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JEST 2012
PART A: THREE MARK QUESTIONS

Q1. A monoatomic ideal gas at 170 oC is adiabatically compressed to 1/8 of its original
volume. The temperature after compression is
(a) 2.1 oC (b) 17oC (c) -200.5oC (d) 887 oC
Q2. An observer in an inertial frame finds that at a point P the electric field vanishes but the

magnetic field does not. This implies that in any other inertial frame the electric field E

and the magnetic field B satisfy
2 2     
(a) E  B (b) E  B  0 (c) E  B  0 (d) E  0

Q3. Consider a system of particles in three dimension with momentum p and energy

E  c p , c being a constant. The system is maintained at inverse temperature β, volume

V and chemical potential µ. What is the grand partition function of the system?

(a) exp e  8V / ch   3
(b) e  6V / ch 
2

(c) expe 6V / ch  

3 2

(d) e  8V /  ch 
Q4. The ground state (apart from normalization) of a particle of unit mass moving in a one-
   
dimensional potential V x  is exp  x 2 / 2 cosh 2 x . The potential V x  , in suitable units
so that   1 , is (up to an additive constant.)
(a) x 2 / 2  
(b) x 2 / 2  2 x tanh 2 x

(c) x 2 / 2  2 x tan 2 x   (d) x 2 / 2  2 x coth 2 x 


Q5.  
A magnetic field B  B0 iˆ  2 ˆj  4kˆ exists at point. If a test charge moving with a

 
velocity, v  v0 3iˆ  ˆj  2 kˆ experiences no force at a certain point, the electric field at
that point in SI units is
 

(a) E  v0 B0 3iˆ  2 ˆj  4kˆ  
(b) E  v0 B0 iˆ  ˆj  7kˆ 
 
(c) E  v B 14 ˆj  7kˆ
0 0   
(d) E  v0 B0 14 ˆj  7kˆ 

fiziks c/o Anand Institute of mathematics, 28-B/6 Jia Sarai

Near IIT, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, PIN- 110016 (INDIA)
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Q6. For small angular displacement (i.e., sinθ ≈ θ), a simple pendulum oscillates
harmonically. For larger displacements, the motion
(a) becomes a periodic
(b) remains periodic with the same period
(c) remains periodic with a higher period
(d) remains periodic with a lower period
Q7. A planet orbits a massive star in a highly elliptical orbit, i.e., the total orbital energy E is
close to zero. The initial distance of closest approach is R0. Energy is dissipated through
tidal motions until the orbit is circularized with a final radius of Rf. Assume that orbital
angular momentum is conserved during the circularization process. Then

(a) Rf = R0/2 (b) Rf = R0 (c) R f  2R0 (d) Rf = 2R0

Q8. A binary system consists of two stars of equal mass m orbiting each other in a circular
orbit under the influence of gravitational forces. The period of the orbit is  . At t = 0, the
motion is stopped and the stars are allowed to fall towards each other. After what time t,
1
expressed in terms of , do they collide? The following integral may be useful ( x  r 2 )
x 2 dx x   x 
    x 2  sin 1   .
  x2 2 2  
  
(a) 2 (b) (c) (d)
2 2 2 4 2
Q9. Consider a system maintained at temperature T, with two available energy states
E1 and E2 each with degeneracies g1 and g 2 . If p1 and p 2 are probabilities of occupancy
of the two energy states, what is the entropy of the system?
(a) S  k B  p1 ln  p1 / g 1   p 2 ln p 2 / g 2 
(b) S  k B  p1 ln p1 g 1   p 2 ln p 2 g 2 


(c) S  k B p1 ln p1    p lnp 
g1
2 2
g2

(d) S  k B 1 / p1  ln  p1 / g1   1 / p 2  ln  p 2 / g 2 

fiziks c/o Anand Institute of mathematics, 28-B/6 Jia Sarai

Near IIT, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, PIN- 110016 (INDIA)
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Q10. Consider the Bohr model of the hydrogen atom. If α is the fine-structure constant, the
velocity of the electron in its lowest orbit is
c c
(a) (b) or 1    c (c) α2 c (d) α c
1 1 2
Q11. Consider a particle of mass m moving inside a two-dimensional square box whose sides
are described by the equations x = 0, x = L, y = 0, y = L. What is the lowest eigenvalue
of an eigenstate which changes sign under the exchange of x and y?

(a)  2 / mL2  
(b) 3 2 / 2mL2  
(c) 5 2 / 2mL2  
(d) 7 2 / 2mL2 
Q12. Consider an ideal gas of mass m at temperature T1 which is mixed isobarically (i.e. at
constant pressure) with an equal mass of same gas at temperature T2 in a thermally
insulated container. What is the change of entropy of the universe?
 T  T2   T  T2 
(a) 2mC p ln 1  (b) 2mC p ln 1 
2 TT  2 TT 
 1 2   1 2 

 T  T2   T  T2 
(c) 2mC p ln 1  (d) 2 mC p ln 1 
 2T1T2  2 TT 
 1 2 
Q13. In a certain intertial frame two light pulses are emitted at point 5 km apart and separated
in time by 5 µs. An observer moving at a speed V along the line joining these points notes
that the pulses are simultaneous. Therefore V is
(a) 0.7c (b) 0.8c (c) 0.3c (d) 0.9c
Q14. A circular conducting ring of radius R rotates with constant angular velocity ω about its
diameter placed along the x-axis. A uniform magnetic field B is applied along the y-axis.
If at time t = 0 the ring is entirely in the xy-plane, the emf induced in the ring at time t >
0 is
(a) B 2R 2 t (b) BR 2 tan  t 

(c) BR 2 sin  t  (d) BR 2 cos t 

fiziks c/o Anand Institute of mathematics, 28-B/6 Jia Sarai

Near IIT, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, PIN- 110016 (INDIA)
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Q15.  
Define  x  f †  f , and  y  i  f †  f , where the σ’ are Pauli spin matrices and

f , f† obey anticommutation relations  f , f   0, f , f †   1 . Then  z is given by

(a) f † f-1 (b) 2f† f-1 (c) 2f† f + 1 (d) f† f
 ln x
Q16. The value of the integral  x dx is
0 2
1  2

(a) 0 (b) - π/4 (c) – π/2 (d) π/2


Q17. An electric field in a region is given by E x, y, z   ax iˆ  czˆj  6bykˆ . For which values of
a, b, c does this represent an electrostatic field?
(a) 13, 1, 12 (b) 17, 6, 1 (c) 13, 1, 6 (d) 45, 6, 1

 x e
x
Q18. If [x] denotes the greatest integer not exceeding x, then dx
0

1 e 1 e
(a) (b) 1 (c) (d) 2
e 1 e e 1
Q19. Consider a system of two spin-1/2 particles with total spin S = s1 +s2, where s1 and s2 are
in terms of Pauli matrices σi. The spin triplet projection operator is
1 3 3 1
(a)  s1 . s 2 (b)  s1 . s2 (c)  s1 . s 2 (d)  s1 . s2
4 4 4 4
Q20. A collection of N two-level systems with energies 0 and E > 0 is in thermal equilibrium
at temperature T. For T → ∞, the specific heat approaches
(a) 0 (b) Nk B (c) 3 Nk B / 2 (d) ∞
Q21. Consider a spin-1/2 particle in the presence of homogeneous magnetic field of magnitude
1
B along z-axis which is prepared initially in a state       at time t = 0. At
2
what time t will the particles be in the state   (  B is Bohr magneton)?

 2 
(a) t  (b) t  (c) t  (d) Never
B B B B 2 B B

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Q22. The classic three op-amp instrumentation amplifier configuration is shown below:
V2 
 R

R R
R 
V0
R 
R
R

V1 

The op-amp are ideal and all resistors are of equal value R. The gain, defined as the
output voltage V0 divided by the differential input voltage V1 – V2, is equal to
(a) 2 (b) 3 (c) 4 (d) 6
Q23. A capacitor C is connected to a battery V0 through three equal resistors R and a switch S
as shown below:
S R R

R C
V0

The capacitor is initially uncharged. At time t = 0, the switch S is closed. The voltage
across the capacitor as a function of time t for t > 0 is given by
(a) V0 / 2 1  exp  t / 2 RC  (b) V0 / 31  exp  t / 3RC 

(c) V0 / 31  exp  3t / 2 RC  (d) V0 / 2 1  exp  2t / 3RC 

1 1 1
Q24. As x → 1, the infinite series x  x 3  x 5  x 7  .......
3 5 7
(a) diverges (b) converges to unity
(c) converges to π / 4 (d) none of the above

fiziks c/o Anand Institute of mathematics, 28-B/6 Jia Sarai

Near IIT, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, PIN- 110016 (INDIA)
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Q25. A beam of X-rays is incident on a BCC crystal. If the difference between the incident and

scatered wavevectors is K  hxˆ  kyˆ  lzˆ where xˆ , yˆ , zˆ are the unit vectors of the
associated cubic lattice, the necessary condition for the scattered beam to give a Laue
maximum is
(a) h + k + l = even (b) h= k= l
(c) h, k, l are all distinct (d) h + k + l = odd

PART-B: ONE MARK QUESTIONS

Q26. A small magnet is dropped down a long vertical copper tube in a uniform gravitational
field. After a long time, the magnet
(a) attains a constant velocity (b) moves with a constant acceleration
(c) moves with a constant deceleration (d) executes simple harmonic motion
Q27. The ground state energy of 5 identical spin-1/2 particles which are subject to a one-
dimensional simple harmonic oscillator potential of frequency ω is
(a) (15/2)ћω (b) (13/2)ћω (c) (1/2)ћω (d) 5ћω
Q28. Efficiency of a perfectly reversible (Carrot) heat engine operating between absolute
temperature T and zero is equal to
(a) 0 (b) 0.5 (c) 0.75 (d) 1
Q29. Consider a particle of electric charge e and mass m moving under the influence of a
constant horizontal electric field E and constant vertical gravitational field described by
acceleration due to gravity g. If the particle starts from rest, what will be its trajectory?
(a) parabolic (b) elliptic (c) straight line (d) circular
Q30. A thermally insulated ideal gas of volume V1 and temperature T expands to another
enclosure of volume V2 through a prous plug. What is the change in the temperature of
the gas?
(a) 0 (b) T ln(V1 / V2) (c) T ln(V2 / V1) (d) T ln[(V2 – V1) / V2)]

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Near IIT, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, PIN- 110016 (INDIA)
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Q31. The spatial part of a two-electron state is symmetric under exchange. If  and 

represent the spin-up and spin-down states respectively of each particle, the spin-part of
the two-particle state is

(a)   (b)  


(c)      / 2  
(d)      / 2 

Q32. The ratio of maximum to minimum resistance that can be obtained with N 1-Ω resistors is
(a) N (b) N2 (c) 1 (d) ∞

Q33. The wave function of a free particle in one dimension is given by

 x   A sin x  B sin 3x . Then   x  is an eigenstate of
(a) the position operator (b) the Hamiltonian
(c) the momentum operator (d) the parity operator

Q34. A point charge +q is placed at (0, 0, d) above a grounded infinite conducting plane
defined by z = 0. There are no charges present anywhere else. What is the magnitude of
electric field at (0, 0, - d)?

(a) q / 8 0 d 2  (b) - ∞ (c) 0 
(d) q / 16 0 d 2 

Q35. What is the value of the following series?

2 2
 1 1   1 1 
1    ....   1    ..... 
 2! 4!   3! 5! 
(a) 0 (b) e (c) e2 (d) 1

Q36. The second order maximum in the diffraction of X-rays of 0.20 nanometer wavelength
from a simple cubic crystal is found to occur at an angle of thirty degrees to the crystal
plane. The distance between the lattice planes is
(a) 1 Angstrom (b) 2 Angstrom (c) 4 Angstrom (d) 8 Angstrom

fiziks c/o Anand Institute of mathematics, 28-B/6 Jia Sarai

Near IIT, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, PIN- 110016 (INDIA)
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Q37. A jet of gas consists of molecules of mass m, speed v and number density n all moving
co-linearly. This jet hits a wall at an angle θ to the normal. The pressure exerted on the
wall by the jet assuming elastic collision will be
(a) p  2mnv 2 cos 2  (b) p  2mnv 2 cos

(c) p  3 / 2mnv cos 2  (d) p  mnv 2


Q38. A time-dependent magnetic field Bt  is produced in a circular region of space, infinitely

long and of radius R. The magnetic field is given as B  B0 t zˆ for 0  r  R and is zero
for r  R , where B0 is a positive constant. The electric field for r  R is
B0 R 2 B0 R 2 ˆ B0 R 2 B0 R 2 ˆ
(a) rˆ (b)  (c)  rˆ (d)  
r 2r r 2r

Q39. If the coordinate q and the momentum p from a canonical pair (q, p), which one of the
sets given below also forms a canonical?
(a) (q, - p) (b) (q 2 , p 2) (c) (p, - q) (d) (q 2, - p2)

Q40. The net charge of an n-type semiconductor is

(a) positive
(b) zero
(c) negative
(d) dependent on the dopant density

Q41. The length and radius of a perfect cylinder are each measured with an RMS error of 1%.
The RMS error on the inferred volume of the cylinder is roughly
(a) 1.7 % (b) 3.3 % (c) 0.5 % (d) 1 %

fiziks c/o Anand Institute of mathematics, 28-B/6 Jia Sarai

Near IIT, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, PIN- 110016 (INDIA)
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Q42. When unpolarised light is incident on a glass plate at a particular angle, it is observed that
the reflected beam is linearly polarized. What is the angle of the refracted beam with
respect to the surface normal? Refractive index of glass is 1.52.
(a) 56.7°
(b) 33.4°
(c) 23.3°
(d) The light is completely reflected and there is no refracted beam.

Q43. The Dulong –Petit law fails near room temperature (300 K) for many light elements (such
as boron and beryllium) because their Debye temperature is
(a) >> 300 K (b) ~ 300 K (c) << 300 K (d) 0 K

Q44. An unbiased die is cast twice. The probability that the positive difference
(bigger - smaller) between the two numbers is 2 is
(a) 1 / 9 (b) 2 / 9 (c) 1 / 6 (d) 1 / 3

Q45. A cube has a constant electric potential V on its surface. If there are no charges inside the
cube, the potential at the center of the cube is
(a) V (b) V / 8 (c) 0 (d) V / 6

Q46. A girl measures the period of a simple pendulum inside a stationary lift and finds it to be
T seconds. If the lift accelerates upward with an acceleration g / 4, then the period of the
pendulum will be

(a) T (b) T / 4 (c) 2T / 5 (d) 2T 5

Q47. The quantum state sin x   expi  cos x  , where    0 and x,  are,real, is

orthogonal to:
(a) sin x  (b) cos x   expi sin x 

(c)  cos x   expi sin x  (d)  exp i  cos x   sin x 

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Near IIT, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, PIN- 110016 (INDIA)
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Q48. The binding energy of the hydrogen atom (electron bound to proton) is 13.6 eV. The
binding energy of positronium (electron bound to positron) is
(a) 13.6/2 eV (b) 13.6/1810 eV
(c) 13.61810 eV (d) 13.62 eV

Q49. For an N x N matrix consisting of all ones,

(a) all eigenvalues = 1 (b) all eigenvalues = 0
(c) the eigenvalues are 1, 2, …., N (d) one eigenvalue = N, the others = 0

Q50. A sodium atom in the first excited 3P states has a lifetime of 16 ns for decaying to the
ground 3S state. The wavelength of the emitted photon is 589 nm. The corresponding line
width of the transition (in frequency units) is about
(a) 1.7 x 106 Hz (b) 1 x 10 7 Hz
(c) 6.3 x 107 Hz (d) 5 x 10 14 Hz

fiziks c/o Anand Institute of mathematics, 28-B/6 Jia Sarai

Near IIT, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, PIN- 110016 (INDIA)
Phone: 011-32718565, +91-9871145498
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