Numerical Problems Atomic and Molecular Physics BS Physics

Assignment #1 Submission Deadline: 21/08/23

Prob 1. The series limit of the Paschen series (𝑛𝑜 = 3) is 820.1 nm. What are the three longest
wavelengths of the Paschen series? (1875 nm, 1281 nm, 1094 nm)
Prob 2. Show that the longest wavelength of the Balmer series and the longest tow wavelength of
the lymen series satisfy the Ritz combination principle. For lymen series, 𝜆𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡 =
91.13 𝑛𝑚.
Prob 3. Find the wavelength of transmission from 𝑛1 = 3 to 𝑛2 = 2 and from 𝑛1 = 4 to 𝑛2 = 2
in atomic hydrogen.
Prob 4. Calculate the two longest wavelength of blamer series of triply ionized beryllium (𝑍 = 4)
Prob 5. The shortest wavelength of the hydrogen Lyman series is 91.13 nm. Find the three longest
wavelengths in this series.
Prob 6. One of the lines in the Brackett series (series limit = 1458 nm) has a wavelength of 1944
nm. Find the next higher and next lower wavelengths in this series.
Prob 7. The longest wavelength in the Pfund series is 7459 nm. Find the series limit.
Prob 8. In the n = 3 state of hydrogen, find the electron’s velocity, kinetic energy, and potential
energy.
Prob 9. Use the Bohr theory to find the series wavelength limits of the Lyman and Paschen series
of hydrogen.
Prob 10. An electron is in the n = 5 state of hydrogen. To what states can the electron make
transitions, and what are the energies of the emitted radiations?
Prob 11. A collection of hydrogen atoms in the ground state is illuminated with ultraviolet light of
wavelength 59.0 nm. Find the kinetic energy of the emitted electrons.
Prob 12. Find the ionization energy of:
(a) the n = 3 level of hydrogen;
(b) the n = 2 level of He+ (singly ionized helium);
(c) the n = 4 level of Li++ (doubly ionized lithium)
Prob 13. Use the Bohr formula to find the energy differences E(n1→ n2) = En1− En2
and show that (a) E(4 → 2) =E(4 → 3) + E(3 → 2); (b) E(4 → 1) = E(4 → 2) +E(2 → 1).
(c) Interpret these results based on the Ritz combination principle.
Prob 14. Find the shortest and the longest wavelengths of the Lyman series of singly ionized
helium.
Prob 15. Draw an energy-level diagram showing the lowest four levels of singly ionized helium.
Show all possible transitions from the levels and label each transition with its wavelength.

Department of Physics, University of Balochistan Quetta

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Numerical Problems Atomic and Molecular Physics BS Physics

Prob 16. An alternative development of the Bohr theory begins by assuming that the stationary
states are those for which the circumference of the orbit is an integral number of de
Broglie wavelengths.
(a) Show that this condition leads to standing de Broglie waves around the orbit.
(b) Show that this condition gives the angular momentum condition, used in the Bohr theory.
Prob 17. A hydrogen atom is in the n = 6 state.
(a) Counting all possible paths, how many different photon energies can be emitted if the atom
ends up in the ground state?
(b) Suppose only _n = 1 transitions were allowed. How many different photon energies would be
emitted?
Prob 18. An electron is in the n = 8 level of ionized helium.
(a) Find the three longest wavelengths that are emitted when the electron makes a transition from
the n = 8 level to a lower level.
(b) Find the shortest wavelength that can be emitted. (c) Find the three longest wavelengths at
which the electron in the n = 8 level will absorb a photon and move to a higher state, if we could
somehow keep it in that level long enough to absorb. (d) Find the shortest wavelength that can be
absorbed.
Prob 19. The following wavelengths are found among the many radiations emitted by singly
ionized helium: 24.30 nm, 25.63 nm, 102.5 nm, 320.4 nm. If we group the transitions in
helium as we did in hydrogen by identifying the final state n0 and initial state n, to which
series does each transition belong?
Prob 20. Adjacent wavelengths 72.90 nm and 54.00 nm are found in one series of transitions
among the radiations emitted by doubly-ionized lithium. Find the value of n0 for this
series and find the next wavelength in the series.
Prob 21. Find the potential energy of two 𝛼 particles when they are brought together to a distance
of 1.20 × 10−15 𝑚, the approximate size of a nucleus.
Prob 22. Find the potential energy of an electron and a proton when they are brought together to a
distance of 5.29 × 10−11 𝑚 to form a hydrogen atom.
Prob 23. The orbital electron of a hydrogen atom moves with a speed of 5.459 × 105 𝑚/𝑠. (a)
Determine the value of the quantum number n associated with this electron. (b) Find the
radius of this orbit. (c) Find the energy of the electron in this orbit.
Prob 24. An electron in the third Bohr orbit drops to the ground state. Find the angular momentum
of the electron in (a) the third Bohr orbit, and (b) the ground state. (c) Find the change in
the angular momentum of the electron. (d) Where did the angular momentum go?
Prob 25. Show that the ratio of the speed of an electron in the first Bohr orbit to the speed of light
is equal to 1⁄137. This ratio is called the fine-structure constant.
Prob 26. Find the radius of the first Bohr orbit of an electron in a singly ionized helium atom.
Prob 27. Find the angular momentum of an electron in the third Bohr orbit and the second Bohr
orbit. How much angular momentum is lost when the electron drops from the third orbit
to the second orbit?

Department of Physics, University of Balochistan Quetta

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