energy of photon with that of an electron, i.e., Ee

Energy of the photon is given by,

hc 6.63 × 10−34 × 3 × 108

Ep = hν = = = 9.945 × 10−16 J − − − (a)
λp 0.2 × 10−9

We have the equation for de Broglie wavelength as,

h h
λe = =√
p 2mEe
2
h2 (6.63 × 10−34 )
Ee = = = 6.03 × 10−18 J − − − (b)
2me λe 2 2 × 9.11 × 10−31 × (0.2 × 10−9 )2

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 Ep 9.945×10−16
From (a) and (b), Ee = 6.03×10−18
= 164.9

Ep = 164.9 Ee

8. A particle of mass 0.65 M eV /c2 has a kinetic energy of 80 eV . Find the de-Broglie
wavelength, group velocity and phase velocity of the de-Broglie wave.

Soln :
0.65×106 ×1.6×10−19
Mass of the particle m = 0.65M eV /c2 = (3×108 )2
= 1.15 × 10−30 kg

Kinetic Energy E = 80 eV = 80 × 1.6 × 10−19 = 1.28 × 10−17 J

To find: de Broglie wavelength λ =?, Group Velocity, vg =? and Phase Velocity,

vp =?

The equation for de-Broglie wavelength is given by,

h h
λ= =√
p 2mE

6.63 × 10−34
λ= √
2 × 1.15 × 10−30 × 1.28 × 10−17

∴ λ = 1.22 × 10−10 m.

We have from data given, Kinetic Energy, E = 21 mv 2 = 1.28 × 10−17 J

1
∴ mv 2 = 1.28 × 10−17
2

2 × 1.28 × 10−17 2 × 1.28 × 10−17

v2 = = = 2.22 × 1013
m 1.15 × 10−30
p
v= 2.22 × 1013 = 4.7 × 106 m/s.

Here, v is the particle velocity. But, since the particle velocity is same as group
velocity,

vg = 4.7 × 106 m/s.

We have the relation between phase velocity, group velocity and velocity of light as,

c2
vp =
vg

2
(3 × 108 )
∴ vp =
4.7 × 106

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 vp = 1.91 × 1010 ms−1

9. X-rays with wavelength 1Å are scattered from Carbon block. The scattered radiation
is viewed at 90◦ to the incident beam. i) What is Compton shift? and ii) How much
KE is imparted to the recoiling electron?

Soln :

λ = 1Å = 1 × 10−10 , θ = 90◦ , ∆λ =? and KE =?

We know, Compton shift,

h
∆λ = λ0 − λ = (1 − cosθ)
mo c

6.63 × 10−34
∆λ = (1 − cos90◦ )
9.11 × 10−31 × 3 × 108

∆λ = 2.426 × 10−12 m

KE imparted to the recoiling electron = Energy lost by the photon

c  
c 1 1
KE = hν − hν 0 = h(ν − ν 0 ) = h − = hc −
λ λ0 λ λ0
where, λ0 wavelength of the scattered X-ray. Therefore,
λ0 = λ + ∆λ = 1 × 10−10 + 2.426 × 10−12 m

Therefore, KE of the recoiled electron

 
−34 8 1 1
KE = 6.63 × 10 × 3 × 10 −
10−10 10−10 + 2.426 × 10−12

= 1.989 × 10−25 2.3685 × 10−8

 

KE = 4.71 × 10−17 J

10. Calculate the deBroglie wavelength of neutron whose kinetic energy is twice the rest
mass energy of electron (Given, mn = 1.673 × 10−27 kg and me = 9.1 × 10−31 kg).

Soln :

En = 2me c2

h
λ= √ = 2.8 × 10−14 m
2mn En

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11. Calculate the wavelength associated with an electron raised to a potential 2KV .

Soln :

We have,

h
λ= √ = 2.75 × 10−11 m
2mev

12. The deBroglie wavelength of electron in a beam is 7.2 × 10−11 m. Calculate the mo-
mentum and energy of an electron in eV?

Soln :

We have,

h
p= = 9.2 × 10−24 kgm/s
λ

p2
E= = 290eV
2m

13. An electron has kinetic energy equal to its rest mass energy. Calculate de-Broglie
wavelength associated with it.
Soln :

We have,

E = m0 c2 = 81.9 × 10−18 J

h
λ= √ = 0.1715 × 10−11 m or 0.01715Å
2mE

14. An electron beam is accelerated from rest through a potential difference of 200V .
Calculate (i) the associated wanelength, (ii) This beam is passed through a diffraction
grating of spacing 3Å, at what angle of deviation from the incident direction will be
the first maximum observed?
Soln :

h
λ= √ = 0.86Å
2mev
We have,

2d sin θ = nλ

7
  
−1 λ
θ = sin = 8.31◦
2d

15. The position and momentum of 1keV electrons are simultaneously determined and
if its position is located within 0.1nm, what is the percentage of uncertainty in its
momentum?

Soln :

Energy of the electron, E = 1keV = 1 × 103 × 1.6 × 10−19 = 1.6 × 10−16 J.

Uncertainty in the measurement of position, ∆x = 0.1nm = 0.1 × 10−9 m.

∆p
To find: Percentage of uncertainty in the momentum, i.e., p × 100 =?

We have by Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle,

h
∆x · ∆p >
4π

h
∴ ∆p =
4π∆x

6.63 × 10−34
∆p =
4π × 0.1 × 10−9

∆p = 5.27 × 10−25 kgm/s.

√
Also, we have equation for momentum p as, p = 2mE
p
p= 2 × 9.1 × 10−31 × 1.6 × 10−16

p = 1.7 × 10−23 kgm/s.

Further,

∆p 5.27 × 10−25
= = 0.031
p 1.7 × 10−23
Therefore the percentage of uncertainty in its momentum is,

∆p
× 100 = 3.1
p

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16. The average time that an atom retains excess excitation energy before re-emitting it
in the form of electromagnetic radiation is 10−8 s. Calculate the limit of accuracy
with which the excitation energy of the emitted radiation.

Soln :

Uncertainty in the measurement of time, ∆t = 10−8 s

Maximum accuracy with which the excitation energy of radiation, i.e., ∆E =?

According to Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle,

h
∆E.∆t >
4π

h 6.63 × 10−34
∴ ∆E = = = 5.28 × 10−27 J.
4π∆t 4π × 10−8

5.28 × 10−27
∆E = eV = 3.295 × 10−8 eV
1.6 × 1019

17. An electron has a speed of 4.8 × 105 ms−1 accurate to 0.012%. With what accuracy
can be located the position of the electron.

Soln :

Velocity of the electron, v = 4.8 × 105 ms−1 .

Accuracy in the measurement of velocity, ∆v = 0.012% of v

0.012
∴ ∆v = × 4.8 × 105 = 57.6 ms−1
100

∴ ∆p = m × ∆v = 9.1 × 10−31 × 57.6 = 5.24 × 10−29 kgm/s.

To find: Uncertainty in the measurement of position, i.e., ∆x =?

We have by Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle,

h
∆x.∆p >
4π

h 6.63 × 10−34
∴ ∆x = = = 1 × 10−6 m.
4π∆p 4π × 5.24 × 10−29

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18. An hydrogen atom is 5.3×10−11 m in radius. Use the uncertainty principle to estimate
the minimum energy of electron can have in this atom.
Soln :

We have by Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle,

h
∆x · ∆p >
4π

∆p = 9.9 × 10−25 kgm/s

An electron whose momentum is of this of magnitude behaves like a classical particle

and its kinetic energy is,

p2
K.E = ∆E =
2m
or

∆E > 5.4 × 10−19 J or 3.4eV

19. An excited atom gives up its excess energy by emitting a photon of characteristic
frequency.The average period that elapses between the excitation of an atom and the
times it radiates is 1 × 10−8 s. Find the inherent uncertainty in the frequency of the
photon.
Soln :

The photon energy is uncertain by the amount,

h
∆E · ∆t >
4π

∆E > 5.3 × 10−27 J

The corresponding uncertainty in the frequency of light is

∆E
∆ν = = 8 × 106 Hz
h

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