Ch 2 Units and Measurements Physics

Exercises

2.1. Fill in the blanks

(a) The volume of a cube of side 1 cm is equal to.....m 3
(b) The surface area of a solid cylinder of radius 2.0 cm and height 10.0 cm is
equal to ... (mm)2
(c) A vehicle moving with a speed of 18 km h–1covers....m in 1 s
(d) The relative density of lead is 11.3. Its density is ....g cm–3or . ...kg m–3.

Answer

(a) Length of edge = 1cm = 1/100 m

Volume of the cube = side3
Putting the value of side, we get
Volume of the cube = (1/100 m)3

The volume of a cube of side 1 cm is equal to 10-6 m3

(b) Given,
Radius, r = 2.0 cm = 20 mm (convert cm to mm)
Height, h = 10.0 cm =100 mm
The formula of total surface area of a cylinder S = 2πr (r + h)
Putting the values in this formula, we get
Surface area of a cylinder S = 2πr (r + h = 2 x 3.14 x 20 (20+100)
= 15072 = 1.5 × 104 mm2
The surface area of a solid cylinder of radius 2.0 cm and height 10.0 cm is equal to
1.5 × 104 mm2

(c) Using the conversion,

Given,
Time, t = 1 sec
speed = 18 km h-1 = 18 km / hour
1 km = 1000 m and 1hour = 3600 sec
Speed = 18 × 1000 /3600 sec = 5 m /sec
Use formula
Speed = distance / time
Cross multiply it, we get
Distance = Speed × Time = 5 × 1 = 5 m
A vehicle moving with a speed of 18 km h–1covers 5 m in 1 s.

(d) Density of lead = Relative density of lead × Density of water

Density of water = 1 g/cm3
Putting the values, we get
Density of lead = 11.3 × 1 g/ cm3
= 11.3 g cm-3
1 cm = (1/100 m) =10–2 m3
1 g = 1/1000 kg = 10-3 kg
Density of lead = 11.3 g cm-3 = 11.3
Putting the value of 1 cm and 1 gram
11.3 g/cm3 = 11.3 × 10-3 kg (10-2m)-3 = 11.3 ×10–3 × 106 kg m-3 =1.13 × 103 kg m–3
The relative density of lead is 11.3. Its density is 11.3 g cm-3 g cm–3 or 1.13 × 103 kg
m–3.

2.2. Fill in the blanks by suitable conversion of units:

(a) 1 kg m2s–2= ....g cm2 s–2
(b) 1 m =..... ly
(c) 3.0 m s–2=.... km h–2
(d) G= 6.67 × 10–11 N m2 (kg)–2=.... (cm)3s–2 g–1.

Answer

(a) 1 kg = 103 g
1 m2 = 104 cm2
1 kg m2 s–2 = 1 kg × 1 m2 × 1 s–2
=103 g × 104 cm2 × 1 s–2 = 107 g cm2 s–2
1 kg m2s–2= 107 g cm2 s–2

(b) Distance = Speed × Time

Speed of light = 3 × 108 m/s
Time = 1 year = 365 days = 365 × 24 hours = 365 × 24 × 60 × 60 sec
Putting these values in above formula we get
1 light year distance = (3 × 108 m/s) × (365 × 24 × 60 × 60 s) = 9.46 × 1015 m
9.46 × 1015 m = 1 ly
So that 1 m = 1/ 9.46 × 1015 ly = 1.06 × 10-16 ly

(c) 1 hour = 3600 sec so that 1 sec = 1/3600 hour

1 km = 1000 m so that 1 m = 1/1000 km
3.0 m s–2 = 3.0 (1/1000 km)( 1/3600 hour)-2 = 3.0 × 10–3 km × ((1/3600)-2 h–2)
= 3.0 × 10–3 km × (3600)2 h–2 = 3.88 × 104 km h–2
3.0 m s–2= 3.88 × 104 km h–2

(d) Given,
G= 6.67 × 10–11 N m2 (kg)–2
We know that
1 N = 1 kg m s–2
1 kg = 103 g
1 m = 100 cm = 102 cm
Putting above values, we get
 6.67 × 10–11 N m2 kg–2 = 6.67 × 10–11 × (1 kg m s–2) (1 m2) (1Kg–2)
Solve and cancel out the units we get
⇒ 6.67 × 10–11 × (1 kg–1 × 1 m3 × 1 s–2)
Putting above values to convert Kg to g and m to cm
⇒ 6.67 × 10–11 × (103 g)-1 × (102 cm)3 × (1 s–2)
⇒ 6.67 × 10–11 × 10-3 g-1 × 106 cm3 × (1 s–2)
⇒ 6.67 × 10–8 cm3 s–2 g–1
G= 6.67 × 10–11 N m2 (kg)–2= 6.67 × 10–8 (cm)3s–2 g–1.

2.3. A calorie is a unit of heat or energy and it equals about 4.2 J where 1J = 1 kg
m2s–2. Suppose we employ a system of units in which the unit of mass equals α kg,
the unit of length equals β m, the unit of time is γ s. Show that a calorie has a
magnitude 4.2 α–1 β–2 γ2 in terms of the new units.

Answer

Given that,
1 Calorie=4.2 J = 4.2 Kg m2 s-2                ...... (i)
As new unit of mass = α Kg
∴ 1 Kg = 1/α new unit of mass
Similarly, 1 m = β-1 new unit of length
                 1 s = γ-1 new unit of time
Putting these values in (i), we get
1 calorie = 4.2 (α-1 new unit of mass) (β-1 new unit of length)2 (γ-1 new unit of
time)-2
               = 4.2 α-1 β-2 γ2 new unit of energy (Proved)

2.4. Explain this statement clearly:

“To call a dimensional quantity 'large' or 'small' is meaningless without specifying
a standard for comparison”. In view of this, reframe the following statements
wherever necessary:
(a) atoms are very small objects
(b) a jet plane moves with great speed
(c) the mass of Jupiter is very large
(d) the air inside this room contains a large number of molecules
(e) a proton is much more massive than an electron
(f) the speed of sound is much smaller than the speed of light.

Answer

The given statement is true because a dimensionless quantity may be large or

small in comparision to some standard reference. For example, the coefficient of
friction is dimensionless. The coefficient of sliding friction is greater than the
coefficient of rolling friction, but less than static friction.
(a) An atom is a very small object in comparison to a soccer ball.
(b) A jet plane moves with a speed greater than that of a bicycle.
(c) Mass of Jupiter is very large as compared to the mass of a cricket ball.
(d) The air inside this room contains a large number of molecules as compared to
that present in a geometry box.
(e) A proton is more massive than an electron.
(f) Speed of sound is less than the speed of light.

2.5. A new unit of length is chosen such that the speed of light in vacuum is unity.
What is the distance between the Sun and the Earth in terms of the new unit if
light takes 8 min and 20 s to cover this distance?
Answer

Distance between the Sun and the Earth = Speed of light x Time taken by light to
cover the distance
Given that in the new unit, speed of light = 1 unit
Time taken, t = 8 min 20 s = 500 s
∴Distance between the Sun and the Earth = 1 x 500 = 500 units

2.6. Which of the following is the most precise device for measuring length:
(a) a vernier callipers with 20 divisions on the sliding scale
(b) a screw gauge of pitch 1 mm and 100 divisions on the circular scale
(c) an optical instrument that can measure length to within a wavelength of light?

Answer

(a) Least count of this vernier callipers = 1SD - 1 VD  = 1 SD - 19/20 SD = 1/20 SD

                                                               = 1.20 mm = 1/200 cm = 0.005 cm

(b) Least count of screw gauge = Pitch/Number of divisions = 1/1000 = 0.001 cm.

(c) Wavelength of light, λ ≈ 10-5 cm = 0.00001 cm

Hence, it can be inferred that an optical instrument is the most suitable device to
measure length.

2.7. A student measures the thickness of a human hair by looking at it through a

microscope of magnification 100. He makes 20 observations and finds that the
average width of the hair in the field of view of the microscope is 3.5 mm. What is
the estimate on the thickness of hair?

Answer

Magnification of the microscope = 100

Average width of the hair in the field of view of the microscope = 3.5 mm
∴Actual thickness of the hair is 3.5/100 = 0.035 mm.

2.8. Answer the following:

(a) You are given a thread and a metre scale. How will you estimate the diameter
of the thread?

Answer

Wrap the thread on a uniform smooth rod in such a way that the coils thus
formed are very close to each other. Measure the length of the thread using a
metre scale. The diameter of the thread is given by the relation,
Diameter = Length of thread/Number of turns

(b) A screw gauge has a pitch of 1.0 mm and 200 divisions on the circular scale. Do
you think it is possible to increase the accuracy of the screw gauge arbitrarily by
increasing the number of divisions on the circular scale?

Answer

It is not possible to increase the accuracy of a screw gauge by increasing the

number of divisions of the circular scale. Increasing the number divisions of the
circular scale will increase its accuracy to a certain extent only.

(c) The mean diameter of a thin brass rod is to be measured by vernier callipers.
Why is a set of 100 measurements of the diameter expected to yield a more
reliable estimate than a set of 5 measurements only?

Answer

A set of 100 measurements is more reliable than a set of 5 measurements

because random errors involved in the former are very less as compared to the
latter.

2.9. The photograph of a house occupies an area of 1.75 cm 2on a 35 mm slide.

The slide is projected on to a screen, and the area of the house on the screen is
1.55 m2. What is the linear magnification of the projector-screen arrangement?

Answer

Area of the house on the slide = 1.75 cm2

Area of the image of the house formed on the screen = 1.55 m 2 = 1.55 × 104 cm2

2.10. State the number of significant figures in the following:

(a) 0.007 m2
►1

(b) 2.64 x 1024 kg

►3

(c) 0.2370 g cm-3

►4

(d) 6.320 J
►4

(e) 6.032 N m-2

►4

(f) 0.0006032 m2
►4

Page No: 36

2.11. The length, breadth and thickness of a rectangular sheet of metal are 4.234
m, 1.005 m, and 2.01 cm respectively. Give the area and volume of the sheet to
correct significant figures.

Answer

Given that,
length, l = 4.234 m
breadth,b = 1.005 m
thickness, t = 2.01 cm = 2.01 × 10-2 m
Area of the sheet = 2 (l × 0 + b × t + t × l) = 2 (4.234 × 1.005 + 1.005 × 0.0201 +
0.0201 × 4.234)
                            = 2 (4.3604739) = 8.7209478 m2
As area can contain a maximum of three significant digits, therefore, rounding off,
we get
Area = 8.72 m2
Also, volume = l × b × t
V = 4.234 × 1.005 × 0.0201 = 0.0855289 = 0.0855 m 3        (Significant Figures = 3)

2.12. The mass of a box measured by a grocer's balance is 2.300 kg. Two gold
pieces of masses 20.15 g and 20.17 g are added to the box. What is (a) the total
mass of the box, (b) the difference in the masses of the pieces to correct
significant figures?

Answer

Mass of grocer's box = 2.300 kg

Mass of gold piece I = 20.15g = 0.02015 kg
Mass of gold piece II = 20.17 g = 0.02017 kg

(a) Total mass of the box = 2.3 + 0.02015 + 0.02017 = 2.34032 kg

In addition, the final result should retain as many decimal places as there are in
the number with the least decimal places. Hence, the total mass of the box is 2.3
kg.

(b) Difference in masses = 20.17 - 20.15 = 0.02 g

In subtraction, the final result should retain as many decimal places as there are
in the number with the least decimal places.

2.13. A physical quantity P is related to four observables a, b, c and d as follows:

The percentage errors of measurement in a, b, c and d are 1%, 3%, 4% and 2%,
respectively. What is the percentage error in the quantity P? If the value of P
calculated using the above relation turns out to be 3.763, to what value should
you round off the result?

Answer
Percentage error in P = 13 %
Value of P is given as 3.763.
By rounding off the given value to the first decimal place, we get P = 3.8.

2.14. A book with many printing errors contains four different formulas for the
displacement y of a particle undergoing a certain periodic motion:

(a = maximum displacement of the particle, v = speed of the particle. T = time-

period of motion). Rule out the wrong formulas on dimensional grounds.

Answer

The displacement y has the dimension of length, therefore, the formula for it
should also have the dimension of length. Trigonometric functions are
dimensionless and their arguments are also dimensionless. Based on these
considerations now check each formula dimensionally.
The formulas in (ii) and (iii) are dimensionally wrong.

2.15. A famous relation in physics relates ‘moving mass’ m to the ‘rest mass’ m0
of a particle in terms of its speed v and the speed of light, c. (This relation first
arose as a consequence of special relativity due to Albert Einstein). A boy recalls
the relation almost correctly but forgets where to put the constant c. He writes :
m = m0 / (1-v2)1/2
Guess where to put the missing c.

Answer

Given the relation,

m = m0 / (1-v2)1/2
Dimension of m = M1 L0 T0
Dimension of m0 = M1 L0 T0
Dimension of v = M0 L1 T–1
Dimension of v2 = M0 L2 T–2
Dimension of c = M0 L1 T–1
The given formula will be dimensionally correct only when the dimension of L.H.S
is the same as that of R.H.S. This is only possible when the factor, (1-v 2)1/2 is
dimensionless i.e., (1 – v2) is dimensionless. This is only possible if v2 is divided by
c2. Hence, the correct relation is
m = m0 / (1 - v2/c2)1/2

2.16. The unit of length convenient on the atomic scale is known as an angstrom
and is denoted by Å: 1 Å = 10-10 m. The size of a hydrogen atom is about 0.5 Å.
What is the total atomic volume in m3 of a mole of hydrogen atoms ?

Answer

Radius of hydrogen atom, r = 0.5 Å = 0.5 × 10-10 m

Volume of hydrogen atom = (4/3) π r3
= (4/3) × (22/7) × (0.5 × 10-10)3
= 0.524 × 10-30 m3
1 mole of hydrogen contains 6.023 × 1023 hydrogen atoms.
∴ Volume of 1 mole of hydrogen atoms = 6.023 × 10 23 × 0.524 × 10–30
= 3.16 × 10–7 m3
2.17. One mole of an ideal gas at standard temperature and pressure occupies
22.4 L (molar volume). What is the ratio of molar volume to the atomic volume of
a mole of hydrogen ? (Take the size of hydrogen molecule to be about 1 Å). Why
is this ratio so large ?

Answer

Radius of hydrogen atom, r = 0.5 Å = 0.5 × 10-10 m

Volume of hydrogen atom = (4/3) π r3
= (4/3) × (22/7) × (0.5 × 10-10)3
= 0.524 × 10-30 m3
Now, 1 mole of hydrogen contains 6.023 × 1023 hydrogen atoms.
∴ Volume of 1 mole of hydrogen atoms, Va = 6.023 × 1023 × 0.524 × 10–30
= 3.16 × 10–7 m3
Molar volume of 1 mole of hydrogen atoms at STP,
Vm = 22.4 L = 22.4 × 10–3 m3

Hence, the molar volume is 7.08 × 104 times higher than the atomic volume. For
this reason, the inter-atomic separation in hydrogen gas is much larger than the
size of a hydrogen atom.

2.18. Explain this common observation clearly : If you look out of the window of a
fast moving train, the nearby trees, houses etc. seem to move rapidly in a
direction opposite to the train's motion, but the distant objects (hill tops, the
Moon, the stars etc.) seem to be stationary. (In fact, since you are aware that you
are moving, these distant objects seem to move with you).

Answer

Line of sight is defined as an imaginary line joining an object and an observer's

eye. When we observe nearby stationary objects such as trees, houses, etc. while
sitting in a moving train, they appear to move rapidly in the opposite direction
because the line of sight changes very rapidly.
On the other hand, distant objects such as trees, stars, etc. appear stationary
because of the large distance. As a result, the line of sight does not change its
direction rapidly.

2.19. The principle of ‘parallax’ in section 2.3.1 is used in the determination of

distances of very distant stars. The baseline AB is the line joining the Earth’s two
locations six months apart in its orbit around the Sun. That is, the baseline is
about the diameter of the Earth’s orbit ≈ 3 × 1011 m. However, even the nearest
stars are so distant that with such a long baseline, they show parallax only of the
order of 1" (second) of arc or so. A parsec is a convenient unit of length on the
astronomical scale. It is the distance of an object that will show a parallax of
1" (second) of arc from opposite ends of a baseline equal to the distance from the
Earth to the Sun. How much is a parsec in terms of meters?

Answer

Diameter of Earth’s orbit = 3 × 1011 m

Radius of Earth’s orbit, r = 1.5 × 1011 m
Let the distance parallax angle be 1" = 4.847 × 10–6 rad.
Let the distance of the star be D.
Parsec is defined as the distance at which the average radius of the Earth’s orbit
subtends an angle of 1"

= 0.309 × 10-6 ≈ 3.09 × 1016 m

Hence, 1 parsec ≈ 3.09 × 1016 m

2.20. The nearest star to our solar system is 4.29 light years away. How much is
this distance in terms of parsecs? How much parallax would this star (named
Alpha Centauri) show when viewed from two locations of the Earth six months
apart in its orbit around the Sun?

Answer

Distance of the star from the solar system = 4.29 ly

1 light year is the distance travelled by light in one year.
1 light year = Speed of light × 1 year
= 3 × 108 × 365 × 24 × 60 × 60 = 94608 × 1011 m
∴ 4.29 ly = 405868.32 × 1011 m
∵ 1 parsec = 3.08 × 1016 m
∴ 4.29 ly = 405868.32 × 1011 / 3.08 × 1016  =  1.32 parsec
Using the relation,
θ = d / D
where,
Diameter of Earth's orbit, d = 3 × 1011 m
Distance of the star from the earth, D = 405868.32 × 1011 m
∴ θ = 3 × 1011 / 405868.32 × 1011  =  7.39 × 10-6 rad
But, 1 sec = 4.85 × 10–6 rad
∴ 7.39 × 10-6 rad = 7.39 × 10-6 / 4.85 × 10-6 =  1.52"

2.21. Precise measurements of physical quantities are a need of science. For

example, to ascertain the speed of an aircraft, one must have an accurate method
to find its positions at closely separated instants of time. This was the actual
motivation behind the discovery of radar in World War II. Think of different
examples in modern science where precise measurements of length, time, mass
etc. are needed. Also, wherever you can, give a quantitative idea of the precision
needed.

Answer

It is indeed very true that precise measurements of physical quantities are

essential for the development of science. For example, ultra-shot laser pulses
(time interval ∼ 10–15 s) are used to measure time intervals in several physical and
chemical processes.
X-ray spectroscopy is used to determine the inter-atomic separation or inter-
planer spacing.

The development of mass spectrometer makes it possible to measure the mass of

atoms precisely.

2.22.  Just as precise measurements are necessary in science, it is equally

important to be able to make rough estimates of quantities using rudimentary
ideas and common observations. Think of ways by which you can estimate the
following (where an estimate is difficult to obtain, try to get an upper bound on
the quantity):
(a) the total mass of rain-bearing clouds over India during the Monsoon
(b) the mass of an elephant
(c) the wind speed during a storm
(d) the number of strands of hair on your head
(e) the number of air molecules in your classroom.

Answer

(a) During monsoons, a Metrologist records about 215 cm of rainfall in India i.e.,
the height of water column,  h = 215 cm = 2.15 m
Area of country, A = 3.3 × 1012 m2
Hence, volume of rain water, V  = A × h = 7.09 × 1012 m3
Density of water, ρ = 1 × 103 kg m–3
Hence, mass of rain water = ρ × V = 7.09 × 1015 kg
Hence, the total mass of rain-bearing clouds over India is approximately 7.09 ×
1015 kg.

(b) Consider a ship of known base area floating in the sea. Measure its depth
in sea (say d1).
Volume of water displaced by the ship, Vb = A d1
Now, move an elephant on the ship and measure the depth of the ship (d2) in this
case.
Volume of water displaced by the ship with the elephant on board, Vbe= Ad2
Volume of water displaced by the elephant = Ad2 – Ad1
Density of water = D
Mass of elephant = AD (d2 – d1)

(c) Wind speed during a storm can be measured by an anemometer. As wind

blows, it rotates. The rotation made by the anemometer in one second gives the
value of wind speed.

(d) Area of the head surface carrying hair = A

With the help of a screw gauge, the diameter and hence, the radius of a hair can
be determined. Let it be r.
∴Area of one hair = πr2
Number of strands of hair ≈ Total surface area / Area of one hair = A / πr2
 (e) Let the volume of the room be V.
One mole of air at NTP occupies 22.4 l i.e., 22.4 × 10 –3 m3 volume.
Number of molecules in one mole = 6.023 × 1023
∴Number of molecules in room of volume V
= 6.023 × 1023 × V / 22.4 × 10-3  =  134.915 × 1026 V  =  1.35 × 1028 V

2.23. The Sun is a hot plasma (ionized matter) with its inner core at a temperature
exceeding 107 K, and its outer surface at a temperature of about 6000 K. At these
high temperatures, no substance remains in a solid or liquid phase. In what range
do you expect the mass density of the Sun to be, in the range of densities of solids
and liquids or gases ? Check if your guess is correct from the following data : mass
of the Sun = 2.0 × 1030 kg, radius of the Sun = 7.0 × 108 m.

Answer

Mass of the Sun, M = 2.0 × 1030 kg

Radius of the Sun, R = 7.0 × 108 m
Density, ρ = ?

The density of the Sun is in the density range of solids and liquids. This high
density is attributed to the intense gravitational attraction of the inner layers on
the outer layer of the Sun.

2.24. When the planet Jupiter is at a distance of 824.7 million kilometers from the
Earth, its angular diameter is measured to be 35.72" of arc. Calculate the diameter
of Jupiter.

Answer

Distance of Jupiter from the Earth, D = 824.7 × 106 km = 824.7 × 109 m

Angular diameter = 35.72" = 35.72 × 4.874 × 10-6 rad
Diameter of Jupiter = d
Using the relation,
θ = d/ D
d = θ D = 824.7 × 109 × 35.72 × 4.872 × 10-6
= 143520.76 × 103 m = 1.435 × 105 Km

Additional Exercises

2.25. A man walking briskly in rain with speed v must slant his umbrella forward
making an angle θ with the vertical. A student derives the following relation
between θ and v : tan θ = v and checks that the relation has a correct limit: as v →
0, θ → 0, as expected. (We are assuming there is no strong wind and that the rain
falls vertically for a stationary man). Do you think this relation can be correct ? If
not, guess the correct relation.

Answer

Incorrect; on dimensional ground

The relation is tan θ = ν
Dimension of R.H.S = M0 L1 T–1
Dimension of L.H.S = M0 L0 T0
(∵ The trigonometric function is considered to be a dimensionless quantity)
Dimension of R.H.S is not equal to the dimension of L.H.S. Hence, the given
relation is not correct dimensionally.
To make the given relation correct, the R.H.S should also be dimensionless. One
way to achieve this is by dividing the R.H.S by the speed of rainfall ν'
Therefore, the relation reduces to
tan θ = ν / ν'
This relation is dimensionally correct.

2.26. It is claimed that two cesium clocks, if allowed to run for 100 years, free
from any disturbance, may differ by only about 0.02 s. What does this imply for
the accuracy of the standard cesium clock in measuring a time-interval of 1 s?

Answer

Error in 100 years = 0.02 s

Hence, the accuracy of a standard caesium clock in measuring a time interval of 1
s is 10-12 s.

2.27. Estimate the average mass density of a sodium atom assuming its size to be
about 2.5 Å. (Use the known values of Avogadro’s number and the atomic mass of
sodium). Compare it with the density of sodium in its crystalline phase : 970 kg m -
3
. Are the two densities of the same order of magnitude ? If so, why ?

Answer

Diameter of sodium atom = Size of sodium atom = 2.5 Å

Radius of sodium atom, r = (1/2) × 2.5 Å = 1.25 Å = 1.25 × 10-10 m
Volume of sodium atom, V = (4/3) π r3
= (4/3) × 3.14 × (1.25 × 10-10)3 = VSodium
According to the Avogadro hypothesis, one mole of sodium contains 6.023 ×
1023 atoms and has a mass of 23 g or 23 × 10–3 kg.
∴ Mass of one atom = 23 × 10-3 / 6.023 × 1023  Kg = m1
Density of sodium atom, ρ = m1 / VSodium
Substituting the value from above, we get
Density of sodium atom, ρ =4.67 × 10-3 Kg m-3
It is given that the density of sodium in crystalline phase is 970 kg m –3.

Hence, the density of sodium atom and the density of sodium in its crystalline
phase are not in the same order. This is because in solid phase, atoms are closely
packed. Thus, the inter-atomic separation is very small in the crystalline phase.

2.28. The unit of length convenient on the nuclear scale is a Fermi : 1 f = 10 -15 m.

Nuclear sizes obey roughly the following empirical relation :
r = r0 A1/3
where r is the radius of the nucleus, A its mass number, and r 0 is a constant equal
to about, 1.2 f. Show that the rule implies that nuclear mass density is nearly
constant for different nuclei. Estimate the mass density of sodium nucleus.
Compare it with the average mass density of a sodium atom obtained in Exercise.
2.27.

Answer

Radius of nucleus r is given by the relation,

r = r0 A1/3
r0 = 1.2 f = 1.2 × 10-15 m
Volume of nucleus, V = (4 / 3) π r3
= (4 / 3) π (r0 A1/3)3 = (4 / 3) π r0 A    ..... (i)

Now, the mass of a nuclei M is equal to its mass number i.e.,

M = A amu = A × 1.66 × 10–27 kg
Density of nucleus, ρ = Mass of nucleus / Volume of nucleus
= A X 1.66 × 10-27 / (4/3) π r03 A

= 3 X 1.66 × 10-27 / 4 π r03  Kg m-3

his relation shows that nuclear mass depends only on constant r0. Hence, the
nuclear mass densities of all nuclei are nearly the same.
Density of sodium nucleus is given by,
ρSodium = 3 × 1.66 × 10-27 / 4 × 3.14 × (1.2 × 10-15)3
= 4.98 × 1018 / 21.71 = 2.29 × 1017 Kg m-3

2.29. A LASER is a source of very intense, monochromatic, and unidirectional

beam of light. These properties of a laser light can be exploited to measure long
distances. The distance of the Moon from the Earth has been already determined
very precisely using a laser as a source of light. A laser light beamed at the Moon
takes 2.56 s to return after reflection at the Moon's surface. How much is the
radius of the lunar orbit around the Earth?

Answer

Time taken by the laser beam to return to Earth after reflection from the Moon =
2.56 s
Speed of light = 3 × 108 m/s
Time taken by the laser beam to reach Moon  = 1 / 2 × 2.56 = 1.28 s
Radius of the lunar orbit = Distance between the Earth and the Moon = 1.28 × 3 ×
108 = 3.84 × 108 m = 3.84 × 105 km
2.30. A SONAR (sound navigation and ranging) uses ultrasonic waves to detect
and locate objects under water. In a submarine equipped with a SONAR the time
delay between generation of a probe wave and the reception of its echo after
reflection from an enemy submarine is found to be 77.0 s. What is the distance of
the enemy submarine?
(Speed of sound in water = 1450 m s-1).

Answer

Let the distance between the ship and the enemy submarine be ‘S’.
Speed of sound in water = 1450 m/s
Time lag between transmission and reception of Sonar waves = 77 s
In this time lag, sound waves travel a distance which is twice the distance
between the ship and the submarine (2S).
Time taken for the sound to reach the submarine = 1/2 × 77 = 38.5 s
∴ Distance between the ship and the submarine (S) = 1450 × 38.5 = 55825 m =
55.8 km

2.31. The farthest objects in our Universe discovered by modern astronomers are

so distant that light emitted by them takes billions of years to reach the Earth.
These objects (known as quasars) have many puzzling features, which have not
yet been satisfactorily explained. What is the distance in km of a quasar from
which light takes 3.0 billion years to reach us ?

Answer

Time taken by quasar light to reach Earth = 3 billion years

= 3 × 109 years
= 3 × 109 × 365 × 24 × 60 × 60 s
Speed of light = 3 × 108 m/s
Distance between the Earth and quasar
= (3 × 108) × (3 × 109 × 365 × 24 × 60 × 60)
= 283824 × 1020 m
= 2.8 × 1022 km

2.32. It is a well known fact that during a total solar eclipse the disk of the moon
almost completely covers the disk of the Sun. From this fact and from the
information you can gather from examples 2.3 and 2.4, determine the
approximate diameter of the moon.

Answer

The position of the Sun, Moon, and Earth during a lunar eclipse is shown in the
given figure.

Distance of the Moon from the Earth = 3.84 × 108 m

Distance of the Sun from the Earth = 1.496 × 1011 m
Diameter of the Sun = 1.39 × 109 m

It can be observed that ΔTRS and ΔTPQ are similar. Hence, it can be written as:
PQ / RS = VT / UT
1.39 x 109 / RS = 1.496 × 1011 / 3.84 × 108
RS = (1.39 × 3.84 / 1.496) × 106 = 3.57 × 106 m
Hence, the diameter of the Moon is 3.57 × 106 m.

2.33. A great physicist of this century (P.A.M. Dirac) loved playing with numerical
values of Fundamental constants of nature. This led him to an interesting
observation. Dirac found that from the basic constants of atomic physics (c, e,
mass of electron, mass of proton) and the gravitational constant G, he could
arrive at a number with the dimension of time. Further, it was a very large
number, its magnitude being close to the present estimate on the age of the
universe (~15 billion years). From the table of fundamental constants in this book,
try to see if you too can construct this number (or any other interesting number
you can think of). If its coincidence with the age of the universe were significant,
what would this imply for the constancy of fundamental constants?

Answer

One relation consists of some fundamental constants that give the age of the
Universe by:
t = (e2/4πε0)2 × (1 / mpme2 c3G)

Where,
t = Age of Universe
e = Charge of electrons = 1.6 ×10–19 C
ε0 = Absolute permittivity
mp = Mass of protons = 1.67 × 10–27 kg
me = Mass of electrons = 9.1 × 10–31 kg
c = Speed of light = 3 × 108 m/s
G = Universal gravitational constant = 6.67 × 1011 Nm2 kg–2
Also, 1 / 4πε0 = 9 × 109 Nm2/C2
Substituting these values in the equation, we get
t = (1.6 × 10-19)4 × (9 × 109)2 / (9.1 × 10-31)2 × 1.67 × 10-27 × (3 × 108)3 × 6.67 × 10-11     
=  [ (1.6)4 × 81 / 9.1 × 1.67 × 27 × 6.67 ] × 10-76+18-62+27-24+11 seconds
= [(1.6)4 × 81 / 9.1 × 1.67 × 27 × 6.67 × 365 × 24 × 3600 ] × 10-76+18+62+27-24+11 years
≈  6 X 10-9 × 1018 years
= 6 billion years.