MODERN PHYSICS
Most Important Question
Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter
1. Draw a graph showing the variation of de Broglie wavelength λ of a particle of charge q and mass m, with
the accelerating potential V. An α-particle and a proton have the same de-Broglie wavelength equal to 1Å.
Explain with calculations, which of the two has more kinetic energy.
Ans. Proton has double energy than that of α-particle
2. The given graph shows the variation of photocurrent for a photosensitive metal:
(a) Identify the variable X on the horizontal axis.
(b) What does the point A on the horizontal axis represent?
(c) Draw this graph for three different values of frequencies of incident radiation v 1 v2 and v3 (v1 > v2 >
v3) for same intensity.
(d) Draw this graph for three different values of intensities of incident radiation I1 I2 and I3 (I1 > I2 > I3)
having same frequency.
Ans. (a) ‘X’ is a collector plate potential.
(b) ‘A’ represents the stopping potential.
3. Write Einstein’s photoelectric equation and mention which important features in photoelectric effect can
be explained with the help of this equation. The maximum kinetic energy of the photoelectrons gets
doubled when the wavelength of light incident on the surface changes from λ1 to λ2. Derive the expressions
for the threshold wavelength λ0 and work function for the metal surface.
4. Define the terms
(i) ‘cut-off voltage’ and (ii) ‘threshold frequency’ in relation to the phenomenon of photoelectric effect.
Using Einstein’s photoelectric equation show how the cut-off voltage and threshold frequency for a given
photosensitive material can be determined with the help of a suitable plot/graph.
Ans. (i) Cut-off voltage: The value of the retarding potential at which the photo electric current becomes
zero is called cut-off or stopping potential for the given frequency of the incident radiation.
(ii) Threshold frequency: The minimum value of the frequency of incident radiation below which
the photoelectric emission stops altogether is called threshold frequency.
5. An electron and a photon each have a wavelength of 1.50 nm. Find
(i) their moment,
(ii) the energy of the photon and
(iii) kinetic energy of the electron.
Ans. (i) Momenta, P = 4.42 × 10-25 Kg m/s
(ii) Energy, E = 828.75 eV
(iii) KE, Ek = 0.68 eV
Atoms
1. Write two important limitations of Rutherford model which could not explain the observed features of
atomic spectra. How were these explained in Bohr’s model. of hydrogen atom? Use the Rydberg formula
to calculate the wavelength of the Hα line. (Take R = 1.1 × 107 m-1).
Ans. Wavelength of Hα line: λ = 656.3 nm
2. (a) Draw a schematic arrangement of Geiger- Marsden experiment showing the scattering of α-particles
by a thin foil of gold. Why is it that most of the a-particles go right through the foil and only a small
fraction gets scattered at large angles? Draw the trajectory of the a-particle in the coulomb field of a
nucleus. What is the significance of impact parameter and what information can be obtained regarding the
size of the nucleus?
(b) Estimate the distance of closest approach to the nucleus (Z = 80) if a 7.7 MeV α-particle before it
comes momentarily to rest and reverses its direction.
Ans. (b) r0 = 30 × 10-15 m
3. (i) State Bohr’s quantization condition for defining stationary orbits. How does de-Broglie hypothesis
explain the stationary orbits?
(ii) Find the relation between the three wave-lengths λ1, λ2 and λ3 from the energy level diagram shown
below:
4. (a) The value of ground state energy of hydrogen atom is -13.6 eV and Bohr radius is 0.53Å. Calculate
(i) the energy required to move an electron from the ground state to the second excited state.
(ii) (a) the kinetic energy
(b) the orbital radius in the second excited state of the atom.
Ans. (a) E3 = -1.51 eV
(b) r3 = 4.77 Å
5. (a) Using Bohr’s second postulate of quantization of orbital angular momentum show that the
circumference of the electron in the n, h orbital state in hydrogen atom is n times the de-Broglie
wavelength associated with it.
(b) The electron in hydrogen atom is initially in the third excited state. What is the maximum number of
spectral lines which can be emitted when it finally moves to the ground state?
Ans. (b) Total number of transitions = 6
6. The energy levels of a hypothetical atom are shown below. Which of the shown transitions will result in
the emission of a photon of wavelength 275 nm? Which of these transitions correspond to emission of
radiation of
(i) maximum and
(ii) minimum wavelength?
Ans. (i) Element A has radiation of maximum wavelength 621 nm.
(ii) Element D has radiation of minimum wavelength 155 nm.
Nuclei
1. (a) Draw a graph showing the variation of binding energy per nucleon (BE/A) vs mass number A for the
nuclei in 20 ≤ A ≤ 170.
(b) A nucleus of mass number 240 and having binding energy/nucleon 7.6 MeV splits into two fragments
Y, Z of mass numbers 110 and 130 respectively. If the binding energy/ nucleon of Y, Z is equal to 8.5 MeV
each, calculate the energy released in the nuclear reaction.
Ans. Energy released E = 216 MeV
2. (a) Write three characteristic properties of nuclear force.
(b) Draw a plot of potential energy of a pair of nucleons as a function of their separation. Write two
important conclusions that can be drawn from the graph.
Ans.
(a) Nuclear forces: The strong forces of attraction which hold together the nucleons (neutrons and protons) in the
tiny nucleus of an atom are called nuclear forces.
Important properties (characteristics):
1. Nuclear forces are independent of charge (These act between a pair of neutrons, between a pair of protons and
between a proton and a neutron).
2. Nuclear forces are the strongest forces in nature.
3. Nuclear forces are very short ranges forces.
4. Nuclear forces are non-central forces.
5. Nuclear forces are dependent on spin.
(b)
Important conclusions from the graph:
(i) The nuclear force is much stronger than the Coulomb force acting between charges or the
gravitational forces between masses. The nuclear binding force has to dominate over the Coulomb
repulsive force between protons inside the nucleus. This happens only because the nuclear force is
much stronger than the coulomb force. The gravitational force is much weaker than even Coulomb
force.
(ii) (ii) The nuclear force between two nucleons falls rapidly to zero as their distance is more than a few
fermometer. This leads to saturation of forces in a medium or a large-sized nucleus, which is the
reason for the constancy of the binding energy per nucleon. (iii) The nuclear force between neutron-
neutron, proton-neutron and proton-proton is approximately the same. The nuclear force does not
depend on the electric charge.
3. (a) In a typical nuclear reaction, e.g.
2 2 3
1 H + 1 H → 2He + n + 3.27MeV,
although number of nucleons is conserved, yet energy is released. How? Explain.
(b) Show that nuclear density in a given nucleus is independent of mass number A.
4. Two nuclei have mass numbers in the ratio 1: 2. What is the ratio of their nuclear densities?
Ans. The ratio of density will be: 1:1
SEMICONDUCTORS
Most Important Question
1. Draw the ‘Energy bands’, diagrams for a
(i) pure semiconductor (ii) insulator. How does the energy band, for a pure semiconductor, get affected
when this semiconductor is doped with (a) an acceptor impurity (b) donor impurity?
Hence discuss why the ‘holes’, and the ‘electrons’ respectively, become the ‘majority charge carriers’ in
these two cases? Write the two processes involved in the formation of p-n junction.
Ans.
2. (a) Explain briefly, with the help of circuit diagram, the working of a full wave rectifier. Draw its input
and output waveforms.
(b) Draw the circuit diagram of a p-n diode used as a half-wave rectifier. Explain its working.
Ans.
3. (a) State briefly the processes involved in the formation of p-n junction explaining clearly how the
depletion region is formed.
(b) Using the necessary circuit diagrams, show how the V-I characteristics of a p-n junction are obtained
in (i) Forward biasing (ii) Reverse biasing How are these characteristics made use of in rectification?
4. Describe briefly, with the help of a diagram, the role of the two important processes involved in the
formation of a p-n junction:
