UP201_T: Thermal and Modern Physics

Start Time: 3rd Dec 2020 1:30 PM Mid Semester Examination Due by 3rd Dec 2020, 6:00 PM
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General Instructions:

1. This paper has 11 questions and 4 pages.

2. This is meant to be a closed-book exam. We trust you to not refer to any resources
while answering the questions. You are expected to answer the questions without
any external assistance.
3. Write your name and student registration number on the answer script.
4. Read through all the questions before starting to answer them. No matter in what
order you answer the questions, mark the question number CLEARLY.
5. Please keep your answers brief and to the point. Write legibly, stating any
assumptions clearly.
6. Scan your answers into a single pdf file and upload it on Teams. Do not send any
email attachment.
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Some physical constants in SI units (you might not need all of them!):
Permittivity constant ε0 = 8.85 ×10-12 F/m,
Charge of the electron e = 1.60 × 10-19 C
Mass of the electron me = 9.11 × 10-31 kg,
Planck constant: h = 6.63 × 10-34 J·s
Wein Constant = 2.90 × 10-3 m·K
Velocity of light c = 3.00 × 108 m/s
Stefan-Boltzmann constant σ = 5.67 × 10-8 W / m2 · K4
Acceleration due to gravity g = 9.81 m/s2
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If you have any questions regarding the questions during the exam, post a message on the
general channel in Teams and we will answer.
If there is any emergency that requires you to contact one of us, call Baladitya: 9481186223.
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1. [10 marks] A uniform metal string of mass m and total length L0 at temperature T0 is fixed
rigidly to a wall at one end. The string runs over a pulley at a fixed distance L from the wall
and a mass M hangs from the string as shown in the figure. The coefficient of linear (length)
expansion of the string is given to be 𝛼. Assume that only the string changes length under
changes of temperature and that M >> m.
L

(a) What is the fundamental frequency of vibration of the string at T0? [3 marks]
(b) If the temperature changes from 𝑇! to 𝑇" = 𝑇! + Δ𝑇, what is the new fundamental
frequency of the string (for small Δ𝑇)? [7 marks]

!"
# $
!# $
2. [5 marks] Compute !" for a diatomic ideal gas, where the numerator is for an
# $
!# &'(&)
isothermal process and the denominator is for an adiabatic process.

3. [8 marks] For a certain non-ideal gas with equation of state 𝑃𝑉 = 𝑁k % 𝑇, the molar
specific heat at constant pressure (in J K-1mol-1) varies with absolute temperature as
𝐶& = 𝐴 + 𝐵 𝑇, where A and B are constants. Evaluate the Pressure-Temperature relation
under an adiabatic process for this gas.

4. [9 marks] Two copper blocks of equal mass M, and specific heat (per unit mass) C are
initially at temperatures T1 and T2 respectively (with T1 > T2). They are placed in thermal
contact with each other until they reach equilibrium.
Compute the changes in entropy of
(a) the hot block [2 marks]
(b) the cold block [2 marks]
(c) the combined system [2 marks]
(d) Show that the change in entropy of the combined system is positive. [3 marks]
Indicate the sign of the entropy change in each case clearly.
5. [9 marks] A Carnot heat engine uses a hot reservoir consisting of a large amount of
boiling water at 100∘ 𝐶 and a cold reservoir consisting of a large tub of ice and water at 0∘ 𝐶.
In 5 minutes of operation, the heat rejected by the engine melts 0.0400 kg of ice. During this
time,
(a) determine the work performed (W) by the engine and the heat input from the hot
reservoir (Qh). [5 marks]
(b) What is the change in entropy of the cold reservoir? [2 marks]
(c) What is the change in entropy of the hot reservoir? [2 marks]
(Latent heat of fusion of water = 333 kJ/kg. Indicate explicitly the sign of the entropy
change.)

6. [11 marks] Consider a macroscopic system of N atoms each of which can be in one of two
quantum energy levels with energies ± ε. Assume that the atoms are held fixed in a one
dimensional lattice and can be regarded as distinguishable based on their location.

(a) A microstate of the system corresponds to a particular selection of n atoms, all in the
level with energy – ε, and the remaining in the level with energy + ε. What is the
total energy E of the system corresponding to this microstate? [2 marks]
(b) How many distinct microstates are there with energy E ? [4 marks]
(c) Determine the entropy of the system as a function of its total energy E, and the
number of atoms N. Use the Stirling approximation, log n! ≈ n log n – n, to simplify
the expressions. [5 marks]

7. [8 marks] Two spaceships take off from the origin of an inertial frame S in exactly
opposite directions with the same high speed. In the frame of each spaceship, the other
spaceship is seen moving away at a speed of 0.700c. What does an observer in the frame S
measure for the speed of each spaceship?

8. [12 marks] A white dwarf star with a surface temperature of 10,000 K, emits radiation
which can be assumed to be blackbody radiation corresponding to this temperature. The
radius of the star is 10,000 kms. A spaceship is moving past this star along a straight path at
a speed of 0.8c, with the distance of nearest approach to the star (measured from its centre)
being d = 3 x 1012 m. The position x of the spaceship along its path is measured from the
point of closest approach as shown in the figure.
 (a) Compute the total intensity (power per unit area) of the radiation received at the
spaceship, as a function of 𝑥. [4 marks]
(b) Compute the wavelength at which the spectrum of the radiation received at the
spaceship has the maximum intensity, as a function of 𝑥. [8 marks]

9. [10 marks] When ultraviolet light with a wavelength of 400.0 nm falls on a metal plate of
area A, the maximum kinetic energy of the emitted photoelectrons is measured to be 1.10
eV.
(a) What is the maximum kinetic energy of the photoelectrons when light of wavelength
300.0 nm falls on the same metal plate? [3 marks]
(b) The plate is now placed at a distance d from a second identical plate which is earthed,
to form a parallel plate capacitor. The plate that is not earthed is then illuminated
with the 300.0 nm light.
i. What charge will the photoelectric effect eventually induce on the capacitor?
[5 marks]
ii. What is the minimum number of photons that need to be absorbed for this to
happen? [2 marks]

10. [10 marks] Consider Compton scattering of a photon due to collision with a moving
electron. Before the collision, the photon has wavelength λ and is moving in the +x direction,
and the electron is moving in the -x direction with total energy E (i.e., including its rest
energy mec2). The photon and electron collide head-on. After the collision, both are moving
in the -x direction (that is, the photon has been scattered by 180°).
(a) Derive an expression for the wavelength λ’ of the scattered photon. [7 marks]
(b) Show that, if E >> mec2, where me is the rest mass of the electron, the result reduces
to
ℎ𝑐 𝑚)* 𝑐 + 𝜆
𝜆( = 71 + :
𝐸 4ℎ𝐸
[3 marks]

11. [8 marks] If the de Broglie wavelength of an electron is 10 pico-meters (1 pico-meter =

10-12 m)
(a) what is the speed of the electron? [5 marks]
(b) Through what electric potential would the electron have to be accelerated to acquire
this speed? [3 marks]