PHYSICS STD XII

12. atoms
SOLVED EXAMPLES (TEXTUAL)
12.1
In the Rutherford’s nuclear model of the tom, the nucleus (radius about 1015 m) is
analogous to the sun about which the electron move in orbit ( radius  1010 m) like the earth
orbits around the sun. If the dimensions of the solar system had the same proportions as
those of the atom, would the earth be closer to or farther away from the sun than actually it
is? The radius of earth’s orbit is about 1.5×1011 m. The radius of sun is taken as 7×108 m.
Sol:
Size of atom = 1010 m, Size of nucleus = 1015 m
Size of atom 1010
  15  105
Size of nucleus 10
Let’s compare this idea with Earth around the Sun.
Size of Sun = 7 x 108 m.
If this model is assumed correct, then the size of Earth’s orbit should be 105 times the size of Sun.
Assumed orbit of Earth = 105 x 7 x 108 = 7 x 1013 m.
Whereas, actual size of Earth’s orbit = 1.5 x 1011 m.
Thus, assumed orbit size is 100 times greater than actual orbit size. As compared to the Solar
system, the atom has much more empty space.
12.2
In a Geiger-Marsden experiment, what is the distance of closest approach to the nucleus of a
7.7 MeV α-particle before it comes momentarily to rest and reverses its direction?
Sol:
KEα = 7 MeV, Z = 79, d = ?
1 2 Z e2
We have, KE 
4 0 d
1 2 Z e2 (2)(79)(9.0 109 )(1.6 1019 ) 2
d  d 
4 0 KE (7.7 106 )(1.6 1019 )
= 29.5 x 1015 m = 29.5 f. ≈ 30 fm.
The radius of gold nucleus is, therefore, less than 3.0 x 1014 m. This is not in very good
agreement with the observed result as the actual radius of gold nucleus is 6 fm. The cause of
discrepancy is that the distance of closest approach is considerably larger than the sum of the radii
of the gold nucleus and the α-particle. Thus the α-particle reverses its motion without ever
actually touching the gold nucleus.
12.3
It is found experimentally that 13.6 eV energy is required to separate a hydrogen atom into
a proton and an electron. Compute the orbital radius and the velocity of the electron in a
hydrogen atom.
Sol:
Total energy of the electron in hydrogen atom is 13.6 eV  13.6 1.6 1019 J  2.2 1018 J .
e2
Thus from Eq. (12.4), we have  2.2 1018 J
8 0 r

JAYDIP K. JOSHI 12. 1 98244 31445

PHYSICS STD XII
This gives the orbital radius
e2 (9 109 Nm 2 / C 2 )(1.6 10 19 C ) 2
r 
8 0 r (2)(2.2 1018 J )
 5.31011 m.
The velocity of the revolving electron can be computed from Eq. (12.3) with m  9.11031 kg.
e
  2.2 106 m / s
4 0 mr

12.4
According to the classical electromagnetic theory, calculate the initial frequency of the light
emitted by the electron revolving around a proton in hydrogen atom.
Sol:
υ = ?, v = 2.2 x 106 m/s, r = 5.3 x 1011 m
2 r
Distance = (speed) (time)  2π r = v T  T 
v
1 v
Frequency,   
T 2 r
2.2  106
   0.066  1017
2  3.14  5.3  1011
   6.6  1015 Hz

UNSOLVED EXERCISES (TEXTUAL)

1. Choose the correct alternative from the clues given at the end of the each statement:
(a) The size of the atom in Thomson’s model is ___ the atomic size in Rutherford’s
model. (much greater than/no different from/much less than)
(b) In the ground state of ___ electrons are in stable equilibrium, while in ___ electrons
always experience a net force. (Thomson’s model/Rutherford’s model)
(c) A classical atom based on ___ is doomed to collapse. (Thomson’s model/Rutherford’s
model)
(d) An atom has a nearly continuous mass distribution in a ___ but has a highly non-
uniform mass distribution in ___. (Thomson’s model/Rutherford’s model)
(e) The positively charged part of the atom possesses most of the mass in ___.
(Rutherford’s model/both the models)
A} (a) No different from
(b) Thomson’s model, Rutherford’s model
(c) Rutherford’s model
(d) Thomson’s model, Rutherford’s model
(e) Both the models
2. Suppose you are given a chance to repeat the alpha particle scattering experiment using
a thin sheet of solid hydrogen in place of the gold foil. (Hydrogen is a solid at
temperatures below 14 K.) What results do you expect?
A} The basic purpose of scattering experiment is not completed because solid hydrogen will be a
much lighter target as compared to the alpha particle acting as a projectile. By using the
conditions of elastic collisions, the hydrogen will move much faster as compared to alpha
after the collision. We cannot determine the size of hydrogen nucleus.

JAYDIP K. JOSHI 12. 2 98244 31445

PHYSICS STD XII
3. A difference of 2.3 eV separates two energy levels in an atom. What is the frequency of
radiation emitted when the atom makes a transition from the upper level to the lower
level?
A} Given, difference in energy level E = 2.3 eV = 2.3 1.6 1019 J
Planck’s constant h = 6.63 1034 J-s
Let υ be the frequency, then E = h υ
E 2.3 1.6 1019
   34
 5.6 1014 Hz
h 6.63 10
4. The ground state energy of hydrogen atom is –13.6 eV. What are the kinetic and
potential energies of the electron in this state?
A} Given, the ground state energy of hydrogen atom E= –13.6 eV
We know that Kinetic energy (KE) = – E = 3.6 eV
Potential energy (PE) = – 2KE = 2 13.6  27.2 eV

5. A hydrogen atom initially in the ground level absorbs a photon, which excites it to the
n = 4 level. Determine the wavelength and frequency of photon.
A} Here, n = 1 to n = 4, υ = ?, λ = ?
We have, hυ = E4 – E1
hυ =  0.85 – ( 13.6)
12.75  1.6  1019
  34
   3.07  1015 Hz
6.63  10
Also, c = υ λ
c 3  108
    0.977  107 m    97.7 nm
 3.07  10 15

6. (a) Using the Bohr’s model, calculate the speed of the electron in a hydrogen atom in the
n = 1, 2 and 3 levels.
(b) Calculate the orbital period in each of these levels.
A} (a) vn = ? for n = 1, 2, 3. (b) Tn = ? for n = 1, 2, 3.
(a) The velocity of electron in nth orbit is
e2
vn 
2 0 h n
2.18 106
vn  … (1)
n
Put n = 1, v1  2.18 106 m / s
2.18 106
Put n = 2, v2 
2
v2  1.09 10 m / s
6

2.18 106
Put n = 3, v3   0.73 106
3
v3  7.3 10 m / s
5

2 rn
(b) Distance = (speed)(time) ⸫ 2π rn = vn Tn  Tn  … (2)
vn

JAYDIP K. JOSHI 12. 3 98244 31445

PHYSICS STD XII
n2 h2  0
We know, rn   5.3  1011 n 2
 me 2

e2 2.18 106
vn  
2 0 h n n
2 (5.3  1011 n2 )
 Tn 
2.18  106
n
 Tn  1.527  1016 n3 … (3)

Put n = 1, T1  1.527  1016 s

Put n = 2, T2  1.527  1016  (2)3  12.22  10 16
 T2  1.22  1015 s
Put n = 3, T3  1.527  1016  (3)3  41.23  1016
 T3  4.12  1015 s

7. The radius of the innermost electron orbit of a hydrogen atom is 5.3  1011 m . What are
the radii of the n = 2 and n = 3 orbits?
A} Given, the radius of the innermost electron orbit of hydrogen r1  5.3 1011 m
As we know that rn  n 2 r1
For n = 2, radius r2  22 r1  4  5.3 1011  2.12 1010 m
For n = 3, radius r3  32 r1  9  5.3 1011  4.77 1010 m

8. A 12.5 eV electron beam is used to bombard gaseous hydrogen at room temperature.

What series of wavelengths will be emitted?
A} E = 12.5 eV, λ = ?
hc
Energy, E 

hc 19.89  1026
   = 0.994 x 107 m
E 12.5  1.6  1019
⸫ λ = 994 Å
This wavelength is smaller than that for visible light. This belongs to Ultraviolet light (UV).
This is Lyman series.
9. In accordance with the Bohr’s model, find the quantum number that characterizes the
earth’s revolution around the sun in an orbit of radius 1.5  1011 m with orbital speed
3  104 m / s . (mass of earth = 6  1024 kg )
A} n = ?, r = 1.5 x 1011 m, v = 3 x 104 m/s, M = 6 x 1024 kg

Angular momentum, l = m v r 
nh mv r  2 
 n
2 h
6 10  3 10 1.5 10  2  3.14
24 4 11
  n  25.5 1073  2.6 1074
6.63 1034

JAYDIP K. JOSHI 12. 4 98244 31445