TIFR GS2024 Written Examination (IPhD)

Attempt any five of the following siv questions. Read the questions carefully before
attempting them. There is no negative marking: rather, you will be awarded partial marks if
your approach to a given question is found to be correct up to a certain point.
IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS
BEFORE
You must copy the following tables neatly on to the first sheet of your answer book,
found, your answer-script will
you start answering any questions. If these tables are not
NOT be graded, and ZERO marks will be awarded.
Fillin the data boxes in Table 1 neatly and legibly; leave the data boxes in Table 2 blank.
Programme Reference No.
Table (IPhD or PhD) (last 5 digits only)
1:

Question no 1 2 3 5 6

Examiner's initials
Table 2:
Marks
 1. Consider the matrix

M=x+iy
where Y= (x,y)are points on a plane.
0

normalized [3)
La) Findthe eigenvalues E,, E, andthe correspondingcoordinates (r, 0)
eigenvectors 1, , of M. Write them in the polar
[3)
Lby Take the positive eigenvalue of Mto be E,. For p, (r), calculate the
vector field A(F) = -io() Vo,() where the gradient acts on
each component of the vector. Qualitatively show the direction of
Ä(F) at different points on the plane with arrows. Plot the magnitude
of A(F) asa function of ralong 0= n/2.
(c) Calculate the line integral , A(T) d( along the following contours: [1+1+1]

1. x?+y² =1
2. x4 +yt = 1
3. x?+y' = 4x -3
(d) Can you say anything about the line integral of A, along an [1]
arbitrary closed curve lying in the plane?

y=taun

2
2.
Lay What would be the fractional (percentage)
change in your weight at the [2]
equator if the Earth weren't rotating? Assume the Earth has a mass, ME=
5.97 x 1024 kg and radius R, = 6378 km. G = 6.7 x 10Nm'/kg'.
How does this change with the latitude?
N

(b) The Earth's rotation axis (P) pre 14]

cesses about the normal (N) to its or
bital plane with a period of 25800
years. The angle between Pand N
(A) is approximately constant at
about 23°, Calculate the external
torque on the Earth that is causing
this precession. Please approximate
the density of the earth to be uniform
for this part.

Now consider a more realistic, (but still simplified) model for the density of [2]
() the Earth,
kr?) if rsRg
0ifr > Rg
ME the earth. Cal
Here Po = 2Pavg and Pavg = R is the average density of
4
in
culate the value of k so that the Earth's mass is the same as that obtained
the uniform density approximation.

Ãow does the more realistic density profile change the value of the external [21
torque calculated in part (b)?
3.
area) received on Earth is 1400
(aThe intensity of sunlight (power per unit intensity of sunlight three
W/m.At what distance from the Sun is the distance from Earth to Sun is
timesthe value at the Earth? (The average
d, = 1.5 × 10'1m.
Calculate the maximum amplitude of the electric and magnetic fields, (Emax [31
(b)
and Bmax)for the sunlight falling on Earth, assuming it to be a plane wave.
(Permeability of free space, u, = 4n X10"N/m², and speed of light in vac
uum, c = 3x 10®m/s)
Assuming that the Sun's rays strike the Earth normally, calculate the radia (3]
tion pressure exerted by sunlight on the Earth's surface, assuming complete
absorption? How does it compare with the atmospheric pressure at sea level
(You can assume that the molar volume at sea level is 22.4 Litres)? How
much electromagneticenergy per cubic meter is contained in sunlight strik
ing Earth?

Solar sails made of thin aluminium foils can propel spaceships by making [3]
use of solar radiation pressure. A disk-shaped solar sail made of perfectly
reflecting aluminium (density = 2710kg/m³ )has a diameter of 300 m and
a thickness of 30 um. Assuming that a constant force due to the solar radia
tion pressure is acting on the sail,calculate the time it would take the sail to
reach the radius of the Moon's orbit, 4 x 10®m away, starting from rest at
Earth.
4. Consider a particle of mass m in a
square well potential of width L and V =0 V =0

depth Vo as shown on the right. Let the

quantum mechanical wavefunction of a
bound state of the particle in regions I,
II, and II, be y, , and m
respectively.

T = -L/2 I= L/2

Write down the Schrödinger equation in the regions I, II, III for a bound state
wavefunctions
with energy E. Write down the general form of the [1]

(b) Consider the ground state. By matching the wavefunction at the potential (3]
boundary, find and equation for its energy, Eg. Defining the dimensionless
number Zo = )N2mVo/h² and variabie z = 6/2m(V% + E)/h², rewrite
the equation in the form tan(2) = f(). Give the expression for f) and
give rough plots of f( as a function of z for z,= 1,2,3,4. What is the
condition on Z, for the ground state to be bound?
(c) Consider the first excited state. Following a similar procedure to Part (c) find
the condition on 2o for the existence of precisely one bound excited energy 2]
level.
(d) Suppose the particle is initially in the ground state with energy Eg. Now
suppose that the shape of the potential is gradually changed and Vo ’ 4V, 2]
and L’ L/2. What is the final energy of the particle E"?
(e) Suppose the particle is initially in the ground state with energy E,. Now [2]
suppose that the shape of the potential is suddenly changed and V 4V
and L’ L/2. Find the probability that the particle has the energy E, ': the
ground state energy of the new Hamiltonian. In this part, for simplification,
assume
2m(Vo+Eg)
 5
L (a) does
bysus undergoes
during sponds
Consider
spectively.
don't highestthe Sketch W the duringDraw tures X-axis excitations. lines AT
Starting curveswhich The work
segments in during which to
these the between processesare 1I,1, an
curves its the for focurve
r Wthree the
Calculate
adiabatic evolution, from III the onits originideal
curves and Carnot 1, (1)
the
I1, corresponds he
in tdifferent
temperature gas
the
A, of
i, a evolution
the
B, I1I monoatomic environ1ment.
Wversus (heat three draw 0 at
segments C,
oflowest in isochoric figure in
Wversus the A, the the evolution the an
D. engine) B,
For evolutions are initial
ratio same on changes plot
temperatures AT C, trajectory to
assuming cach D. (constant
which
gas schematically
the on
ATof (similar cycle plot. The state
Wsegment anda right. processes the
form and process. plots by i
in in Ingastheof ATright.which
tahe that
during to the mention the adiabatic,
(ii)volume),
closed two the of
the start P plot, diatomic marked while(,11, The
W corre
one -V Find
isotherImal the gas from them
capture in ver it gas
cycle? shown P the
cycle is plane )
monoatomic, the in - gas
slopes
th e th e V
above) and plane excluding
segments. Why are origin and
TH label answer. key of
and 0.for relative with on V isobaric.
the Find
Calculate segments vibrationalthree
T,and each
rethat of fea the

[(3] [1] [2] (4] AT

 6.

(d) (c) (b) (a) measured

were Source an
In
Demonstrate
howthis errorrates. the
in The sources?
dependent If eachWhat measuredeXperiment,
the A,
ratio of
Determine source are inthe
it. the 5
of minutes total
Poissonradioactive the to
the and central be
counts two
the two background 51
radioactive
sources'
ratio statistics, counts are
values measured
251.
error sources
of In in
in the
activities of
the what
measurements 10the sources
two Athe minutes. in
ratio and absence 2
is measured minutes
sources' the B were
can is
defined % alone?
be of used
error are count any are
reduced activities
as both
in source, 717. to
the the rates measure
expected For
by and ratio the
count (counts/min) source
a the
factor the of background
radioactivity.
percentage their
rate to
follow B,
of for the
2. count each from total
in counts
of of counts
For
[2] [3] [3] [2)