BPY2110: MODERN PHYSICS PP1

INSTRUCTION: Answer Question ONE and ANY other TWO

Question One (30 marks)
i) Rutherford chose helium particles for his experiment. Explain why (2 marks)
ii) From your understanding, what was the main reason behind the Rutherford’s experiment?
(2marks)
iii) Define nuclear binding energy (2marks)
iv) Define nuclear mass defect (2marks)
v) State the electromagnetic theory about effect of accelerated motion on a charge (2marks)
vi) Give Balmer equation and explain what conclusion it led Balmer in making (3marks)
vii) State any weaknesses noticed with the Balmer’s account of cause for discrete emission (2
marks)
viii) State the Bohr’s postulates (6marks)
ix) Distinguish between Bohr’s idea and Balmer’s on what leads to discrete spectral lines in the
atomic spectra? (3marks)
x) What is an X-ray? (2 marks)
xi) What are nucleons? (1 mark)
xii) Describe the theory of what is believed to be the source of the strong nuclear forces
(3marks)

Question Two (20 marks)

i) What is orbital energy (2marks)
ii) Describe how X-rays are produced in the X-ray tube. (5 marks)
iii) X-ray tube is operated at 30,000V, calculate wavelength of the generated x-rays (2
marks)
iv) What’s is Compton effect? (2 marks)
v) State the assumptions made by Compton in his attempt to explain the results of his
experiment. (2 marks)
vi) Describe Compton’s experiment (5 marks)
vii) What is a photon? (1 mark)

Question Three (20 marks)

I) State the Dalton’s atomic theory of matter (2 marks)
II) What was J.J Thomson’s concept of atomic structure? (2 marks)
III) What is a postulate? (1 mark)
IV) Explain the consequences of Bohr’s postulate about angular momentum of electron and
the orbits where the electrons are found. (5 marks)
V) Derive expression for Bohr’s orbital radius of atom (5 marks)
VI) What is the expression for the potential energy associated With electron in an orbit?
(1mark)
VII) Give one example to prove that where there is no force, potential energy is zero (2marks)
Question Three (20 marks)
i). What is a quanta? (1 mark)
ii). Define a black body (1 mark)
iii). State Stefan-Boltzmann law (2 marks)
iv). State Einstein’s postulate about the manner in which an electron absorbs energy from
light (3 marks)
v). Explain the Einstein’s idea of how the absorbed energy is utilized by the electron
(2marks)
vi). Discuss how radiation from just any hot body would compare to black body radiation.
(5 marks)
vii). State Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle (2 marks)
viii) State the Bohr’s postulate which is in contradiction to the Heisenberg’s principle and
explain. (4 marks)