Atoms

Nuclei
Very short answer type questions:

Atoms

1. Describe Thomson’s model of an atom. Why was this model discarded later on?

2. Write two important limitations of Rutherford nuclear model of the atom.

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

hypothesis of wave nature of electron

4. Estimate the ratio of the wavelengths associated with the electron orbiting around the

nucleus in the ground and first excited states of hydrogen atom.

 5. Find the wavelength of the electron orbiting in the first excited state in hydrogen atom.

Nuclei

6. Distinguish between isotopes, isobars and isotones with suitable examples.

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,

independent of mass number A.

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.

9. State Sody-Fajan’s displacement laws of radio-active transformation.

10. Complete the following nuclear reactions:

(a) 105𝐵 + 10𝑛 → 42𝐻𝑒+. . .

94
(b) 42𝑀𝑜 + 21𝐻 → 95
43𝑇𝑒+. . .

11. Distinguish between nuclear fusion and nuclear fission. Give one example for each.

Short answer type questions:

Atoms

1. In Rutherford scattering experiment, draw the trajectory traced by 𝛼-particles in the

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

number of particles scattered versus the scattering angle 𝜃.

(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

atom from the study of this experiment.

3. Draw a schematic arrangement of the Geiger-Marsden experiment. How did the

scattering of 𝛼-particles by a thin foil of gold provide an important way to determine

an upper limit on the size of the nucleus? Explain briefly.

4. Using Bohr’s postulates, obtain the expressions for (i) kinetic energy and (ii) potential

energy of the electron in stationary state of hydrogen atom.

Draw the energy level diagram showing how the transitions between energy levels

result in the appearance of Lyman series.

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

moving in the nth orbit of hydrogen atom.

(b) Write Rydberg’s formula for wavelengths of the spectral lines of hydrogen atom

spectrum. Mention to which series in the emission spectrum of hydrogen, 𝐻𝛼 line

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,

and (ii) repulsive.

(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

released in the process of nuclear fission.

9. Binding energy per nucleon versus mass number curve is as shown.

𝐴 𝐴1 𝐴2 𝐴3
𝑍 𝑆, 𝑍1 𝑊 , 𝑍2 𝑋 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑍3 𝑌

are four nuclei indicated on the curve.

Based on the graph:

(a) Arrange X, W and S in the increasing order of stability.

(b) Write the relation between the relevant A and Z values for the following nuclear

reaction.

𝑆 → 𝑋+𝑊

(c) Explain why binding energy for heavy nuclei is low.

10. (a) Deduce the expression, 𝑁 = 𝑁0 𝑒 −𝜆𝑡 , for the law of radioactive decay.

(b) (i) Write symbolically the process expressing the 𝛽 + decay of 22

11𝑁𝑎 . Also write the

basic nuclear process underlying this decay.

22
(ii) Is the nucleus formed in the decay of the nucleus 11𝑁𝑎 , an isotope or isobar?

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

after two hours.

13. (a) Distinguish between nuclear fission and fusion. Show how in both of these

processes’ energy is released.

(b) Calculate the energy released in MeV in the deuterium-tritium fusion reaction:
2
1𝐻 + 31𝐻 → 42𝐻𝑒 + 𝑛

Using the data:

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

1. (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 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

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.

 2. State Bohr’s postulates. Using these postulates drive an expression for the total energy

of an electron in the nth orbit of an atom. What does negative value of this energy

signify? What is Bohr’s radius?

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

(quantum number 𝑛𝑖 ) to the lower state, (𝑛𝑓 ).

When electron in hydrogen atom jumps from energy state 𝑛𝑖 = 4 to 𝑛𝑓 = 3,2,1;

identify the spectral series to which the emission lines belong.

Nuclei

5. Define the term binding energy. The binding energy of a nucleus 𝐴𝑍𝑋 is given by the

formula: 𝐵. 𝐸. = [𝑍𝑚𝐻 + (𝐴 − 𝑍)𝑚𝑛 − 𝑚( 𝐴𝑍𝑋)]𝑐 2.

where 𝑚( 𝐴𝑍𝑋) is the atomic mass of X. Derive this equation, state clearly the

approximation involved and say it is very safe approximation.

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

moderator, control rods and coolant in it.

7. What is nuclear fusion? Explain, how such a large amount of energy is produced inside

the sun through proton-proton cycle and carbon-carbon cycle.

8. Differentiable between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. Which one of these processes

produces energy (i) in nuclear reactor and (ii) in the sun?

HOTs

Atoms
1. A projectile of mass m, charge 𝑍 ′ , initial speed 𝑣 and impact parameter 𝑏 is scattered

by a heavy nucleus of charge 𝑍. Use angular momentum and energy conservation to

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

𝑟0.[Ignore size of the nucleus and its recoil motion].

2. For scattering by an ‘inverse-square’ field (such as that produced by a charged nucleus

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 )

(a) What is the scattering angle for 𝑏 = 0?

(b) For a given impact parameter b, does the angle of deflection increase or decrease

with increase in energy?

(c) What is the impact parameter at which the scattering angle is 900 for Z=79 and

initial energy equal to 10MeV?

(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

with decrease in impact parameter?

3. The wavelength of the second line of the Balmer series in the hydrogen spectrum is

4861Å. Calculate the wavelength of the first line.

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:

824 Å, 970 Å, 1120 Å, 2504 Å, 5173 Å, 6100 Å.

 Which of these lines cannot belong to hydrogen atom spectrum? (Given Rydberg’s
1
constant 𝑅 = 1.03 × 107 𝑚−1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 = 970 Å). Support your answer with suitable
𝑅

calculations.

5. Using Bohr’s postulates, derive the expression for the orbital period of the electron

moving in the nth orbit of hydrogen atom.

6. Derive the Bohr’s quantization condition for angular momentum of the orbiting

electron in hydrogen atom, using de Broglie’s hypothesis.

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

wavelength of the material used.

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,

what would be the angular momentum of such 𝐻𝛾 photon?

9. The electron, in hydrogen atom, initially in a state of quantum number 𝑛1 makes a

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

electron in its initial state.

Nuclei

10. The number of radioactive atoms per unit volume in the bloodstreams of the two

persons after a time nT are found to be N1 and N2.

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,

whether 𝑀2 = 2𝑀1 or 𝑀2 > 2𝑀1 or 𝑀2 > 2𝑀1 ?

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

of A and B after an interval of 16 second.

235
13. What is the power output of 92𝑈 reactor if it takes 30 days to use up 2 Kg of fuel and

if each fission gives 185 MeV of usable energy?