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Atoms & Nuclei
Atoms & Nuclei
Nuclei
Very short answer type questions:
Atoms
1. Describe Thomson’s model of an atom. Why was this model discarded later on?
3. Show that Bohr’s second postulate, ‘the electron revolves around the nucleus only in
certain fixed orbits without radiating energy’ can be explained on the basis of de Broglie
4. Estimate the ratio of the wavelengths associated with the electron orbiting around the
Nuclei
7. (i) What characteristic property of nuclear force explains the constancy of binding
energy per nucleon (BE/A) in the range of mass number ‘A’ lying 30 < 𝐴 < 170?
(ii) Show that the density of nucleus over a wide range of nuclei is constant,
8. Draw the graph showing the variation of binding energy per nucleon with mass number.
Give the reason for the decrease of binding energy per nucleon for nuclei with high
mass number.
94
(b) 42𝑀𝑜 + 21𝐻 → 95
43𝑇𝑒+. . .
11. Distinguish between nuclear fusion and nuclear fission. Give one example for each.
Atoms
Coulomb field of target nucleus and explain how this led to estimate the size of the
nucleus.
2. (a) In an experiment on 𝛼-particle scattering by a thin foil, draw a plot showing the
(b) Why is it that a very small fraction of the particles is scattered at 𝜃 > 900?
(c) Write two important conclusions that can be drawn regarding the structure of the
4. Using Bohr’s postulates, obtain the expressions for (i) kinetic energy and (ii) potential
Draw the energy level diagram showing how the transitions between energy levels
5. Using Bohr’s postulates, obtain the expression for the total energy of the electron in the
stationary states of the hydrogen atom. Hence draw the energy level diagram showing
how the lines spectra corresponding to Balmer series occur due to transition between
energy levels.
6. (a) Using Bohr’s postulates, drive the expression for the orbital period of the electron
(b) Write Rydberg’s formula for wavelengths of the spectral lines of hydrogen atom
belongs.
Nuclei
7. (a) Draw a graph showing the variation of potential energy of a pair of nucleons as a
function of their separation. Indicate the regions in which nuclear force is (i) attractive,
(b) Write three characteristic features of nuclear force which distinguish it from the
coulomb force.
8. Draw a plot of the binding energy per nucleon as a function of mass number for a large
number of nuclei. Explain the energy release in the process of nuclear fission from the
above plot. Write a typical nuclear reaction in which a large amount of energy is
𝐴 𝐴1 𝐴2 𝐴3
𝑍 𝑆, 𝑍1 𝑊 , 𝑍2 𝑋 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑍3 𝑌
(b) Write the relation between the relevant A and Z values for the following nuclear
reaction.
𝑆 → 𝑋+𝑊
10. (a) Deduce the expression, 𝑁 = 𝑁0 𝑒 −𝜆𝑡 , for the law of radioactive decay.
11. Derive the expression for the law of radioactive decay of a given sample having initially
𝑁0 nuclei decaying to the number N present at any subsequent time t. Plot a graph
showing the variation of the number of nuclei versus the time t elapsed. Mark a point
on the plot in terms of 𝑇1/2 value when the number present 𝑁 = 𝑁0 /16.
12. (a) Define the activity of a radioactive nucleus and state its SI unit.
(b) Two radioactive nuclei X and Y initially contain equal number of atoms. The half
life is 1 hour and 2 hours respectively. Calculate the ratio of their rates of disintegration
13. (a) Distinguish between nuclear fission and fusion. Show how in both of these
(b) Calculate the energy released in MeV in the deuterium-tritium fusion reaction:
2
1𝐻 + 31𝐻 → 42𝐻𝑒 + 𝑛
𝑚( 21𝐻) = 2.014102 𝑢;
𝑚( 31𝐻) = 3.016049 𝑢;
𝑚( 42𝐻) = 4.002603 𝑢;
𝑚𝑛 = 1.008665 𝑢,
1 𝑢 = 931.5 𝑀𝑒𝑉/𝑐 2.
questions:
Atoms
scattering of 𝛼-particles by a thin foil of gold. Why is it that most of the 𝛼-particles go
straight through the foil and only a small fraction gets scattered at large angles?
Draw the trajectory of the 𝛼-particle in the Coulomb field of a nucleus. What is the
significance of impact parameter and what information can be obtained regarding the
(b) Estimate the distance of closest approach to the nucleus (Z=80) if a 7.7 MeV 𝛼-
of an electron in the nth orbit of an atom. What does negative value of this energy
3. What is the energy level diagram for an atom? Calculate the energies of the various
energy levels of a hydrogen atom and draw an energy level diagram for it.
4. Using Bohr’s postulates, drive the expression for the frequency of radiation emitted
when electron in hydrogen atom undergoes transition from higher energy state
Nuclei
5. Define the term binding energy. The binding energy of a nucleus 𝐴𝑍𝑋 is given by the
where 𝑚( 𝐴𝑍𝑋) is the atomic mass of X. Derive this equation, state clearly the
6. State the principle involved in a nuclear reactor. Draw a labelled diagram of a nuclear
reactor. Draw a labelled diagram of a nuclear reactor and explain the functions of
7. What is nuclear fusion? Explain, how such a large amount of energy is produced inside
8. Differentiable between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. Which one of these processes
HOTs
Atoms
1. A projectile of mass m, charge 𝑍 ′ , initial speed 𝑣 and impact parameter 𝑏 is scattered
obtain a formula connecting the minimum distance s of the projectile from the nucleus
to these parameters. Show that for 𝑏 = 0, s reduces to the distance of closest approach
in Rutherford’s model) the relation between impact parameter b and the scattering angle
𝜃 is given by
𝑍𝑒 2 𝑐𝑜𝑡(𝜃/2)
𝒃=
1
4𝜋𝜀0 (2 𝑚𝑣 2 )
(b) For a given impact parameter b, does the angle of deflection increase or decrease
(c) What is the impact parameter at which the scattering angle is 900 for Z=79 and
(d) Why is it that the mass of the nucleus does not enter the formula above but its charge
does?
(e) For a given energy of the projectile, does the scattering angle increase or decrease
3. The wavelength of the second line of the Balmer series in the hydrogen spectrum is
4. The spectrum of a star in the visible and the ultraviolet region was observed and the
wavelength of some of the lines that could be identified were found to be:
calculations.
5. Using Bohr’s postulates, derive the expression for the orbital period of the electron
6. Derive the Bohr’s quantization condition for angular momentum of the orbiting
7. The ground state energy of an atom is -13.6 eV. The photon emitted during the
transition of electron from n=3 to n=1 state, is incident on a photoelectrons are emitted
from the materials with a maximum kinetic energy of 9eV. Calculate the threshold
8. What is the minimum energy that must be given to a H-atom in ground state so that it
can emit an 𝐻𝛾 in Balmer series? If the angular momentum of the system is conserved,
transition to a state whose excitation energy, with respect to the ground state, is 10.2
eV. If the wavelength, associated with the photon emitted in this transition, is 487.5
nm, find the energy (i) energy in eV and (ii) value of the quantum number, 𝑛1 of the
Nuclei
10. The number of radioactive atoms per unit volume in the bloodstreams of the two
Prove mathematically that the additional volume of blood that needs to be transfused in
𝑁2 −𝑁1
the body of person B equals ( ) 𝑉.
𝑁2
20 40
11. M1 and M2 represent the masses 10𝑁𝑒 nucleus and 20𝐶𝑎 nucleus respectively. State,
12. A sample contains 10−2 Kg each of the two substances A and B with half-lives 4 sec
and 8 sec respectively. Their atomic weights are in the ratio of 1: 2. Find the amounts
235
13. What is the power output of 92𝑈 reactor if it takes 30 days to use up 2 Kg of fuel and