B.Sc.

VI Semester Physics :: Paper VII

Modern Physics :: Question Bank
Prepared By : Reddyvari Venugopal,
Assistant Professor of Physics
Government Degree college, Mahabubabad.

UNIT- I
Essay Questions

1. What is photoelectric effect? State the laws of photoelectric emission. Explain how Einstein
explained the effect. Describe Millikan’s method to verify photoelectric equation.
2. What is Compton effect? Derive an expression for Compton shift.
3. Explain the main features of Bohr atomic model. Derive expressions for radius of orbit, the
velocity and the total energy of the electron in an orbit of hydrogen atom.
4. What are the shortcomings of Bohr’s theory? How Sommerfeld modified the Bohr theory and
what are the outcomes of Sommerfeld theory?
5. Explain the Rutherford scattering of α-particles. How this result is used in Rutherford’s atomic
model.
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. Write a note on Photoelectric effect.
2. Explain the discrete energy exchange by an atom using Frank-Hertz experiment.
3. Explain Bohr’s theory of hydrogen atom taking into account the finite mass of the nucleus.
4. State and explain Ritz-Rydberg principle.
5. Discuss about Bohr correspondence principle.
UNIT- II
Essay Questions
1. What are matter waves? Write their properties. Derive an expression for de Broglie wavelength.
Describe how de-Broglie hypothesis verified experimentally using Davisson-Germer experiment?
2. Define group and phase velocities. Obtain an expression for group velocity. Obtain the
relationship between group velocity and phase velocity.
3. Explain the construction of wave packet. Describe the Gaussian wave packet.
4. State and explain Heisenberg uncertainty principle in different forms. Extend it to time and
energy. Explain the consequences of uncertainty principle in gamma ray microscope and single
slit diffraction.
5. What are the postulates of quantum mechanics? Derive the Schrodinger time independent wave
equation. How it can be applied to harmonic oscillator?
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. Write a note on wave particle duality and velocity of De Broglie waves.
2. Explain de-Broglie wavelength in different forms.
3. Write a note on superposition of two waves.
4. What is wave packet? Explain the physical significance of wave packet.
5. Write a note on localization of wave packet in time.
6. Explain Bohr’s interpretation of wave function.
UNIT- III
Essay Questions
1. What are the basic properties of nucleus? Describe the main features of (a) Shell model and (ii)
liquid drop model. What are the merits and demerits of these models?
2. What are the various terms contributing to the binding energy of nucleus and hence deduce semi-
empirical mass formula?
3. What are nuclear forces? Explain the nature of nuclear forces. Show that electron cannot exists in
the nucleus as a consequence of Heisenberg uncertainty principle.
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. Explain the terms mass defect and binding energy.
2. Write a note on nuclear quadrupole moment.
3. Draw the Diagram of variation of binding energy against mass number. What does it indicate?
4. Estimate the binding energy of deuterium.
5. Write a short note on N-Z graph.
6. What are magic numbers and mention them.
UNIT- IV
Essay Questions
1. Explain the following
(a) α-decay (b) β-decay (c) Interaction of γ- ray with matter.
2. Define the range of α-particles. Explain in detail Gamow’s theory of α-decay and obtain
theoretical form of Geiger-Nuttal law.
3. What is a nuclear reaction? What are the different conservation laws followed by it? What is Q-
value and obtain an expression for it. What is the physical significance of Q-value?
4. Explain the following
(a) Nuclear fission (b) Nuclear fusion.
5. What is a nuclear reactor? Explain the construction, working and applications of nuclear reactor.

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. What is radio activity? Derive an expression for law of radioactive decay.

2. Explain the half-life and mean life of a radioactive decay.
3. Explain Fermi’s theory of β decay.
4. Explain Pauli’s neutrino hypothesis of β-decay (OR) What is Pauli’s neutrino hypothesis.
5. Derive an expression for the energy of emission of β-particle in β-decay.
6. Write a note on pair creation by gamma rays in the vicinity of nucleus.
7. Explain the energy production in stars. (OR) Explain Proton-Proton and carbon- nitrogen cycles
of energy production in stars.
8. What are elementary particles? Give a brief classification of elementary particles.
 Problems

1. If the photon is scattered by an electron by an angle of 90 o , find the change in the

wavelength of photon (h=6.625x10-34J-s, me=9.1x10-31kg and c=3x108m/s)
2. An electron is confined to a box of length 10 -8 cm. Calculate the minimum uncertainty in
velocity.
3. An electron accelerated by a potential difference of 1.25 KV. Find out the wavelength
associated with it.
4. A nucleus of mass number 125 has radius of 6 Fermi. Find the radius of nucleus having
mass number of 64.
5. If 5gm of uranium is completely converted to energy, how many KWH energy is
obtained.
6. Calculate the Q-value of the reaction B11 (d, α) Be9. Given the masses as m (B11)
=11.0128amu, m (H2) = 2.0147amu, m (He4) =4.0039amu, m (Be9) =9.0150amu.
7. Find the decay constant, for the half-life time value of 1000 years.