MANIPAL ACADEMY OF HIGHER EDUCATION

FIRST SEMESTER B.TECH. MAKEUP EXAMINATIONS – FEB/MARCH 2023

SUBJECT: PHY 1071 / PHY-1071 - ENGINEERING PHYSICS
SCHEME OF EVALUATION

Scheme Ma
Q. No.
rks
State and explain the Maxwell’s equations. Mention its significance.
Gauss’s law: the total electric flux through any closed surface equals the net charge
inside that surface divided by ε0 (absolute permittivity). This law relates an electric
field to the charge distribution that creates it.
[ 1 mark]
It states that the net magnetic flux through a closed surface is zero. That is, the
number of magnetic field lines that enter a closed volume must equal the number
that leave that volume, which implies that magnetic field lines cannot begin or end
at any point.
[ 1 mark]
Faraday’s law of induction: This equation the creation of an electric field by a
1 (A) 5
changing magnetic flux. This law states that the emf, which is the line integral of
the electric field around any closed path, equals the rate of change of magnetic flux
through any surface bounded by that path.
[ 1 mark]
Ampère–Maxwell law: It describes the creation of a magnetic field by a changing
electric field and by electric current: the line integral of the magnetic field around
any closed path is the sum of µ0 (absolute permeability) multiplied by the net
current through that path and ε0 µ0 multiplied by the rate of change of electric flux
through any surface bounded by that path.
[ 2 marks]

A ruby laser emits light at a wavelength of 694.4 nm. If a laser pulse is emitted
for 12x10-12 second and the energy release per pulse is 150 mJ, (a) what is the
length of the pulse, and (b) how many photons are there in each pulse?
Length of the pulse = ct

1 (B) [ 1.5 mark] 3

[ 1.5 mark]

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 What are superconductors? Draw a representative graph of Resistance Vs
Temperature for a superconductor.
Superconductor is a class of metals and compounds whose electrical resistance
decreases to virtually zero below a certain temperature Tc called the critical
temperature.
[ 1 mark]

1 (C) 2

[ 1 mark]
Explain the numerical aperture of an optical fiber. With necessary diagram,
derive an expression for angle of acceptance and numerical aperture for an
optical fiber placed in air.

[1 mark]
2 (A) 5
Applying Snell’s law of refraction at O, we have,
sin  0 n1
=
sin  1 n0
n
 sin  0 = 1 sin  1
n0
[1 mark]
Similarly, applying Snell’s law at B,
sin ( 90 −  1 ) n n2
= 2 or cos 1 =
sin 90 n1 n1
n22
sin  1 = 1− [1 mark]
n12

Substituting Eq. (2.12) in Eq. (2.11) and simplifying,

Page 2 of 8
 1
sin  0 = n12 − n22 [1 mark]
n0

0 is called the acceptance angle or half angle of the acceptance cone. The
acceptance angle is generally about 5 for a single mode fibre & 10 to 15
for multimode fibres. The term
n0 sin0 is called numerical aperture (NA), which indicates the light gathering
power of the optical fibre. It is evident that any ray that enters the fibre at an angle
less than 0, strikes the core-cladding interface at angle greater than the critical
angle and undergoes total internal reflection each time it strikes the interface.
The optical fibre sustains the light signal transmission over a long distance.
[1 mark]
Solar cells are often coated with a transparent, thin film of silicon monoxide
(SiO, n = 1.45) to minimize reflective losses from the surface. Suppose a silicon
solar cell (n = 3.5) is coated with a thin film of silicon monoxide for this
purpose. Determine the minimum film thickness that produces the least

2 (B) reflection at a wavelength of 550 nm, near the center of the visible spectrum. 3
Ans: Writing condition for destructive interference. [1 mark]
By simplifying we get,

[2 mark]
An electron with kinetic energy E = 5.0 eV is incident on a barrier with
thickness L = 0.20 nm and height U = 10 eV. Calculate the probability that the
electron will tunnel through the barrier.
C =(82m(U – E)/h) = = 1.144 x 1010/ m
[ 1 mark]
2 (C) 2 C L = 4.577 2
T≈ e–2CL
= e–4.577 = 0.0103
R = 1 – T, R = 0.990
[1 mark]

Explain photoelectric effect. List experimental observations in the experiment

on photoelectric effect. Sketch schematically the following graphs with
reference to the photoelectric effect: (a)photoelectric current vs applied

3 (A) voltage (b) kinetic energy of most-energetic electron vs frequency of incident 5

light.
Ejection of electrons from the surface of certain metals when it is irradiated by an
electromagnetic radiation of suitable frequency is known as photoelectric effect.

Page 3 of 8
 [1 mark]
Experimental Observations:
[Any four: 0.5x4=2]
1. When plate E is illuminated by light of suitable frequency, electrons are
emitted from E and a current is detected in A (Figure 3.5).
2. Photocurrent produced vs potential difference graph shows that kinetic
energy of the most energetic photoelectrons is,
Kmax = e Vs
Kinetic energy of the most energetic photoelectrons is independent of light
intensity.
3. Electrons are emitted from the surface of the emitter almost
instantaneously.
5. No electrons are emitted if the incident light frequency falls below a cutoff
frequency.
6. Kinetic energy of the most energetic photoelectrons increases with
increasing light frequency.

[1 mark]

[1 mark]
The radius of Sun is 6.96 x 108 m, and its total power output is 3.77 x 1026 W.
3 (B) 3
(a) Assuming that the Sun’s surface emits as a black body, calculate its

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 surface temperature. (b) Using the result, find max for the Sun.
P =  A e T4
σ = 5.67 x 10–8 W/m2 K4
A = 4 r2 = 6.087 x 1018 m2

e =1; [2 mark]

[1 mark]

Explain the term phase velocity and group velocity of a quantum particle.
The phase speed, the speed with which wave crest of individual wave moves, is
given by
or [1 mark]
3 (C) The envelope of group of waves can travel through space with a different speed 2
than the individual waves. This speed is called the group speed or the speed of the
wave packet which is given by

[1 mark]
Apply the Schrödinger equation to a particle in a one-dimensional “box”
(infinite potential well) of length L and derive the expression for energy values
of the particle.

4 (A) 5
[1 mark]
Consider a particle of mass m and velocity v, confined to bounce between two
impenetrable walls separated by a distance L as shown in Figure 4.3(a). Figure
4.3(b) shows the potential energy function for the system.
U(x) = 0, for 0 <x<L,
U (x) =  , for x≤ 0, x≥L
Since U (x)=  , for x< 0, x>L , (x) = 0 in these regions. Also (0) =0 and (L)
=0. Only those wave functions that satisfy these boundary conditions are allowed.
In the region 0 <x<L, where U = 0, the Schrödinger equation takes the form

Or , where or
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 The most general form of the solution to the above equation is
(x) = Asin(kx) + B cos(kx)
where A and B are constants determined by the boundary and normalization
conditions.
[1 mark]
Applying the first boundary condition,
i.e., at x = 0,  = 0 leads to
0 = A sin 0 + B cos 0 or B = 0 ,
And at x = L ,  = 0 ,
0 = A sin(kL) + B cos(kL) = A sin(kL) + 0 ,
Since A  0 , sin(kL) = 0 . k L = n π ; ( n = 1, 2, 3, ……….. )
Now the wave function reduces to
[1 mark]
To find the constant A, apply normalization condition
or .

Solving we get

Thus is the wave function for particle in a box.

[1 mark]
Since and k L = nπ
We get, .
.
, n = 1, 2, 3,

[1 mark]
A K+ ion and a Cl– ion is separated by 5.00 x 10–10 m. Assuming the two ions
act like point charges, determine (a) the force each ion exerts on the other and
(b) the potential energy of the two-ion system in electron volts. Given: charge
of electron is 1.6x10-19 C.

4 (B) 3

[1.5 mark]

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 [1.5 mark]
Explain the term ionic bonding and covalent molecular bonding,
Ionic Bonding: When two atoms combine in such a way that one or more outer
electrons are transferred from one atom to the other, the bond formed is called an
ionic bond.
4 (C) 2
[1 mark]
Covalent Bonding: A covalent bond between two atoms is one in which electrons
supplied by either one or both atoms are shared by the two atoms.
[1 mark]
Distinguish between conductors, insulators and semiconductors on the basis of
band theory.
Electrons in a metal experiencing a small force (from a weak applied electric field)
are free to move because many empty levels are available close to the occupied
energy levels.
In insulators Fermi level lies somewhere in the energy gap. Due to larger energy
gap compare to thermal energy kT at room temperature, excitation of electrons
from valence band to conduction band is hardly possible
Semiconductors have the same type of band structure as an insulator, but the
energy gap is much smaller, of the order of 1 eV
5 (A) [2 marks] 5

[1+1+1=3marks]
Note: Marks may be awarded with relevant explanation even without diagrams

Page 7 of 8
 Sodium is a monovalent metal having a density of 971 kg/m3 and a molar mass
of 0.023 kg/mol. Use this information to calculate (a) the density of charge
carriers and (b) the Fermi energy. Given: Avogadro Number = 6.023 X 1023

5 (B) 3

[1.5 marks]
2
h2  3 ne  3
EF (0 ) =  
2m  8
After substitution, EF=5.05 x 10-19 J=3.15 eV
[1.5 marks]
Write a note on surface to volume ratio. Mention its significance in
nanoscience.
Consider a spherical material of radius r then:

As the size of the sphere decreases, the above ratio increases. Alternatively, if the
5 (C) material is cubic, as it is divided into small cubes, then also the surface area to 2
volume ratio increases. Hence, the nanomaterials possess large value of surface
area to volume ratio as compared to the bulk material.
[1 mark]
As the size becomes smaller, the surface to volume ratio increases and this increase
begins to go up rapidly as one reaches a smaller size range. It is therefore clear that
nanomaterials possess size dependent properties.
[1 mark]

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