Problem 1

Find the change in wavelength of the scattered X-ray photon, when it is scattered through
an angle of 60X by a free electron.

Solution:
Data: Scattering angle θ=60X
To find: Change in wavelength of X-ray photon, ∆λ=?
We know, Compton shift, ∆λ λœ  λ mh c ˆ1  cosθ
o

where c is the velocity of light = 3  108 m/s.

6.63  1034 X
∆λ ˆ1  cos 60 
9.11  1031  3  108

2.426  1012  0.5

0.01213  1010 m.
Change in wavelength of the scattered X-ray photon = 0.01213 Å.

Dr. CHANDRA Module 1: Modern Physics 40 / 63

Problem 2
X-rays with wavelength 1 Å are scattered from Carbon black. The scattered radiation is
viewed at 90X to the incident beam.
i) What is the Compton shift?
ii) How much KE is imparted to the recoiling electron?

Solution:
Data: Wavelength of the incident X-rays, λ 1Å 1  1010 m.
Scattering angle, θ 90X
To find: i) Compton shift, ∆λ ? ii) KE ?

We have for the Compton shift, ∆λ h

mo c
ˆ1  cosθ
where c is the velocity of light = 3  108 m/s.

6.63  1034 X
∆λ ˆ1  cos 90 
9.11  1031  3  108

∆λ 2.426  1012 m.

Dr. CHANDRA Module 1: Modern Physics 41 / 63

Solution: Continued...
KE imparted to the recoiling electron Energy lost by the photon

hν  hν œ h ˆν  ν œ 
c c 1 1
KE h‹  œ hc ‹  œ
λ λ λ λ
where, λœ wavelength of the scattered X-ray
λœ λ  ∆λ 1  1010  2.426  1012 m.

Therefore, KE of the recoiled electron

6.63  1034  3  108 

1 1
KE  
1010 1010  2.426  1012

1.989  1025
2.3685  108 

KE 4.71  1017 J.

Dr. CHANDRA Module 1: Modern Physics 42 / 63

Problem 3
X-rays of wavelength 0.5 Å undergo Compton scattering at an angle of 120X . Estimate a) the
wavelength of scattered X-rays and b) the kinetic energy of the recoiling electron in eV .

Solution:
Data: Wavelength of the incident X-rays, λ 0.5Å 0.5  1010 m.
Scattering angle, θ 120X
To find: i) The wavelength of the scattered X-rays, λœ ? ii) KE ?

We have for the Compton shift, λœ  λ h

mo c
ˆ1  cosθ

λœ
h
λ ˆ1  cosθ 
mo c

6.63  1034
λœ 0.5  1010  X
ˆ1  cos 120 
9.1  1031  3  108

λœ 0.536 Å

Dr. CHANDRA Module 1: Modern Physics 43 / 63

Solution: Continued...
The KE gained by the electron Energy lost by the photon

hν  hν œ h ˆν  ν œ 
c c 1 1
KE h‹  œ hc ‹  œ
λ λ λ λ
where, λœ wavelength of the scattered X-ray

Therefore, KE of the recoiled electron

6.63  1034  3  108 

1 1
KE  
0.5  1010 0.536  1010

2.67  1016
KE 2.67  1016 J eV
1.6  1019

KE 1669.8 eV

Dr. CHANDRA Module 1: Modern Physics 44 / 63

Problem 4
Compute the de Broglie wavelength for a neutron moving with one tenth part of the velocity
of light, given, mass of the neutron 1.674  1027 kg .

Solution:
Data: Mass of the neutron mn 1.674  1027 kg
Velocity of neutron v 1
10
c 3  107 m/s.
To find: de Broglie wavelength, λ ?
The equation for de Broglie wavelength is given by,

h h
λ
p mn v
6.63  1034
λ
1.674  1027  3  107

λ 1.314  1014 m.

Dr. CHANDRA Module 1: Modern Physics 45 / 63

Problem 5
A particle of mass 0.5 MeV ~c 2 has kinetic energy of 100 eV . Find its de Broglie wavelength,
where c is the velocity of light.

Solution:
0.5106 1.61019
Data: Mass of the particle m 0.5 MeV ~c 2 8.89  1031 kg
ˆ3108 2

Kinetic Energy, KE E 100 eV 100  1.6  1019 J 1.6  1017 J

To find: de Broglie wavelength, λ ?
The equation for de Broglie wavelength is given by,

h h
λ º
p 2mE
6.63  1034
λ º
2  8.89  1031  1.6  1017

λ 1.24  1010 m.

Dr. CHANDRA Module 1: Modern Physics 46 / 63

Problem 6
Compare the energy of a photon with that of a neutron when both are associated with
wavelength of 1 Å. Given that the mass of the neutron is 1.678  1027 kg .

Solution:
Data: Wavelength of the photon wavelength of the neutron λp λn 1 Å
Ep
To find: Comparison of energy of photon with that of neutron, i.e., En

Energy of the photon is given by,

6.63  1034  3  108

19.89  1016 J
hc
Ep hν    ˆa 
λp 1  1010
We have the equation for de Broglie wavelength as,

ˆ6.63  1034 
2
λn
h
º
h
 En
h2
1.311020 J ˆb
p 2mEn 2mn λ2 2  1.678  1027  ˆ1  1010 2

19.891016
1.518  105
Ep
From (a) and (b), En 1.311020

Ep 1.518  105 En

Dr. CHANDRA Module 1: Modern Physics 47 / 63

Problem 7
Calculate the de Broglie wavelength of a proton whose kinetic energy is equal to rest mass
energy of the electron. Mass of proton is 1836 times that of electron.

Solution:
Data: KE of proton Rest mass energy of electron.
Mass of proton mp 1836 Mass of electron.
To find: de Broglie wavelength of proton, λ ?
If m0 is the rest mass of electron, then following Einstein’s mass energy relation,
Rest energy of the electron, E m0 c 2

9.11  1031  ˆ3  108 

2
E

E 8.2  1014 J

From given data we have, mass of the proton, mp 1836  me

Therefore,

mp 1836  9.1  1031 1.6726  1027 kg .

Dr. CHANDRA Module 1: Modern Physics 48 / 63

Solution: Continued...
Also by data,
KE of the proton Rest energy of electron.
If v is the velocity of proton, then the above equation becomes,

1
mp v 2 E
2
¿
Á 2E
v Á
À
mp

Therefore, de Broglie wavelength of the proton is,

h h h
λ ½ »
mp v 2E 2mp E
mp mp

6.63  1034
λ º
2  1.6726  1027 8.2  1012

λ 4  1014 m.

Dr. CHANDRA Module 1: Modern Physics 49 / 63

Problem 8
Calculate the de Broglie wavelength of a 0.12 kg cricket ball moving with a speed of
120 km~hr .

Solution:
Data: Mass of cricket ball, m 0.12 kg
120103
Speed of cricket ball, v 120 km~hr 6060
m ~s 33.33 m~s.
To find: de Broglie wavelength of cricket ball, λ ?
The equation for de Broglie wavelength is given by,

h h
λ
p mv
6.63  1034
λ
0.12  33.33

λ 3.315  1034 m.

Dr. CHANDRA Module 1: Modern Physics 50 / 63

Problem 9
Compare the energy of a photon with that of an electron when both are associated with
wavelength of 0.2 nm. Given that the mass of an electron is 9.11  1031 kg .

Solution:
Data: Wavelength of the photon wavelength of an electron λp λe 0.2 nm 0.2  109 m.
Mass of the electron, me 9.11  1031 kg .
Ep
To find: Comparison of energy of photon with that of an electron, i.e., Ee

Energy of the photon is given by,

6.63  1034  3  108

9.945  1016 J
hc
Ep hν    ˆa 
λp 0.2  109
We have the equation for de Broglie wavelength as,

ˆ6.63  1034 
2
λe
h
º
h
 Ee
h2
6.031018 J ˆb
p 2mEe 2me λe 2 2  9.11  1031  ˆ0.2  109 2

Ep 9.9451016
From (a) and (b), Ee 6.031018
164.9

Ep 164.9 Ee

Dr. CHANDRA Module 1: Modern Physics 51 / 63

Problem 10
If an electron has a de Broglie wavelength of 2 nm, find its kinetic energy and group velocity,
given that it has a rest mass energy of 511 keV .

Solution:
Data: de Broglie wavelength of electron, λ 2 nm 2  109 m.
Rest mass energy of electron, E 511 keV 511  103  1.6  1019 8.176  1014 J
To find: Kinetic Energy of the electron, Ek ?
Group velocity of the electron, vg ?

We have the Einstein Mass-Energy relation, E mc 2

8.176  1014
9.1  1031 kg .
E
m
ˆ3  108 
c2 2

KE
p2
2m
h2
2mλ2
Œ λ
h
p
 p
h
λ
‘

6.63  1034
KE
2  9.1  1031  ˆ2  109 2

KE 6.038  1020 J.

Dr. CHANDRA Module 1: Modern Physics 52 / 63

Solution: Continued...
KE 6.038  1020 J.

mv 2 6.038  1020
1
2
2  6.038  1020 2  6.038  1020
v2 1.327  1011
m 9.1  1031
º
v 1.327  1011 3.64  105 m~s.

Here, v is the particle velocity. But, since the particle velocity is same as group velocity,

vg 3.64  105 m~s.

Dr. CHANDRA Module 1: Modern Physics 53 / 63

Problem 11
A particle of mass 0.65 MeV ~c 2 has a kinetic energy of 80 eV . Find the de Broglie
wavelength, group velocity and phase velocity of the de Broglie wave.
(Given c is the velocity of light).

Solution:
0.65106 1.61019
Data: Mass of the particle m 0.65 MeV ~c 2 1.15  1030 kg
ˆ3108 2

Kinetic Energy E 80 eV 80  1.6  1019 1.28  1017 J

To find: de Broglie wavelength λ ?
Group Velocity, vg ?
Phase Velocity, vp ?
The equation for de Broglie wavelength is given by,

h h
λ º
p 2mE
6.63  1034
λ º
2  1.15  1030  1.28  1017

λ 1.22  1010 m.

Dr. CHANDRA Module 1: Modern Physics 54 / 63

Solution: Continued...
We have from data given, Kinetic Energy, E 1
2
mv 2 1.28  1017 J

1.28  1017
1
mv 2
2

2  1.28  1017 2  1.28  1017

v2 2.22  1013
m 1.15  1030
º
v 2.22  1013 4.7  106 m~s.
Here, v is the particle velocity. But, since the particle velocity is same as group velocity,

vg 4.7  106 m~s.

We have the relation between phase velocity, group velocity and velocity of light as,

c2
vp
vg

ˆ3  108 
2
vp
4.7  106

vp 1.91  1010 ms 1

Dr. CHANDRA Module 1: Modern Physics 55 / 63

Problem 12
The position and momentum of 1 keV electrons are simultaneously determined and if its
position is located within 0.1 nm, what is the percentage of uncertainty in its momentum?.

Solution:
Data: Energy of the electron, E 1 keV 1  103  1.6  1019 1.6  1016 J.
Uncertainty in the measurement of position, ∆x 0.1 nm 0.1  109 m.
To find: Percentage of uncertainty in the momentum, i.e., ∆p
p
 100 ?
We have by Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle,

h
∆x.∆p E
4π

h
∆p
4π∆x
6.63  1034
∆p
4π  0.1  109
∆p 5.27  1025 kgm~s.

Dr. CHANDRA Module 1: Modern Physics 56 / 63

Solution: Continued...
º
Also, we have equation for momentum p as, p 2mE
º
p 2  9.1  1031  1.6  1016
p 1.7  1023 kgm~s.

Further,

∆p 5.27  1025
0.031
p 1.7  1023
Therefore the percentage of uncertainty in its momentum is,

∆p
 100 3.1
p

Dr. CHANDRA Module 1: Modern Physics 57 / 63

Problem 13
An electron has a speed of 800 ms 1 with an accuracy of 0.004%. Calculate the uncertainty
with which we can locate the position of the electron.

Solution:
Data: Velocity of the electron, v 800 ms 1 .
Accuracy in the measurement of velocity, ∆v 0.004% of v

0.032 ms 1
0.004
∆v  800
100

To find: Uncertainty in the measurement of position, i.e., ∆x ?

We can calculate uncertainty in momentum as,

∆p m  ∆v 9.1  1031  0.032 2.912  1032 kgm~s.

We have by Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle,
∆x.∆p E h
4π

6.63  1034
1.8  103 m.
h
∆x
4π∆p 4π  2.912  1032

Dr. CHANDRA Module 1: Modern Physics 58 / 63

Problem 14
An electron has a speed of 4.8  105 ms 1 accurate to 0.012%. With what accuracy can be
located the position of the electron.

Solution:
Data: Velocity of the electron, v 4.8  105 ms 1 .
Accuracy in the measurement of velocity, ∆v 0.012% of v

57.6 ms 1
0.012
∆v  4.8  105
100

∆p m  ∆v 9.1  1031  57.6 5.24  1029 kgm~s.

To find: Uncertainty in the measurement of position, i.e., ∆x ?
We have by Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle,
∆x.∆p E h
4π

6.63  1034
1  106 m.
h
∆x
4π∆p 4π  5.24  1029

Dr. CHANDRA Module 1: Modern Physics 59 / 63

Problem 15
The average time that an atom retains excess excitation energy before re-emitting it in the
form of electromagnetic radiation is 108 s. Calculate the limit of accuracy with which the
excitation energy of the emitted radiation can be .

Solution:
Data: Uncertainty in the measurement of time, ∆t 108 s
To find: Maximum accuracy with which the excitation energy of radiation, i.e., ∆E ?
According to Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle,
∆E .∆t E h
4π

6.63  1034
5.28  1027 J.
h
∆E
4π∆t 4π  108

5.28  1027
Or ∆E eV 3.295  108 eV
1.6  1019
Maximum accuracy with which excitation energy of the emitted radiation can be measured is
3.295  108 eV

Dr. CHANDRA Module 1: Modern Physics 60 / 63

Appendix 1

Phase velocity of the wave is given by

ω
vp
k
2πE 2π 2πp
Substituting the values of ω 2πν h and k λ h , we write
2πE
h E mc 2 c2
vp 2πp
h
p mv v
Since, vg v , we have
c2
vp
vg
or,

vp .vg c2

Dr. CHANDRA Module 1: Modern Physics 61 / 63

Appendix 2

Relativistic energy of a particle

According to theory of relativity, the energy E of a particle is Multiplying by c 2 we get,

given by
2 m0 c 2
E mc ½
m0 2 v 2 c 4
1  v2
2
p
2
   ˆii 
c c2  v2
where m0 is the rest mass of the particle moving with velocity
v
Squaring the above equation, equation (ii) from equation (i), we get

m0 2 c 4
E
2
   ˆi 
‹1  v 2 
2
m0 2 c 4 ˆ c 2  v 2
c E
2
 p2 2 4
m0 c
The momentum of the particle is given by,
ˆc 2  v 2
m0 v
p mv ½
or
1  v2
2
c

Squaring we have,
E
2 2 2
p c  m0 2 c 4
2 m0 2 v 2 m0 2 v 2 c 2
p
‹1  v 2 
2 c2  v2
c

Dr. CHANDRA Module 1: Modern Physics 62 / 63

Book for Reference:

Concepts of Modern Physics

(Sixth Edition)

By: Arthur Beiser, Shobhit Mahajan and S Rai Choudhury

Dr. CHANDRA Module 1: Modern Physics 63 / 63