National Institute of Technology, Rourkela

Mid-Semester Examination, 2017

Session: 2016 - 17, Spring Semester
Department Code: PH
Subject Code: PH 102, Subject Name: Physics II
No. of Pages: 2, Full Marks: 30, Duration of Exam: 2 hours

Figures at the right hand margin indicate marks

Answer all the questions

Section A

1. (a) Obtain expression for the average speed from Maxwell-Boltzmann distribu-
2
m
tion of molecular speeds: n(v)dv = 4πN( 2πkT )3/2 v2 e−mv /2kT dv. Compute
the average speed of nitrogen molecules at 27 ◦ C. 3
(b) Show the graph of Maxwell-Boltzmann (fM B ), Bose-Einstein (fBE ) and Fermi-
Dirac (fF D ) distributions versus energy for α = 0. Explain how does fBE
differ from fF D ? 2

2. (a) A gas cloud in our galaxy emits radiation at a rate of 1.0x1027 W. The
radiation has its maximum intensity at a wavelength of 1 µm. If the cloud
is spherical and radiates like a blackbody, find its surface temperature and
diameter. 3
(b) Explain with suitable plot the distribution function f (E) for fermions at
absolute zero temperature and at a higher temperature. 2

3. (a) i) Why is the zero-point energy of a harmonic oscillator does not enter into
the analysis specific heat of solid ? ii) Why the free electrons in a solid do
not contribute to the specific heat ? 3
(b) Find the specific heat at constant volume of 1.00 cm3 of radiation in thermal
equilibrium at 1000 K. 2

1
 Section B

4. (a) Derive the expresion for the total potential energy of sodium chloride crystal.
How is it different from the cohesive energy of the crystal ? 3
(b) Explain the influence of impurities to the resistance of a crystal. Draw the
resistivity of a Na crystal against temperature at two different concentration
of impurities. 2

5. (a) Explain the band structure of magnesium. In separate neat band diagrams,
show the position of fermi levels in diamond, intrinsic semiconductor, N-type
semiconductor and P-type semiconductor. 3
(b) Why are some solids transparent to visible light and others opaque ? The
forbidden band is 1.1 eV in silicon and 6 eV in diamond. To what wave-
lengths of light are these substances transparent ? 2

6. (a) With neat E versus k diagram discuss the origin of band gaps at the bound-
ary of the brillouin zones. 3
(b) X-rays of wavelength 1.54 Å are diffracted by the crystal whoes inter planar
distance between two layers is 3.5 Å. Calculate the angle of reflection for
second order reflection. 2

Universal gas constant = 1.99 cal/mole . K

Boltzmann’s constant k = 1.381×10−23 J/K
1 a.m.u = 1.66×10−27 Kg
Value of h = 6.62 × 10−34 J.Sec
Stefan’s constant σ = 5.67 × 10−8 W/m2 K 4