INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DHARWAD

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

Mid-Semester Examination
PH101: Quantum Physics and Applications

Total Marks : 30 Duration : 2 hours

INSTRUCTIONS
1. All questions are compulsory.
2. Begin answer for each part of a question in a NEW PAGE.
3. All the steps must be properly explained to get full credit. Mere correct answer may not imply
any credit unless all the steps are clearly written.
4. Books/notes/formula sheets are not allowed. Mobile phones are not allowed. Use of scientific
calculator is allowed.
5. Failure to follow instructions may result in deduction of marks.

1. When sodium metal is illuminated with light of wavelength 4.20 × 102 nm, the stopping potential is found to be
0.65 V and when the wavelength is changed to 3.10 × 102 nm, the stopping potential is 1.69 V. Using only these
data and the values of the speed of light and the electronic charge, find the work function of sodium and a value of
Planck’s constant (in Js). [Note: Do not use the value of Planck’s constant to find the work function.] [2.5 Marks]

2. An electron is confined to a region of space (one-dimensional) of the size of an atom (0.1 nm).
(A) What is the uncertainty in the momentum of the electron? [1 Mark]
(B) What is the kinetic energy of the electron with a momentum equal to this uncertainty in the momentum?
[1 Mark]

3. Derive the wavelength relationship between the incident photon (energy << binding energy of proton) of wavelength
λ and the scattered photon of wavelength λ0 for Compton scattering by a free proton initially at rest. What would
2
be the Compton wavelength (in nm) in this case? [Note: Use the relativistic energy relationship Epr = p2pr c2 +m2pr c4
for proton directly in the derivation, where, Epr is the total energy of the scattered proton, ppr is the momentum
of the scattered proton, and mpr is the mass of the proton.] [3.5 Marks]

4. A particle is described by the wave-function

ψ(x) = 0 √ f or x < 0
ψ(x) = N 2e−x/L f or x ≥ 0
Find N . Calculate the probability of finding the particle in the region x ≥ 1 nm in terms of L. What is this
probability if L = 1 nm? [3 Marks]

5. (A) A particle of mass m is confined in a one-dimensional potential energy box of width 2L. The potential energy
U (x) is infinite for x < 0 and x > 2L and U (x) = 0 for 0 ≤ x ≤ 2L. Derive the expressions for normalized
wavefunction (time-independent part) and energy of this particle. [4 Marks]
(B) If the electron in a single-electron atom could be modeled as a particle in a one-dimensional infinite potential
energy well, estimate the wavelength of the photon that would be emitted if the electron goes from the first excited
state to the ground state. Assume the atom has a diameter of 0.200 nm. [2 Marks]

CONTINUED
 –2–

6. The phase velocity vp of ripples on a liquid surface is given as:

r
gλ 2πS
vp = +
2π λρ
where g is the acceleration due to gravity, λ is the wavelength, S is the surface tension and ρ is the density of the
liquid.
Sk 3
(A) Show that the relation between circular frequency ω and wave number k is given by ω 2 = gk + .
ρ
[1 Mark]
3Sk 2
g+
ρ
(B) Show that group velocity vg = s . [1 Mark]
Sk 3
2 gk +
ρ
r
S
(C) When the group velocity is equal to the phase velocity, show that λ = 2π . [2.5 Marks]
ρg
−2 −2 −1 −3
(D) If g = 10m.s , S = 4 × 10 N.m and ρ = 1000kg.m then find vg when vg = vp . [1.5 Mark]

7. A particle in a certain finite potential energy system is described by the following wave-function
ψ(x) = Aeβx f or − ∞ < x < −a
ψ(x) = D cosαx f or − a ≤ x ≤ +a
ψ(x) = Ae−βx f or + a < x < +∞

1
1 −2

1
1 −2
Show that, A = eβa cosαa a + β and D = a + β , where alpha (α) and beta (β) are constants.
[4 Marks]

8. (A) Consider two operators A = x and B = d/dx acting on a function f (x) = xe−ax , where a is a constant. Find
whether these two operators commute or not? [2 Marks]
2
(B) Find if the function f (x) = e−ax is an eigenfunction of the operator d2 /dx2 . [1 Marks]

Useful constants

c = 3 × 108 m/s;
e = 1.6 × 10−19 C;
1eV = 1.6 × 10−19 J;
mass of electron, me = 9.1 × 10−31 kg ≈ 0.5M eV /c2 ;
mass of proton, mpr = 1.67 × 10−27 kg ≈ 940M eV /c2 ;
h = 6.63 × 10−34 Js = 4.13 × 10−15 eV s;
~ = 1.05 × 10−34 Js = 6.56 × 10−16 eV s;
λm T = 2.9 × 10−3 Km;
h/me c = 0.002426 nm;
hc = 1240 nm eV