Tifr 2018 2020

TIFR
PHYSICS
SOLVED PREVIOUS YEARS TEST PAPERS
Third Edition
Vishal Deoarshi Jyoti Ahuja

B.Tech, IIT-BHU M.Sc, M-Phil
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PREFACE
THIRD EDITION
The continued demand of the solution of previous year paper of TIFR PHYSICS entrance
exams motivated us to write this book. All the questions have been solved in good details so that even the
students who don’t have any guidance can also properly understand them.
We give special thanks to all colleagues at TRAJECTORY EDUCATION with special reference to
Mr. Rahul, Mrs. Preety, Ms. Jasleen Kaur, Mr. Charanjeet Arora and Mr. Amit Gupta and SAMVEDNA
PUBLICATION team with special reference to Mrs. Dashmeet, Mr. Shankar Chaudhary, Mr. Devid who
always supported us while writing this book. We are also thankful to Samvedna Press with special reference
to Mr. Vinod, Mr. Sanjeet, Mr. Manoj, Mr. Vishwamitra.
We also thank all our students and our family whose appreciation and love constantly motivated us.
We give special thanks to Asst. Commandant Rajeev Kumar, Mr. Vikas, Mrs. Ravneet who constantly
motivated us.
Finally, we thank our parent company V.D. Intellisys Technologies (P)Ltd. for all their support.
We would be grateful to receive the comments, critical observation and suggestions from the read-
ers. These will be incorporated in the subsequent editions.
This book is dedicated to my

honourable grandfather
(Late) Sh. Nanku Prasad;
a freedom fighter; resident of
Raniganj (Gaya) Bihar
CO N T E N T S
1. TIFR-2020 ............................................................................................................ 1-24
2. TIFR-2019 ............................................................................................................ 1-20
1. TIFR-2018 ............................................................................................................ 1-22
2. TIFR-2017 ............................................................................................................ 1-26
3. TIFR-2016 ............................................................................................................ 1-28
4. TIFR-2015 ............................................................................................................ 1-22
5. TIFR-2014 ............................................................................................................ 1-24
6. TIFR-2013 ............................................................................................................ 1-22
7. TIFR-2012 ............................................................................................................ 1-16
8. TIFR-2011 ............................................................................................................ 1-18
9. TIFR-2010 ............................................................................................................ 1-18

GS-2020 (Physics)
TATA INSTITUTE OF FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH
Duration : 3 (Three) Hours
Instructions for all candidates for the physics test for Ph.D. or integrated Ph.D
PLEASE READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU
ATTEMPT THE QUESTIONS
1. You may not keep with you any books, paper, mobile phones or any electronic devices which can be
used to get/store information. Use of scientific, non-programmable calculator is permitted.
Calculators which plot graphs are NOT allowed-use devices, such as smart phones, etc. CANNOT be
used as calculators.
2. This test consists of TWO sections.

(i) SECTION-A comprises 25 questions, numbered Q.1-Q.25.
These are questions on basic topics.
(ii) SECTION-B comprises 15 questions, numbered Q.1-Q.15
These may require somewhat more thought/knowledge
3. All questions are multiple Choice Type. In each case, ONLY ONE option is correct. Answer them by
clicking the radio button next to the relevant option.
4. All questions are multipole Choice Type. In each ase, ONLY ONE option is correct. Answer them by
5. If your calculated answer does not match any of the given options exactly. You may mark the closest
one if it is reasonably close.
4. The grading scheme will be as follows :

Section A : +3 mark if correct –1 mark if correct; 0 mark if not attempted
Section B : +5 mark if correct; 0 marks if incorrect or not attempted, i.e. No negative marks.
5. The invigilators will supply you with paper sheets for rough work.
6. Do NOT ask the invigilators for clarifications regarding the questions. They have been instructed
not to respond to any such queries. In case a correction/clarification is deemed necessary, it will be
announced in the examination hall.
7. You can get a list of useful physical constants on the reverse of this page. Make sure to use only these
values in answering the questions, especially where the options are numerical.
2020-1
TIFR Physics 2020-2
USEFUL CONSTANTS
Symbol Name/Definition Value
c speed of light in vacuum 3 × 108 ms–1
 reduced Planck constant ( h / 2) 1.04 × 10–34 Js
–11
GN gravitational constant 6.67 × 10 m3kg–1s–2
M solar mass 1.989 × 1030 kg
0 permittivity of free space 8.85 × 10–12 Fm–1

µ0 permeability of free space 4  107 NA–2
e electron charge (magnitude) 1.6 × 10–19 C
me electron mass 9.1 × 10–31 kg = 0.5 MeV/c2
a0 Bohr radius 0.51 Å
ionisation potential of H atom 13.6 eV
NA Avogadro number 6.023 × 1023 mol–1
kB Boltzmann constant 1.38 × 10–23 JK–1 = 8.6173 × 10–8 eVK–1
R = NAkB gas constant 8.31 J mol–1 K–1
  C p /CV ratio of specific heats : monatomic gas 1.67
diatomic gas 1.40
 Stefan-Boltzmann constant 5.67 × 10–8 Wm–2K–4
 fine structure ( e2 /40 c) 1/137
g acceleration due to gravity 9.8 ms–2
RE radius of the Earth 6.4 × 103 km
Rs radius of the Sun 7 × 105 km
mp Proton mass (  2000me ) 1.7 × 10–27 kg = 938.2 MeV/c2
mn neutron mass (  2000me ) 1.7 × 10–27 kg = 939.6 MeV/c2
USEFUL CONVERSIONS
c conversion constant 3.16 × 10–26 Jm–1= 0.1973 GeV fm

9
1 A.U. mean distance of Earth from Sun 1.5 × 10 km
1 a.m.u atomic mass unit 1.6 × 10–27 kg = 931.5 MeV/c2
1 eV electron volt 1.6 × 10–19 J
1T Tesla 104 guass
1 bar mean atmospheric pressure at 0°C 1.01 × 10–12 Pa(=Nm–2)
1Å Ångstrom unit 10–8 cm
1kWh Commercial energy unit 3.6 × 106 J
2020-3 TIFR Previous Years Paper
SECTION-A
(for both int. Ph.D. and Ph.D. candidates)
This section consists of 25 questions. All are of multiple choice type. Mark only one option on the
ORS provided to you. If more than one option is marked, it will be assumed that the question has not
been attempted. A correct answer will get +3 marks, an incorrect answer will get –1 mark.
1. A three dimensional view of a solid is sketched below
The three projections below are each intended to show the solid from its front (F), left side (L) and top
(T), as marked in the figure. Which one is correct?
(a) (b)
F L T F L T
(c) (d)
F L T F L T
Solution : (a)
2. The limit
x 1
lim
x  x 1
evaluate to
(a) 2 (b) 0
(c)  (d) 1
Solution : (a)
x 1 x  1/x
x log = x log
x 1 x  1/x
  1  1 
= x  log  1    log 1   
  x  x 
 1 1 1   1 1 1 
= x   2  3 ...      x 2  2 ...  
 x 2 x 3 x   x 2 3 x 
2 2 
= x   3 ....
 x 3x 
 2 
=  2  3  ....
 3x 
x 1
So, lim x log 2
x  x 1
TIFR Physics 2020-4
3. The eigenvector e1 corresponding to the smallest eigenvalue of the matrix

3
where a  , is given (in terms of its transpose) by
2
1 1 1  1 3 3
(a) e1    3 (b) e1  
T T
 1 
2 2 2 2 2 2
1 1
(c) e1 
T
1 0  1 (d) e1T  1 0 1
2 2
Solution : (a)
 2a 2 a 0 
  3
Matrix A=  a 1 a  where a 
2
 0 a 2a 2 
 3 
 3 0 
 2 
 3 3
= 1 
 2 2
 3 
 0 3 
 2 
 3 
 3 0  1 
 2   2  0
 3 3 
 
(a) Ae1 =  1    3   0
 2 2 
 
 3   1  0
 0 
3  3  
 2 
So, e1 is eigenvector corresponding to   0
 3 3/ 2 0   3 / 2
1  
(b) Ae1 =  3 / 2 1 3 / 2  1 
2 
 0 3/ 2 3   3 / 2 
4 3 / 2   3 / 2
1   
=  4   2 1 
2   
4 3 / 2   3 / 2
 3 3/ 2 0  1  3  1/ 2 
1   1   
(c) Ae1 =  3 / 2 1 3 / 2  0    0   3 0 
2  2  1 / 2 
 0 3/ 2 3   1  3  
(d) e1 is not eigenvector.
4. Consider the improper differential
ds = (1 + y2)dx + xydy
An integrating factor for this is

(a) –x (b) 1 + x2
(c) xy (d) –1 + y2
Solution : (a)
ds = (1  y )dx  xydy
2
–xds = x(1  y )dx  x ydy

2 2
1
=  2 x(1  y 2 )dx  2 x 2 ydy 
2
1
= d ( x (1  y ))
2 2
2
1 2 2 
= d  x (1  y ) 
2 
5. Consider a sphere of radius R, with the north pole N marked as shown in the figure below.
N
The r.m.s. distance (straight line cutting through the sphere) of a point P on the sphere from this north
pole N is given by
(a) R (b) 2 2/5 R
(c) 4 R (d) 2R
Solution : (d)
z
N(R,0,0)
P(R,,)

y
d = ( R sin  cos )2  ( R sin  sin )2  ( R cos   R ) 2
= R 2 sin 2   R 2 (1  cos )2

= R 2 sin 2   R 2  R 2 cos 2   2 R 2 cos 
= 2 R 2  2 R 2 cos   2 R 2 (1  cos )
= 4 R 2 sin 2  /2  2 R sin  /R
d
2
dS
drms =
4R 2
TIFR Physics 2020-6
 2
d   2R (1  cos ) R 2 sin d d 
2 2
dS =
0 0

= 4 R   (1  cos )sin  d 
4
0

 sin  d   8R

= 4R
4
8R 4
So, drms =  2R
4R 2
6. Consider a satellite orbiting the Earth in a circular orbit, as sketched in the figure on the right (not to
scale). The satellite has four small thruster rockets, whose exhaust gases come out along
(A) the forward direction (B) the backward direction,

(C) radially inward towards the Earth’s centre, and (D) radially outward from the Earth’s centre
as indicated in the figure
If the satellite wants to increase its speed, while remaining in a circular orbit, and has fuel enough to
keep only one thruster rocket in operation, it should fire the rocket marked
(a) A (b) B
(c) C (d) D
Solution : (d)
7. A particle of mass m hangs from a light spring inside a lift (see figure). When the lift is at rest, the
mass oscillates in the vertical direction with an angular frequency 2.5 rad/s. Now consider the following
situation.
The suspended mass is at rest inside the lift which is descending vertically at a speed of 0.5 m/s. If the
lift suddenly stops, the amplitude of oscillations of the mass will be
(a) 0.20 m (b) 0.25 m
(c) 0.05 m (d) 1.25 m
Solution : (a)
 = 2.5rad/s
1 m
kE of bob = m(0.5) 
2
2 8
when lift suddenly stops, this kE will become energy of oscillation
1
kE = m A
2 2
2
m 1 2 2
= m(2.5) A
8 2
25 2
= mA
8
1 1
A=   0.2
25 5
8. Consider two planets P1 and P2 which can be modeled as uniform spheres of radii R1 and R2 respectively,
and of the same material with the same density and other physical properties. If the maximum possible
height of a conical mountain (of the same material) on these planets is denoted by h1 and h2 respectively
( h1  R1 , h2  R2 ), then the ratio h1/h2 is
(a) R2/R1 (b) R1/R2
2/3 2/3
(c) R /R2 1
(d) R12/3 /R22/3
Solution : (a)
Y
Using dimensional analysis h 
g
where Y = Young’s modulus
g = acceleration due to gravity
 = density
Y and  are properties of material, So, they are same for both planets
4 3
GM G    3 R 4GR
g 2 = 2

R R 3
h1 g R
So, = 1  1
h2 g 2 R2
9. A particle of rest mass 3g emerges from a gun with a velocity v = c/4. If the rest mass of the gun is
1 kg, its approximate speed of recoil will be
(a) c/1000 (b) c/2236
(c) c/1732 (d) c/2309
Solution : (b)
Linear momentum of particle
m0
p = mv = v
v2
1 2
c
3 c
=   103
1 4
1
16
c
=  10 3
5
Linear momentum of gun will be equal and opposite to that of particle
c
p=  10 3
5
1 c
 v =  10 3
v2 5
1
c2
TIFR Physics 2020-8
 v /c  2 106
 =
v2 5
1
c2
2 2
v 6 6  v 
 5   = 10  10  
c c
103 c
 v c=
5 2236
10. Consider two concentrical sphere of radii a and b, where a < b (see figure). The (shaded) space
between the two spheres is filled uniformly with total charge Q. The electric field at any point between
the two spheres at distance r from the centre is given by
b
r
a
Q r 3  a3 Q 1
(a) (b)
4 0 r 2 (b3  a3 ) 40 r 2
2/3
Q b a
(c)    (d) zero
40  r 4 r 4 
Solution : (a)
See Samvedna Book Chapter 3
11. A metallic wire of uniform cross-section and resistance R is bent into a circle of radius a. The circular

loop is placed in a magnetic field B(t ) which is perpendicular to the plane of the wire. This magnetic
field is uniform over space, but its magnitude decreases with time at a constant rate k, where

d B (t )
k=
dt
The tension in the metallic wire is
a 3 k  a 3 k 
(a) B (t ) (b) B (t )
2R R
2a 3 k 
(c) B (t ) (d) zero
R
Solution : (b)
Flux  = B a 2
 2 B
Emf induced,  = a
t t
= a 2
k
Current flowing in the loop
 a 2 k
i =
R R
Consider an element of the loop.
dl
d d
T a T
i d
dl = ad
Lorentz force acting on dl length of loop
dF = idlB
a 2 k a 3 kBd 
=  ad B  in radially outward direction
R R
It will be balanced by tension in radially inward direction.
d
dF = 2T sin  Td 
2
a 3 kB
 d  = Td 
R
a 3 kB
So, T=
R
 
12. Four students were asked to write down possible forms for the magnetic vector potential A( x )
corresponding to a uniform magnetic field of magnitude B along the positive z direction. Three returned
correct answers and one returned an incorrect answer. Their answers are reproduced below. Which
was the incorrect answer?
(a) Bx ˆj (b) Byiˆ
1 1
(c) ( Bxiˆ  By ˆj ) (d) ( By iˆ  Bx ˆj )
2 2
Solution : (c)
 
B =  A
iˆ ˆj kˆ
  
=  Bkˆ
x y z
Ax Ay Az

(A) A = Bxjˆ
iˆ ˆj kˆ
   
B=  Bkˆ
x y z
0 Bx 0

(B) A =  Byiˆ
TIFR Physics 2020-10
 
B =  A
iˆ ˆj kˆ
  
=
x y z
 By 0 0
= Bkˆ
 1
(C) A = ( Bxiˆ  Byjˆ )
2
 
B =  A
iˆ ˆj kˆ
  
0
= x y z
1 1
Bx  By 0
2 2
 1
(D) A = (  Bxiˆ  Byjˆ)
2
 
B =  A
iˆ ˆj kˆ
  
 Bkˆ
= x y z
1 1
 By Bx 0
2 2
13. The components of the electric and magnetic fields corresponding to a plane electromagnetic field
propagating in vacuum satisfy

E
Ex = E y   E z 
3

B
Bx =  By  Bz  0
2
A unit vector along the direction of propagation of the plane wave is
iˆ  ˆj  2kˆ iˆ  ˆj  2kˆ
(a) (b) 
6 6
2iˆ  2 ˆj  kˆ 2iˆ  2 ˆj  kˆ
(c) (d) 
3 3
Solution : (b)
   1
E = | E | iˆ 
1 ˆj  1 kˆ 

 3 3 3 
  1
ˆj 
 1
B = |B| iˆ  
 2 2 
Unit vector in the direction of propagation of em wave
 
nˆ || E  B
iˆ ˆj kˆ
1 1 1

So, n̂ = 3 3 3
1 1
 0
2 2
1 ˆ 1 ˆ 2 ˆ
= i j k
6 6 6
 iˆ  ˆj  2kˆ 
=  
 6 
14. A gas has the following equation of state
aS 5
U=
N 2V 2
where U is the internal energy, V is the volume and N is the number of particles. Here a is a constant
of the appropriate dimension. It follows that the equation of state of this gas relating its pressure P to
its temperature T and its density   N /V is given by
P4 P4
(a)  constant (b)  constant
T 5 2 T 4 3
P P3
(c)  constant (d)  constant
T T 2 3
Solution : (a)
15. An ideal gas is passed through a cyclic process where the corresponding changes in the thermodynamic
potentials are plotted on the adjoining graph. Here U is the internal energy and F is the Helmholtz free
energy.
F
F2
F1
U1 U
U2
The efficiency of this cycle is given by
U1  F 
(a) 1  (b) 1  exp   2 
U2  F1 
U1  F  U   F 
(c) 1  exp   2  (d) exp  1   exp   2 
U2  F1   U2   F1 
Solution : (a)
For ideal gas, U  T
T2 U
 1 1 1
T1 U2
16. The mean free path  of molecules of a gas at room temperatures is given approximately by
1
=
n
where n is the number density of the molecues and  is the collision cross-section of two molecules.
It follows that the mean free path of air molecules at normal temperature and pressure is of order
(a) 500µm (b) 50 nm
(c) 0.5 nm (d) 500 fm
Solution : (b)
17. Four students are asked to draw on the same semi-logarithmic plot of the energy distributions f(E) of
a classical gas (with a solid line), boson gas (with a dashed line) and a fermion gas (with a dash dot
line) respectively, each as a function of energy E. Only one students answer was correct. The graphs
submitted by the four students are given below. The correct one is
(a) Logf(E) (b) Logf(E)
E E
(c) Logf(E) (d) Logf(E)
E E
Solution : (a)
18. The wave function of a particle subjected to a three dimensional spherically symmetric potential V(r)
is given by

( x ) = (x + y + 3z)f(r)

The expectation value for the operator L2 for this state is
(a) 2 (b) 22
(c) 5 2 (d) 112
Solution : (b)
19. A fermion of mass m, moving in two dimensions, is strictly confined inside a square box of side . The
potential inside is zero. A measurement of the energy of the fermion yields the result
652  2
E=
2m 2
The degeneracy of this energy state is
(a) 2 (b) 4
(c) 8 (d) 16
Solution : (c)
2 2 2 65 2 2
E= 2
(nx  ny2 ) 
2ma 2ma 2
So, nx2  n y2 = 65
So, (nx, ny) can be (8,1), (1, 8), (7, 4), (4, 7).
If we consider spin then there will be 8 degeneracy states.
20. A sample of hydrogen gas was placed in a discharge tube and its spectrum was measured using a high
resolution spectrometer. The H  line in the spectrum was found to be split into two lines, a high
intensity line at 656.28 nm, and a low intensity line at 656.01 nm. This indicates that the hydrogen
sample was contaminated with
(a) deuterium (b) tritium
(c) helium (d) water vapour
Solution : (c)
µe 4
En = 
8n 2 h 2 02
For H  line
c µe 4  1 1 
E
= 3  E    
 2
8h 2 02  4 9 
 µ
So, =
 µ
xm p  me
656.28 µ xm p  me x ( m p  me )
  = 
656.01 µ m p  me xm p  me
m p  me
m 
x  p  1
 me   1841x
= m 1840 x  1
x p 1
me
 656.28 × 1840x + 656.28 = 656.01 × 1841x
 1207552.2x + 656.28 = 1207714.41x
656.28
 x=  4.046
162.21
So, nucleus of unknown species will contain 4 nucleons. It must be He
d
21. The momentum operator i acts on a wavefunction  ( x). This operator is Hermitian
dx
(a) provided the wavefunction ( x) is normalized

(b) provided the wavefunction ( x) and derivate ( x) are continuous everywhere
(c) provided the wavefunction ( x) vanishes as x  
(d) by its very definition
Solution : (c)
22. Vout
2k
–
+15V
+
5k
~ 10k
V=15sin(2t)
In the above circuit, which of the following is the maximum value, in Volts, of voltage at Vout?
(a) 10 (b) 15
(c) 0 (d) 5
Solution : (a)
23. A badly designed voltmeter is modeled as an ideal voltmeter with a large resistor (R) and a large
capacitor (C) connected in parallel to it. Given this information, which of the following statements
describes what happens when this voltmeter is connected to a DC voltage source with voltage V and
internal resistance r (r  R )?
(a) The reading on the voltmeter rises slowly and becomes steady at a value slightly less than V.
(b) The reading on the voltmeter starts at a value slightly less than V and slowly falls to zero.
(c) The reading on the voltmeter rises slowly to a maximum value close to V and then slowly goes to
zero
(d) The reading on the voltmeter reads zero even when connected to the voltage source.
Solution : (a)
24. An OR gate, a NOR gate and an XOR gate are to be constructed using only NAND gates. If the
minimum number of NAND gates needed to construct OR, NOR and XOR gates is denoted n(OR),
n(NOR) and n(XOR) respectively, then
(a) n(NOR) = n(XOR) > n(OR)
(b) n(NOR) = n(XOR) = n(OR)
(c) n(NOR) > n(XOR) > n(OR)
(d) n(NOR) < n(XOR) = n(OR)
Solution : (a)
OR Gate
y = A  B  AB
A
A
y=A+B
B
B
So, n(OR) = 3
NOR Gate
y = A  B  AB
A
y = A+B
So, n(NOR) = 4
XOR Gate
x = AB  AB
A ( A)( AB )
AB
( A)( AB ) ( B)( AB )
B
( B )( AB )
y = ( A)( AB ) ( B )( AB )
= ( A)( AB )  ( B )( AB)
= A( A  B )  B( A  B )
= AB  BA
= AB  AB
So, n(XOR) = 4
Hence, n(XOR) = n(NOR) > n(OR)
25. On passing electric current, a tungsten filament is emitting electrons by thermionic emission. In order
to maintain the energy of the electron beam obtained from this source at a value approximately 100
eV, which of the following methods will work in practice?
(a) Float the filament at –100 Volts with a grounded aperture in front of it.
(b) Heat the filament so that the emitted electrons will have 100 eV kinetic energy due to temperature.
(c) Apply a +100 Volts potential with respect to the filament potential to an aperture kept very close
to the filament
(d) Use an appropriate magnetic field to draw out the electron beam at the desired energy without
applying any electric field.
Solution : (a)
SECTION-B
been attempted. A correct answer will get +5 marks, an incorrect answer will get 0 mark.
26. A two-dimensional electrostatic field is defined as

E ( x, y ) =  xiˆ  yjˆ
A correct diagram for the lines of force is
(a) 3 (b) 3
2 2
y y
1 1
0 0
–1 –1
–2 –2
–3 –3
–3 –2 –1 0 1 2 –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 x3
x3
3 3
(c) (d)
2 2
y y
1 1
0 0
–1 –1
–2 –2
–3 –3
–3 –2 –1 0 1 2 x3 –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 x3
Solution : (a)

E =0

So, E is divergenceless
(iii) & (iv) is incorrect.
For negative side of x-axis, E is positive and the test charge will move towards right.
So, (a) is correct.
27. The sum of the infinite series
3 6 10 15
S= 1     ...
5 25 125 625
is given by
125 25
(a) S  (b) S 
64 16
25 16
(c) S  (d) S 
24 25
Solution : (a)
1 3 6 10
S     ....
5 25 125 625
S 1 2 6 10
     ....
5 5 25 125 625

4 1 3 6 10
S  S 1     ....
5 5 25 125 625
S 1 2 6 10
     ....
5 5 25 125 625

4 1 2 6 10
S 1     ....
5 5 25 125 625
1 5
= 
1 4
1
5
4 25
S' = S
5 16
125
S=
64
28. A roundabout whose rotating base is a heavy uniform disc of radius 2m and mass 400 kg has a central
pillar and handles which are of negligible mass (see figure). The roundabout is set rotating at a steady
rate of 20 r.p.m.
20 r.p.m.
Four small children, of mass 10 kg, 20 kg, 30 kg and 40 kg respectively, step gently on the edge of the
roundabout, each with velocity 7.2 km/hr along a tangential direction and cling to the handles. After
holding on for sometime, the children step gently off the roundabout with the same velocity but this
time in a radial direction.
Neglecting all effects of friction and air drag, the final rate of rotation of the roundabout will be about
(a) 28 r.p.m. (b) 25 r.p.m.
(c) 36 r.p.m. (d) 21 r.p.m.
Solution : (b)
V = 7.2km/hr
7.2  1000
=  2 m /s
3600
20  2 2
 = 2rpm    rad /s
60 3
Conserving angular momentum

1  2 
 400  4     10  2  2  20  2  2  30  2  2  40  2  2
2  3 
1
=  400  4
2
1600
   400 = 800
3
2
 =   0.5
3
In rpm  =  2   0.5   60
3  2
15
= 20   24.777 rpm

29. In the laboratory frame, a particle at rest starts moving with a speed c/2 from one corner of a square
(see figure) and traverses the four sides of the square so that it returns to its original position. At each
corner, it changes direction without any change in speed.
c/3
c/2
If the entire square now moves with a speed c/3 in the laboratory frame, as indicated in the figure, the
speed of the particle (in the laboratory frame) when it returns to its original position will be
2 2c c
(a) (b)
15 5
2 2c c
(c) (d)
3 5 3
Solution : (b)
vx  v
vx =
vv
1  2x
v
c c

2 3 c
= 
 c c  1 5
1    2
 2 3c
30. A light rigid insulating rod of length  suspended horizontally from a rigid frictionless pivot at one of
the ends (see figure). At a vertical distance h below the rod there is an infinite conducting plane,
which is grounded.
+Q
+Q
/2
If two small light spherical conductors are attached at the ends of the rod and given charges +Q and
–Q as indicated in the figure, the torque on the rod will be
Q2 ˆ Q2 ˆ
(a) k (b)  k
40  40 
4  2  Q2 ˆ 4  2  Q2 ˆ
(c) k (d)  k
160  16 0 
Solution : (d)
Q –Q
–Q Q
2
Q Q2 l
Torque on rod =  l  
4 0 l 2
4 0 ( 2 l ) 2
2
Q2  1 
= 1
40 l  2 2 

Q2
=  4  2  Clockwise
16 0 l
Q2
In vector form, = (4  2)( kˆ)
16 0 l

31. The magnetic vector potential A  Ax iˆ  Ay ˆj  Az kˆ is defined in a region R of space by
Ax = 5cos y
Ay = 2  sin x
Az = 0
in an appropriate unit.
If L be a square loop of wire in the x-y plane, with its ends at :
(0 0) (0, 0.25) (0.25, 0.25) (0.25, 0)
in an appropriate unit and it lies entirely in the region R, the numerical value of the flux of the above
magnetic field (in the same units) passing through L is
(a) 0.543 (b) 3.31
(c) –0.75 (d) zero
Solution : (a)
 
B =  A
iˆ ˆj kˆ
  
=
x y z
5cos y 2  sin x 0
= ( cos x  5 sin y )kˆ

Flux,  =  B  ndS

ˆ
1/ 4 1/ 4
=   ( cos x  5 sin y )dxdy

0 0
1/ 4
 sin x  5x sin y

1/ 4
= 0
dy
0
 1 5
1/ 4

=  
0
 sin y  dy
2 4 
1/4
y 5
=  cos y
2 4 0
1 5 5
=  
4 2 4 2 4
5 1
=   0.543
4 2
32. The volume V of a rectangular box is divided into two equal parts by a solid non-permeable partition
P. On one side of partition P there is a vacuum, while the other side is filled with a real gas having
equation of state
pVea/RTV = nRT
where a and b are constants. The gas was initially at a uniform temperature T0. Then the partition P
was removed instantaneously, and the gas was allowed to expand to fill the full volume of the box and
come to equilibrium.
The final temperature of the gas, in terms of its specific heat CV will be
 na 
(a) T  
na 
 ln 2 (b) T    ln 2
 CV   CV 
3/2 3/2
 RTa   RTa 
(c) T  2n   (d) T  2n  
 CV   CV 
Solution : (a)
33. A system is composed of a large number of non-interacting classical particles moving in two dimensions,
which individually obey the Hamiltonian
px2  p 2y
1
 m2 ( x 2  y 2 )
2m 2
and the system is connected to a heat bath at a temperature T.
The probability of finding a particle within a radius R from the origin is given by
 m2 R   m2 R 
(a) 1  exp    (b) exp   
 2T   2T 
 m  m2 R 2
(c) erf  R  (d) 1 
 2T  2T
Solution : (a)
34. A particle of mass m is confined inside a box with boundaries at x   L. The ground state and the first
excited state of this particle are E1 and E2 respectively
Now a repulsive delta function potential ( x) is introduced at the centre of the box where the constant
2
1 h
 satisfies 0     
32m  L 
If the energies of the new ground state and the new first excited state be denoted as E'1 and E'2
respectively, it follows that
(a) E'1 > E1, E'2 > E2 (b) E'1 = E1, E'2 = E2
(c) E'1 > E1, E'2 = E2 (d) E'1 = E1, E'2 > E2
Solution : (c)
35. Three noninteracting particles whose masses are in the ratio 1 : 4 : 16 are placed together in the same
harmonic oscillator potential V(x).
The degeneracies of the first three energy eigenstates (ordered by increasing energy) will be
(a) 1, 1, 1 (b) 1, 1, 2
(c) 1, 2, 1 (d) 1, 2, 2
Solution : (b)
36. The circuit shown below represents a typical voltage divider bias circuit for a transistor. Assume that
resistance values and voltage values are typical for using the transistor as an amplifier.
Vcc
RC
R1 Vc
R2
RE
(a) R2 is decreased slightly (b) R2 is increased slightly

(c) Rc is decreased slightly (d) Rc is increased slightly
Solution : (a)
37. A beam of X-rays is incident upon a powder sample of a material which forms simple cubic crystals of
lattice constant 5.5 Å. The maximum wavelength of the X-rays which can produce diffraction from
the planes with Miller indices (0,0,5) is
(a) 2.2 Å (b) 55.0 Å
(c) 1.1 Å (d) 27.5 Å
Solution : (a)
a 5.5
d hkl =   1.1Å
h2  k 2  l 2 5
According to Bragg’s Law
2d sin  = n
2d sin 
=
n
 max = (2d sin )max  2d  2.2Å
38. Consider the nuclear decay with chain of radio Bismuth to Polonium to lead i.e.
219
83 Bi 84
210
Po 82
206
Pb
206 219 210
where Pb. 206 (82 Pb) is a stable nucleus, and Bi-210 (83 Bi) and Po-206 (84 Po) are radioactive
nuclei with half lives of about 5 days and 138 days respectively.
219
If we start with a sample of pure Bi-210 (83 Bi), then a possible graph for the time evolution of the
number of of these three species will be
(a) (b)
Number
Number
Po-2010
Pb-206
Bi-210
Bi-210
Pb-206 Po-210
time
time
Number
(c) (d)
Number
Po-210
Bi-210
Pb-206
Bi-210
Po-210
Pb-206
time time
Solution : (b)
Bi has very small half life compared to that of Po So, Bi will deccay very fast. The polonium will
increasse from O and will get maximized and then it will fall. Lead will increase continuoulsy.
39. A monochromatic laser beam is incident on a wet piece of filter paper atop a sheet of glass of thickness
d. The pattern observed on the paper is
If the radius of the inner ring observed is R, the refractive index of the glass must be
 1  R    1  R  
(a) sin  tan   (b) sin  tan   
  2d     d 
  R    R 
(c) tan sin 1   (d) tan sin 1   
  2 d    d 
Solution : (b)
40. A plane polarised light wave with electric field expressed as
E ( z , t ) = E0 ˆj cos( kz  t )

is incident from the left on the apparatus as sketched below.

/4 Fast Axis
Left Y Y1 /3 Right
X X
Z
The apparatus consists of (from left to right) a polariser with transmission axis at  /4 w.r.t. the y-axis
followed by a quarter wave plate with fast axis along the y-axis, and finally, a polariser with transmission
axis at  /3 about the x-axis.
If the incident intensity of the wave is I0. What will be the intensity of the light emerging out of the
apparatus (on the right)?
(a) I0/4 (b) I0/8
(c) 3I0/8 (d) I0/16
Solution : (a)
y
E0
E cos( kz  t )
x 2
After Polarizer, E  E0 cos(kz  t )

2
After quater wave plate, light will be circularly polarized
 E E
E  0 cos(kz  t )iˆ  0 sin(kz  t ) ˆj
2 2
After last polarizer,
2 2
E  E 
I =  0 cos 60    0 cos30 
 2   2 
E02  1 3  E02 I 0
=    
4 4 4 4 4
GS-2019 (Physics)
Written Test in PHYSICS – December 9, 2018
Instruction for candidates for Integrated Ph.D. programme in Physics
Please read all instructions carefully before you attempt the questions.
1. You may not keep with you any books, paper, mobile phones or any electronic devices which can be
used to get/store information. Use of scientific, non-programmable calculator is permitted.
Calculators which plot graphs are NOT allowed-use devices, such as smart phones, etc. CANNOT be
used as calculators.
2. This test consists of TWO sections.

(i) SECTION-A comprises 25 questions, numbered Q.1-Q.25.
These are questions on basic topics.
(ii) SECTION-B comprises 15 questions, numbered Q.1-Q.15
These may require somewhat more thought/knowledge
3. All questions are multiple Choice Type. In each case, ONLY ONE option is correct. Answer them by
4. The grading scheme will be as follows :

Section A : +3 mark if correct –1 mark if correct; 0 mark if not attempted
Section B : +5 mark if correct; 0 marks if incorrect or not attempted, i.e. No negative marks.
5. The invigilators will supply you with paper sheets for rough work.
6. Do NOT ask the invigilators for clarifications regarding the questions. They have been instructed
not to respond to any such queries. In case a correction/clarification is deemed necessary, it will be
announced in the examination hall.
7. You can get a list of useful physical constants on the reverse of this page. Make sure to use only these
values in answering the questions, especially where the options are numerical.
2019-1
TIFR Physics 2019-2
USEFUL CONSTANTS
 reduced Planck constant ( h / 2) 1.04 × 10–34 Js
–11
GN gravitational constant 6.67 × 10 m3kg–1s–2
M solar mass 1.989 × 1030 kg

me electron mass 9.1 × 10–31 kg = 0.5 MeV/c2
kB Boltzmann constant 1.38 × 10–23 JK–1 = 8.6173 × 10–8 eVK–1
diatomic gas 1.40
mp Proton mass (  2000me ) 1.7 × 10–27 kg = 938.2 MeV/c2
mn neutron mass (  2000me ) 1.7 × 10–27 kg = 939.6 MeV/c2
USEFUL CONVERSIONS
c conversion constant 3.16 × 10–26 Jm–1= 0.1973 GeV fm

9
1 a.m.u atomic mass unit 1.6 × 10–27 kg = 931.5 MeV/c2
1T Tesla 104 guass
1kWh Commercial energy unit 3.6 × 106 J
SECTION-A
been attempted. A correct answer will get +3 marks, an incorrect answer will get –1 mark.
1. Consider the surface defined by ax2 + by2 + cz + d = 0, where a, b, c and d are constants. If n̂1 and n̂2
are unit normal vectors to the surface at the point (x, y, z) = (1, 1, 0) and (0, 0, 1) respectively and m̂
is a unit vector normal to both n̂1 and nˆ2 , then m̂ 
a iˆ  b ˆj biˆ  a ˆj
(a) (b)
a 2  b2 a2  b2
2a iˆ  2b ˆj  ckˆ a iˆ  b ˆj  c kˆ
(c) (d)
4a 2  4b 2  c 2 a 2  b2  c2
Solution : (b)
Equation of surface is given by
S  ax 2  by 2  cz  d  0
S = 2aiˆ  2bjˆ  ckˆ
S (1,1,0) = 2aiˆ  2bjˆ  ckˆ
S (0,0,1) = ckˆ
S 2 aiˆ  2bjˆ  ckˆ
n̂1 = 
| S | 4a 2  4b 2  c 2
S
n̂2 =  kˆ
| S |
Unit vector m̂ will lie in direction of nˆ1  nˆ2
2aiˆ  2bjˆ  ckˆ
nˆ1  nˆ2 =  kˆ
4a 2  4b 2  c 2
2a ˆj  2b iˆ
=
4a 2  4b 2  c 2
biˆ  a ˆj
Unit vector along nˆ1  nˆ2 , m̂ =
a2  b2
2. The eigenvalues of a 3 × 3 matrix  are
1 = 2,  2  1,  3  1
and the eigenvectors are
1  1 1
     
e1 = 1 , e2   1  , e3   1
1   2  0
     
The matrix  is
TIFR Physics 2019-4
1 0 1 0 1 1
   
(a)  0 1 1  (b)  1 0 0 
1 1 0 1 0 2
   
1 0 0  1 1 0
 
(c)  1 0 1 (d)  1 0 1 
 0 1 1  0 1 1
   
Solution : (a)
1
eˆ1  1 is not eigenvectors of matrix in (b) & (c).
1
1
eˆ3   1 is not eigenvector of matrix in (d).
 0 
So, only option left is (a) and we can clearly verify that eˆ1 , eˆ2 and eˆ3 are eigenvector of matrix in (a).
3. Which of the following operations will transform a tetrahedron ABCD with vertices as listed below :
z
x y z
D
A 0 0 0
B 1 0 0
C 0 1 0
A y
D 0 0 2 C
B
x
into a tetrahedron ABCD with vertices as listed below
z
x y z C
A 0 0 0
B 0 1 0
A y
C 0 0 1 B
D 2 0 0
D
x
up to suitable translation?
(a) A rotation about x-axis by /2, then a rotation about z-axis by  /2
(b) A reflection in the xy-plane, then a rotation about x-axis by  /2
(c) A reflection in the yz-plane, then a reflection in the xy-plane
(d) A reflection about y axis by /2, then a reflection in the xz-plane
Solution : (a)
4. A British coin has a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the ‘heads’ side and ‘ONE POUND’ written on
the ‘tails’ side, while an Indian coin has the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi on the ‘heads’ side and ‘10
RUPEES’ written on the ‘tails’ side (see below).
These two coins are tossed simultaneously twice in succession.

The result of the first toss was ‘heads’ for both the coins. The probability that the result of the second
toss had a ‘10 RUPEES’ side is
(a) 1/2 (b) 4/7
(c) 3/5 (d) 2/3
Solution : (b)
5. A set of polynomials of order n are given by the formula
 x2  d n  x2 
Pn(x) = (1) exp   n exp   
n
 2  dx  2
The polynomial P7(x) of order n = 7 is
(a) x7 – 21x5 + 105x4 + 35x3 – 105x (b) x6 – 21x5 + 105x4 – 105x3 + 21x2 + x
(c) x7 – 21x5 + 105x3 – 105x + 21 (d) x7 – 21x5 + 105x3 – 105x
Solution : (d)
Pn(x) is basically Hermite polynomial which is even if n is even and odd when n is odd. Making use of
this property we can clearly see that (a), (b), (c) are not Hermite polynomial. So (d) is only correct answer.
6. A particle of mass m is placed on an inclined plane making an adjustable angle  with the horizontal,
as shown in the figure. The coefficient of friction between the particle and the inclined plane is µ.
m

a
If the inclined plane is moving horizontally with a uniform acceleration a < g/µ (see figure), the value
of  for which the particle will remain at rest on the plane is
1  g  a   a  g 
(a)   tan   (b)    cot 1  
 g  a   a  g 
1  g  a   a  g 
(c)   tan   (d)   cot 1  
 g  a   a  g 
Solution : (c)
Taking observer attached with inclined plate
µN y
N


ma x
mg

TIFR Physics 2019-6
Fx = 0
 N sin   ma  N cos  = 0 ...(1)
mg
 N=
 sin   cos 
Putting N in (1)
mg
(sin    cos ) = ma
 sin   cos 
(tan   ) g
 ( tan   1) = a
 g tan   g = a tan   a
 ( g  a) tan  = a + µg
a  g
tan  =
g  a
1  a  g 
So,  = tan  
 g  a 
7. Two bodies A and B of equal mass are suspended from two rigid supports by separate massless spring
having spring constants k1 and k2 respectively. If the bodies oscillate vertically such that their maximum
velocities are equal, the ratio of the amplitude of oscillations of A to that of B is :
k1 k2
A B
(a) k1/k2 (b) k2/k1
(c) k1 / k2 (d) k 2 / k1
Solution : (d)
Equation of motion of A and B are given by
y1 = a1 sin 1t
y2 = a2 sin 2 t
k1
where 1 =
m
k2
2 =
m
Their velocities are given by
dy1
v1 =  a11 cos 1t
dt
dy2
v2 =  a2 2 cos 2 t
dt
Now, v1max = v2max
 a11 = a2 2
k1 k2 a k
 a1 = a2  1  2
m m a2 k1
8. A particle of mass m is bounced on the ground with a velocity u making an angle of  with the ground.
The coefficient of restitution for collisions between the particle and the ground is  and frictional
distance travelled by the particle from the point of initial impact till it begins to slide along the ground is
u

u2    u2  1 
(a)   sin 2 (b) g  1  sin 
2g  1     
u2    u2   
(c)   tan 2 (d)   sin 2
g 1   g 1  
Solution : (d)
y
u
u
  x
R1 R2 R3
Conserving linear momentum along x-axis.
mu  cos  ' = mu cos  ...(1)
v  v u  sin   0
e 2 1 =
v1  v2 0  (u sin )
 u  sin  = eu sin 
2u sin 
Now, R1 = u  cos  
g
2u sin  eu 2 sin 2
= u cos   =
g g
e 2 u 2 sin 2
Similarly, R2 =
g
e3u 2 sin 2
R3 =
g

So, R = R1 + R2 + R3+...
u 2 sin 2
=  e  e 2  e3  ...
g
u2  e 
=   sin 2
g 1 e 
TIFR Physics 2019-8
9. The three dimensional object sketched on the right is made by taking a solid sphere of uniform density
(shaded) with radius R, and scooping cavity (unshaded) as shown, which has diameter R.
If this object has mass M, its moment of inertia about the tangential axis passing through the point
where the spheres touch (as shown in the figure) is
3 62 31 31
(a) MR 2 (b) MR 2 (c) MR 2 (d) MR 2
16 35 70 20
Solution : (d)
MI of solid sphere about tangential axis is
I = Icm + MR2
2 7
= MR 2  MR 2  MR 2
5 5
 4 3 4  R 3 
Here, M =   R     
3 3 2 
4 37 7 3
=  R  R
3 8 6
6M
=
7 R 3
Given mass distribution can be seen as superposition of two mass distribution
    –
So, I = I1 + I2
7 4 3 2 7 4  R   R 
3 2
=   R  R      
   
5 3  5 3  2   2 
7 4 5 1 
=   R  1  
5 3  32 
28 31
=   R5
15 32
28 31 6M 31
=   3
R 5 = MR 2
15 32 7 R 20
10. Consider three straight, coplanar, parallel wires of infinite length where the distance between adjacent
wires is d. Each wire carries a current I in the same direction. The perpendicular distance from the
middle wire (on either side) where the magnetic field vanishes is
d 2d d 2d
(a) (b) (c) (d)
3 3 3 3
Solution : (a)
11. A point charge q < 0 is brought in front of a grounded conducting sphere. If the induced charge density
on the sphere is plotted such that the thickness of the black shading is proportional to the charge
density, the correct plot will most closely resemble
(a) (b) q
q
(c) q (d) q
Solution : (b)

12. A circular coil of conducting wire, of radius a and n turns, is placed in a uniform magnetic field B
along the axis of the coil and is then made to undergo simple harmonic oscillations along the direction
of the axis. The current through the coil will be best described by
i(t) i(t)
(a) 0 t (b) 0 t
i(t) i(t)
(c) t
(d) t
0 0
Solution : (c)
The flux will not vary. So, no emf will be induced and hence no current.
 
13. A plane electromagnetic wave travelling through vacuum has electric field E and magnetic field B
defined as
  
E = (iˆ  ˆj ) E0 exp iˆ(t  k  x )
  
B = (iˆ  ˆj  kˆ) B0 exp iˆ(t  k  x )
where E0 and B0 are real constants. The time averaged Poynting vector will be given by
2 1 3 0 2 ˆ ˆ
(a) S   E0 B0 (iˆ  ˆj  2kˆ ) (b) S   E0 (i  j  2kˆ)
0  0 2 0
 0  1 0 2 ˆ ˆ
(c) S  E02 (iˆ  ˆj  2kˆ) (d) S   B0 (i  j  2kˆ)
60 2 0
Solution : (c)
  
Poynting vector S = EH

 B
= E
µ0
iˆ ˆj kˆ
1 ˆ
= 1 1 0 E0 B0 e 2i ( t  k  x )
µ0
1 1 1
1 ˆ 
= E0 B0 (iˆ  ˆj  2kˆ)e2i ( t  k  x )
µ0
 E2
S = ( iˆ  ˆj  2kˆ)
2cµ0
14. A thermally insulated coffee mug contains 500 g of warm coffee at 80°C. Assuming that the heat
capacity of this liquid is 1 cal g–1 °C–1 and the latent heat of fusion for ice is 80 cal g–1, the amount of
ice that must be dropped into the cup to convert it into cold coffee at 5 °C is about
(a) 421 g (b) 441 g
(c) 469 g (d) 471 g
Solution : (b)
Heat lost by coffee H1 = mcT
= 500 × 1 × 75
= 37500 cal
Let amount of ice required is m (in grams)
Heat gained by ice, H2 = mL  mcT
= 80m + m × 5 = 85m
Now, H2 = H1
85m = 37500
37500
 441g
m=
85
15. An ideal gas engine is run according to the cycle shown in the s-T diagram below, where the process
from D to A is known to be isochoric (i.e. maintaining V = constant)
s
D
A
B C
The corresponding cycle in the p-V diagram will most closely resemble
(a) (b) p
p A
C
B
D D
B C
A
V
V
(c) p (d) p
B
D
C A
A C
B
D
V V
Solution : (a)
AD is isochoric, DC and BA are isothermal and CB is adiabatic
16. Consider a thermal ensemble at temperature T which is composed of identical quantum harmonic
oscillators of frequency 0 with non-overlapping wavefunctions. The probability that there will be
an even number of energy quanta in the system is
1 1
(a) (b)
exp(0 /k BT )  1 exp(0 /k BT )  1
1
(c) (d) tanh(0 /2k BT )
exp( 0 /k BT )  1
Solution : (a)
17. The consider the following linear model of a molecule of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) depicted below.
H C N
If follows that the molar specific heat of hydrogen cyanide gas at constant pressure must be :
(a) 6 R (b) 4.5 R
(c) 5 R (d) 5.5 R
Solution : (d)
A molecule that is composed of n atoms has three translational degrees of freedom, two or three
rotational degree of freedom if it is linear or non-linear respectively, if it is linear, it has 3n-5 vibrational
degrees of freedom. If it is non-linear, it has 3n-6 vibrational degrees of freedom.
HCN is linear
So, it has three translational degrees of freedom, 2 rotational degrees of freedom and 4 vibrational
degrees of freedom.
So, DOF, f = 3 + 2 + 4 = 9
fR 9R
CV = 
2 2
9R 11R
CP = CV  R  R  5.5R
2 2
18. A beam of high energy neutrons is scattered from a metal lattice, where the spacing between nuclei is
around 0.4 nm. In order to see quantum diffraction effects, the kinetic energy of the neutrons must be
around
(a) 7.85 MeV (b) 5.11 meV
(c) 511 keV (d) 78.5 eV
Solution : (b)
For observing quantum diffraction effects
  0.4 nm
h 6.63  1034
p=  19
 1.67  1024
 0.4  10
p2 1.67 2  1048
kE = 
2m 2  1.67  1024
1.67
=  1024 J
2
1.67  1024
= eV  5.21  106 eV
2  1.6  1019
19. A particle of mass m, moving in one dimension, satisfies the modified Schrodinger Equation
 d 2 d d
 2
 i u = i
2m dx dx dt
where u is the velocity of the substrate. If, now, this particle is treated as a Gaussian wave packet
peaked at wavenumber k, its group velocity will be vg =
k k
(a) u (b) u
2m m
k k
(c) u (d)  u
m 2m
Solution : (c)
20. In a one-dimensional system, the boundary condition that the derivative of the wavefunction  ( x )
should be continuous at every point is applicable whenever
(a) the wavefunction ( x) is itself continuous everywhere
(b) there is a bound state and the potential is piecewise continuous
(c) there is bound state and the potential has no singularity anywhere
(d) there are bound or scattering states with definite momentum
Solution : (c)
21. A particle moving in one dimension, is placed in an asymmetric square well potential V(x) as sketched
below.
V x
–a +a x
The probability density p(x) in the ground state will most closely resemble
(a) p (b) p
0 x 0 x
–a +a –a +a
(c) p (d) p
0 x 0 x
–a +a –a +a
Solution : (a)
The cuvature of wavefunction ( x) should be high on left side of origin and less on right side of origin
as kE on left side is high and low on right sides of origin. The graph of p(x) is same as graph of ( x) 2 .
22. The sketch shown below illustrates the apparatus and results for a famous experiment. The graph on
the right is a polar plot of the number of electrons received in the detector.
0° 30°
ELECTRON GUN O 
D
I()
Incident beam
DETECTOR 50°
70°
 TARGET
NACKEL
CRYSTAL
 90°
Ni
From the result, the experimenters were able to conclude that
(a) the energy level of atoms in a metal are quantized
(b) electrons in a beam can behave as waves
(c) electrons have spin half.
(d) there are magnetic domains inside a nickel sample
Solution : (b)
It is Dasission Germer experiment.
23. The signal shown on the left side of figure below is fed into the circuit shown on the right side.
C
Vm
A
0 Vin Vin R
B
–Vm
If the signal has time period S and the circuit has a natural frequency  BC , then, in the case when
 s   BC , the steady state output will resemble
(a) Vm (b) Vm
0 0
–Vm
(c) 0
(d) 2Vm
–Vm Vm
–2Vm 0
Solution : (d)
In negative half cycle of input the diode will be forward biased and capacitor will get charged to Vm
but there wont be any significant discharging there after because discharging current has to flow
through resistor and circuit natural frequency is very high compared to signal frequency  s
– +
– +
Vm C Vm
R
–Vm
Now, Vout = Vm + Vin

So, Vout will be given by
2Vm
Vm
t
24. Drawing power from a 12V car battery, a 9V stabilizer DC voltage is required to power a car stereo
system, attached to the terminals A and B, as shown in the figure.
RS
A
12V VZ = 9V RL
B
If a Zener diode with ratings, VZ = 9V and Pmax = 0.27 W, is connected as shown in the figure, for the
above purpose, the minimum series resistance Rs must be
(a) 111 (b) 103 (c) 100  (d) 97 
Solution : (c)
Pmax = 0.27W
 I 2M  VZ = 0.27
270
So, I2M =  30mA
9
I = IL + IZ
I is fixed So, I Lmin will give us I Z max . Asuming minimum load current drawn by sterio to be very small
I  I 2M = 30 mA
12  9 3
So, RS =   0.1k 
I2M 30
= 100 k 
25. The circuit shown below uses only NAND gates.
A
B
The final output at C is
(a) A AND B (b) A or B (c) A XOR B (d) A NOR B
Solution : (a)
A AB
A
A
B AB
B
C = ( AB)( AB)
= AB  AB
= AB + AB = AB
SECTION-B
been attempted. A correct answer will get +5 marks, an incorrect answer will get 0 mark.
1. An array  has elements Tijkl where i, j, k, l = 1, 2, 3, 4. it is given that
Tijkl = Tjikl = Tijlk = –Tklij

for all values of i, j, k, l. The number of independent components in this array is
(a) 256 (b) 55 (c) 1 (d) 45
Solution : (d)
2. The differential equation
dy
x  xy = exp(x)
dx
where y = e2 at x = 1, has the solution y =
(a) exp(x2 + x) (b) exp(x)ln x + exp(1 + x)
(c) exp(1 + x) (1 + ln x) (d) (1 – x)exp(x) + exp(1 + x)
Solution : (c)
dy
x  xy = exp(x)
dx
dy ex
 y=
dx x
IF = e–x
ex x
y  e x =   e dx  c
x
= log x + c
y = e log x  ce
x x
At n  1, y  e2  c  e
So, y = ex log x + ex+ 1
3. A pendulum is created by hanging a heavy bob of mass m from a rigid support (taken as zero level of
potential) symmetrically using two massless inextensible strings, each of length , making an equilateral
triangle as shown in the figure below
A correct Lagrangian for the angular oscillations of the bob in the plane perpendicular to the paper is
3  3 2 mg 2 
(a) L  m 2  2  3mg  sin 2 (b) L  m  3 sin
8 2 8  2
2  3 
(c) L  3m   4mg  sin (d) L  m 2  2  mg  sec2  3mg  sin 2
2 2
2 8 2
Solution : (a)
1 3
T=  m(l sin 60)2  2  ml 2  2
2 8
V = mg (l sin 60)(1  cos )
3 
= mgl 2sin 2
2 2
2 
= 3 mgl sin
2
3 22 
So, Lagrangian, L = T  V  ml   3mgl sin 2
8 2
4. A perfectly straight tunnel is dug between any two points on the surface of the Earth, which can be
treated as a static sphere of uniform density . The tunnel does not necessarily pass through the centre
of the Earth. If a particle is allowed to slide without friction in this tunnel under the action of the
Earth’s gravity, it will execute simple harmonic motion with time period
(a) 3/2G (b) 6 /G
(c) 3/2G (d) 3 /G

Solution : (d)
Book an Mechanics Vol-I.
5. In a futuristic experiment, two rocket ships, each containing one astronaut Rakesh and Sunita
respectively, blasted off from the Earth’s surface simultaneously, and travelled into space in straight
lines in opposite directions at uniform speeds of 0.3 c and 0.5c respectively. They both travelled in
straight lines for some time, then reversed direction smoothly and returned along the same paths with
the same speeds. It was found that they returned simultaneously after exactly 9.0 years. Which of the
following statements is correct?
(a) The age of Rakesh increased by about 8.6 years and that of Sunita by about 7.8 years
(b) The ages of both Rakesh and Sunita increased by about 3.06 years
(c) The age of Rakesh increased by about 9.4 years and that of sunita by about 10.4
(d) The age of both Rakesh and Sunita increased by 9.0 years
Solution : (a)
According to time dilation
t0
t =
v2
1 2
c
where t is dilated time and t0 is proper time
For Rakesh, t = 9 years
v2
So,  t 0 = t 1  2
 9 1  0.32  8.6years
c
So, age of Rakesh increased by 8.6 years
For Sunita, t = 9 years
v2
 t 0 = t 1   9 1  0.52  7.8 years
c2
So, age of Sunita increased by 7.8 years.
6. Consider a hydrogenic atom in its ground state as conceived in Bohr’s theory, where an electron of
charge –e is rotating about a central nucleus of charge +Ze in a circular orbit of radius
a  40 2 /Ze 2 m. In this model, the magnetic field at a distance r from the nucleus, perpendicular to
the orbit, will be
1/ 2 3/2
Ze3 0  r2  Ze3 0  r2 
(a)  1   (b)  1  
162  0  a 2   0  a 2 
1/ 2 3/2
Ze3 0 1  r2  Ze3 0  r2 
(c)  1   (d)  1  
42  0 a  a 2  8 0  a 2 
Solution : (d)
Magnetic field at distance r is given by
3/ 2
µ0 I  r2 
B= 1  2 
2a  a 
eV
For hydrogenic atom I=
2a
3/ 2 3/ 2
µ eV  r2  Ze3µ0  r2 
So, B = 0 2 1  2  =  1  
4a  a  8 0 ha 2  a 2 
7. A dielectric interface is formed by two homogeneous and isotropic dielectrics 1 and 2 with dielectric
constants 4/3 and 1 respectively and it carries no residual free charge. A linearly polarized
electromagnetic wave is incident on the interface from dielectric 1 at a point where the unit normal to
the surface is
n̂ =
1
 3 iˆ  kˆ 
2
pointing into the dielectric 1. The incident wave, which is incident from 1 into 2, just before it reaches
the interface, has electric vector
   
ˆ 0 exp i  t  1 z 
E1 = iE
 c 

where E0 is a real constant. The electric vector just after it crosses the interface is rotated from E1 by
an angle
 2
(a) (b) tan 1
6 5 3
1 1 4
(c) sin 1 (d) cos 3
2 19 19
Solution : (c)
8. In an experiment to measure the Earth’s mean albedo (i.e. fraction of solar energy reflected back into
space), the solar constant (i.e., flux of solar energy incident upon the Earth), was measured as
1.37 kWm–2. Assuming the Earth to behave as a perfect blackbody at a uniform surface temperature of
–18°C, the albedo is about
(a) 0.30 (b) 0.18
(c) 0.46 (d) 0.06
Solution : (a)
9. The molar equation of state of a gas at temperature T, pressure P and volume V is given by
RT a
P= 
V  b TV 2
where, a and b are two constants and R is the gas constant. The critical temperature and pressure for
this gas will be
a RT 4a RT
(a) Tc  , Pc  c (b) Tc  , Pc  c
27 Rb b 27 Rb 4b
8a RT 8a RT
(c) Tc  , Pc  c (d) Tc  , Pc  c
27 Rb 8b 3Rb 8b
Solution : (b)
10. An excited gas, consisting of spinless charged particles, is confined in an infinite square well potential
of width a, is found to radiate a spectrum whose  line (largest wavelength) has wavelength 816 nm.
If the width a of the well halved to a/2, the wavelength of the  line (fourth-largest wavelength) will be
(a) 26.112 µm (b) 1.224 µm
(c) 1.224 µm (d) 0.306 µm
Solution : (b)
11. The wavefunction of a non-relativistic particle of mass m in a one-dimensional potential V(x) has the
form
 ( x) = a e  a| x|
where |x| denotes the absolute value of the co-ordinate x. The potential is V(x) =
2  x  2 a
(a)    (b) ( x )
m a m
(c) 
2a
m  1
a  ( x)
2  (d) 0
Solution : (a)
12. The diffraction pattern due to a double slit experiment with two identical slits, is recorded in infra-red
laser radiation of wavelength 1.2 µm on a specially-prepared photographic plate at a distance of 1.8 m
from the centre of the slits. A photograph of the observed diffraction pattern is given below.
The distance between the slits can be calculated as

(a) 4.32 mm (b) 5.04 mm
(c) 5.76 mm (d) 9.36 mm
Solution : (b)
From the diagram, 7th order maxima lies at
y = 0.3 cm
y7 = 0.3 × 10–2
7  1.2  106  1.8
So, distance between two slits d=
0.3  102
= 5.04 mm
13. An experiment performed to determine the width of a thin transparent film of refractive index 2.6
deposited uniformly on the upper surface of a thick transparent glass block of refractive index 1.5, a
monochromatic laser beam of wavelength 550 nm was shone on the film at a variable angle  with the
normal to the surface. If the intensity of the reflected beam was maximum when   524, the thickness
of the film may be referred to be



(a) 13.2 µm (b) 2.92 µm

(c) 1.12 µm (d) 0.48 µm
Solution : (c)
For maxima, 2µt cos r = (n  ½)
 2t µ2  sin 2  = (n  ½)
( n  ½)
t=
2 µ 2  sin 2 
(n  ½)  550  109 (n  ½)5.5  107
= 
2 2.62  sin 2 5.4 2  2.398
= (n  ½)  1.46  107
For n = 9, t = 1.08 µm
14. In a sample of germanium, at a temperature 77 K, optical excitations create an average density of 1012
conduction electrons per cm3. At this temperature, the electron and hole mobilities are equal, and
given by
µ = 0.5 × 104 cm2 s–1 V–1
The value of the Einstein diffusion coefficient for the electrons and holes is
(a) 3.3 × 10–2 m2s–1 (b) 3.3 × 10–3 m2s–1
(c) 1.65 × 10–3 m2s–1 (d) 6.6 × 10–3 m2s–1
Solution : (b)
15. The electric charge density (r ) inside a heavy spherical nucleus as a function of distance r from the
centre may be approximated most closely by
(a) (r) (b) (r)
0 r 0 r
(c) (r) (d) (r)
0 r 0 r
Solution : (d)
GS-2018-X (Physics)
Written Test in PHYSICS – December 10, 2017
NAME:_____________________________________REF. CODE:________
Please Read These Instructions Carefully Before Attempting the Questions
1. Please fill in details about name, reference code etc. on the answer sheet and question paper. Use only
blue/black ballpoint pen. The Answer Sheet is machine – readable and will not read other colours.
2. This test consists of three parts: Section A, Section B.. You must answer questions according to the
programme you are applying for.
Candidates applying for Must answer Should not attempt
Integrated M.Sc. - Ph.D. Section A + Section B Section C
Ph.D. Section A + Section C Section B
Section A has 20 questions : 1 – 10 are multiple choice; 11 – 20 are numerical.
Section B has 15 questions : 21 – 30 are multiple choice; 31 – 35 are symbolic.
3. Indicate your ANSWER ON THE ANSWER SHEET as follows.
Multiple choice questions have four options (a), (b), (c) and (d), of which only one option is correct.
Indicate the answers by filling up the bubble on the Answer Sheet corresponding to the correct option.
If more than one bubble is filled in, it will be treated as not answered.
Numerical questions have answers which are 3 (three) digit integers. Indicate the answers by filling
in the corresponding bubbles on the Answer Sheet. Unless all three bubbles for a given question are
filled, it will be treated as not answered.
Symbolic questions have answers which are a number, a short formula or a word. Indicate the
answers by writing in the boxes on the Answer Sheet next to the appropriate question numbers.
4. The marking for these questions shall be as follows.
If the answer is Multiple-choice Numerical Symbolic
Correct +3 +5 +5
Incorrect –1 0 0
Not attempted 0 0 0
Multiple options marked 0 — —
Note that only multiple-choice type questions have negative marking.
5. Candidates are advised to mark the Answer Sheet only when they are sure of the answer. Till then,
they may mark the answers on the question paper.
6. Rough work may be done on blank pages of the question paper. If needed, you may ask for extra
sheets from the invigilators.
7. Use of scientific, non-programmable calculators is permitted. Calculators which plot graphs are NOT
allowed. Multiple-use devices, such as cell phones, smartphones, etc. CANNOT be used as calculators.
8. Do NOT ask the invigilators for clarifications regarding the questions. They have been instructed not
to respond to any such queries. In case a correction/clarification is deemed necessary, it will be announced
in the examination hall.
9. A list of useful physical constants is given on the next page. Make sure to use only these values in
answering the questions, especially those of numeric type.
2018-1
TIFR Physics 2018-2
USEFUL CONSTANTS
h reduced Planck constant ( h / 2) 1.04 × 10–34 Js
GN gravitational constant 6.67 × 10–11 m3kg –1s –2
M solar mass 1.989 × 1030 k g
me electron mass 9.1 × 10–31 kg
= 0.5 MeV/c2
kB Boltzmann constant 1.38 × 10–23 JK –1
= 8.6173 × 10–8 eVK–1
diatomic gas 1.40
mp Proton mass (  2000me ) 1.7 × 10–27 k g
= 938.2 MeV/c2
mn Proton mass (  2000me ) 1.7 × 10–27 k g
= 939.6 MeV/c2
USEFUL CONVERSIONS
1 a.m.u atomic mass unit 1.6 × 10–27 kg
=931.5 MeV/c2
1T Tesla 104 guass
c conversion constant 3.16 × 10–26 Jm–1
= 0.1973 GeV fm
SECTION-A
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING FURTHER

The following questions (1 – 10) are all of multiple-choice type. For every question, four
options (a), (b), (c) and (d) are given, of which only one is correct. Indicate the correct option on
the OMR by filling the bubble.
A correct answer will be awarded +3 marks and an incorrect answer will be awarded –1
mark. If the question is not attempted, no marks will be awarded.
1.
A
y
B
Refer to the figure above. If the z-axis points out of the plane of the paper towards you, the triangle
marked ‘A’ can be transformed (and suitably re-positioned) to the triangle marked ‘B’ by
(a) rotation about x-direction by /2, then rotation by  /2 in the yz-plane.
(b) rotation about z-direction by /2, then reflection in the yz-plane.
(c) reflection in the yz-plane then rotation by  /2 about z-direction
(d) reflection in the xz-plane then rotation by  /2 about z-direction
Solution : (a)
2. If a 2 × 2 matrix  is given by
 1 (1  i)/ 2 
 = 
 (1  i )/ 2 0 
 
then det exp  =
(a) e (b) e 2
(c) 2i sin 2 
(d) exp 2 2 
Solution : (a)
 1 i 
 1 2 
M = 1  i 
 0 
 2 
Let 1 &  2 are eigenvalues of 
So, eigenvalues of the exp  will be e1 and e2 respectively det(exp ) = Product of eigenvalues of exp 
   
= e 1 .e 2  e 1 2  e  e1  e
trace(  )
TIFR Physics 2018-4
3. A small block B of mass m is quickly placed on an inclined plane P, which makes an angle  with a
horizontal cart C, on which P is rigidly fixed (see figure). The coefficient of friction between the block
B and the plane P is µ. When the cart stay stationary, the block slides down. If the cart C is moving in
the horizontal direction with acceleration a, the minimum value of a for which the block will remain static is
B
a
P
 C
tan   
(a) g (cos    sin ) (b) g
 tan   1
1   tan 
(c) g (d) g (  sin  cos )
  tan 
Solution : (b)
Let us take observer in the frame of C
µN
y
N

M ma

P
mg

C
Since, the observer is non-inertial we have to apply pseudo force ma towards right.
Net force along x and y direction will be zero.
Since, non-inertial observer see the block of mass m at rest.
mg sin   ma cos   N  0 ...(1)
N  mg cos   ma sin   0 ...(2)
(1) + µ(2) gives
mg (sin    cos )  ma (cos    sin )  0
g (sin    cos )
a=
cos    sin 
g (tan   )
=
 tan   1
4. A particle of mass m moving in one-dimension x is subjected to the Lagrangian
1
L= m( x  x) 2
2
where  is a real constant. If it starts at the origin at t = 0, its motion corresponds to the equation (a is
a constant)
(a) x  a exp t (b) x  a{1  exp(t )}
(c) x  a sin t (d) x  a sinh t
Solution : (d)
1
m( x  x) 2
L=
2
According Lagrange’s equation of motion
d  L  L
  =0
dt  x  x
d
(m( x  x))  m( x  x)  0
dt
 x  x  x   2 x = 0

 x  2 x = 0

t t
x = c1e  c2 e
At t = 0, x = 0  c1 + c2 = 0
So, x = c1 (et  et )
= 2c1 sinh t  a sinh t (a = 2c1)
5. The sketch below shows a radio antenna located at the edge of a calm lake, which has a receiver R at
the centre of the dish at a height a/2 above the ground. This is picking up a signal from a distant radio-
emitting star which is just rising above the horizon. However, the receiver also picks up a reflected
signal from the surface of the lake, which at the relevant radio-wavelength, may be taken to be a plane.
R
a
2 
If the instantaneous angle of the star above the horizon is denoted , the receiver R will detect the first
interference maximum when  
1/3 1/3
   
(a) arcsin   (b) arcsin  
a  2a 
 
(c) arcsin (d) arcsin
a 2a
Solution : (d)
 
a
asin
TIFR Physics 2018-6
Path difference,

x = a sin  
2
For first order maxima, x = 

a sin   =
2

 = sin 1
2a
6. A particle is confined inside a one-dimensional box of length l and left undisturbed for a long time. In
the most general case, its wave-function MUST be
(a) the ground state of energy
(b) periodic, where l equals an integer number of periods.
(c) a linear superposition of the energy eigenfunctions
(d) any one of the energy eigenfunctions.
Solution : (c)
7. A classical ideal gas of atoms with masses m is confined in a three dimensional potential
 2
V(x, y, z) = (x  y2  z2 )
2
at a temperature T. If kB is the Boltzmann constant, the root mean square (r.m.s) distance of the atoms
from the origin is
1/ 2 1/ 2
 3k BT   3k BT 
(a)   (b)  
    2 
1/ 2 1/ 2
 2k BT   k BT 
(c)   (d)  
 3    
Solution : (a)
8. The characteristic impedance of a co-axial cable is independent of the
(a) core diameter
(b) outer diameter
(c) length of the cable
(d) dielectric medium between the core and the outer mesh
Solution : (c)
9. The figure below shows an unknown circuit, with an input and output voltage signal.
Input Output
Unknown
Circuit
From the form of the input and output signals, one can infer that the circuit is likely to be
(a) (b)
(c) (d)
Solution : (b)
Initially capacitor is uncharged and hence the potential difference across C is zero. Hence Vout = Vin. As
the capacitor gets charged, the potential difference across capacitor keeps on increasing and Vout = Vin
– Vc. Once, capacitor gets fully charged, Vc = Vin and hence, Vout = 0. When, Vin becomes zero. Vout = Vin
– Vc = –Vc and then capacitor starts discharging. Once, it is fully discharged, Vc = 0 and hence, Vout = –
Vc = 0. This completely explains the output voltage wave form.
10. In Boolean terms, (A + B)(A + C) is equal to
(a) ABC (b) (A + B + C)(A + B)
(c) A(B + C) (d) A + BC
Solution : (d)
(A + B)(A + C) = AA + AC + BA + BC
= A + AC + AB + BC
= A(1 + C + B) + BC
=A + BC
SECTION A CONTINUES (TO BE ANSWERED BY ALL CANDIDATES)

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING FURTHER
The answer to the following questions (11-20) are all integers of 3 (three) digits each. You
may round off decimal parts, e.g. 122.5 ≤ x < 123.5, as x = 123 and e.g. 123.5 ≤ x < 124.5 as x =
124 and so on. Use only value of constant given in the table ‘USEFUL CONSTANTS’.
Answer these questions on the OMR by filling in bubbles as you did for your reference
code. Note that if the answer is, e.g., 25, you must fill in 025 and if it is, e.g. 5, you must fill in 005.
If it is 0, you must fill in 000. If the zeros are not filled in (where required), the answer will not be
credited.
A correct answer will be awarded +5 marks
There are NO NEGATIVE MARKS for these questions.
11. Consider the two equations
x2 y 2
 =1
3 2
x3 – y = 1
How many simultaneous real solutions does this pair of equations have?
Solution : (002)
TIFR Physics 2018-8
0, 2
x
3, 0
(0, –1)
12. A heavy steel ball is struck by a small steel pellet moving horizontally with velocity 20 ms–1. If the pellet
bounces off the steel ball with no slippage, and then rises vertically to a height 10 m above the point of
contact, then what is 100 times the elastic coefficient of restitution (e) i.e. 100e?
Solution : (050)
Velocity of pallet just after collision
v
x


u = 20m/s
v = 2gh
= 10 2 m /s
Let F is impulsive force acting on pallet
 F cos dt = mu
 F sin dt =mv
v 10 2 1
So, tan  =  
u 20 2
1  1 
 = tan  
 2
 v  v 
Coefficient of restitution, e =  2 1 
 v2  v1 
where v'1, v'2 are velocities components of pallet and ball along line containing impulsive force after
collision and v1, v2 are velocities components of pallet and ball along line containing impulsive force
before collision.
Assuming steel ball to be at rest before and after collision as it is very heavy
0  10 2 sin  1 1
e=   tan  
0  20cos  2 2
100e = 50
13. A particle is in the ground state of a cubical box of side l. Suddenly one side of the box changes from
l to 4l. If p is the probability of finding the particle in the ground state of the new box, what is 1000p?
Solution : (058)
The wave function of particle is
8 x y z
 = 3
sin sin sin
l l l l
Ground state of new box is
8 x y z
= 3
sin sin sin
4l 4l l l
The probability of finding particle in ground state of new box
2
p= |
l l l
 |  =      dxdydz
*
0 0 0
l l l
8 x y z 8 x y z
=  3
sin sin sin 3
sin sin sin dydzdx
0 0 0
4l 4l l l l 4l l l
x x
l
4 l l
= 3    sin sin dx
l 2 20 4l l
3x 5x 
l
1 
=   cos
2l 0  4l
 cos  dx
4l 
l
1  4l 3x 4l 5x 
=  sin  sin
2l  3 4l 5 4l  0
1  2 2l 2 2l  8 2
=     0.24
2l  3 5  15
2
p= |  0.0576
1000p = 57.6
14. The wave function  of a particle in a one-dimensional harmonic oscillators potential is given by
 1   2x 
1/ 4
 x2 
 =  2  1   exp   2 
 l   l   2l 
where l = 100µm. Find the expectation value of the position x of this particle, in µm.
Solution : (071)
 1 
1/4
 2 x   x2 / 2l 2
 =  l 2   1  e
   l 

  xdx
*

x = 
  dx
*

2

 1 
1/ 2 
 2 x   x 2 /l 2
  xdx =  l 2 
*
 x 1  l  e dx
 
 1 
1/ 2 
 2 x 3 2 2 2   x 2 /l 2
= 2
 l 
  l 2  l x e dx
 
x 


2 2

2 2
= 2 x 2e  x /l dx
l  

4 2
2 
2 2
=  x 2e  x /l dx
l 0
x2
Let = y  xl y
l2
1 1/2
dx = ly dy
2

4 2 l 1/2  y
 2 0
= y e dy
2 2 3
= l  2l
 2
2

 1 
 1/2
 2 x   x 2 /l 2
  dx =   l 2   1 
*
e dx
 l 
1

 2 x 2 2 2 x   x 2 /l 2
=  1  l 2  l e dx
l   

1   x2 /l 2 2 2  x2 /l 2 
=  e
l  
 2xe
l
dx


 xe
 x 2 /l 2
as dx = 0

 
2   x 2 /l 2 2 2  x2 /l 2 
l  0
=  e dx  2  x e dx 
l 0 
1 1/2
Let x = l y , dx  ly dy
2
 
2 l 2 2 l 1/2  y 
l  2 0
 y e dy  2 l   y e dy 
1/2  y
=
l 20 
2 l 1 3
=  l 
l 2 2 2
=2
  xdx
*

x = 
  dx
*
2l
=  0.707 l
2
= 70.7µm
15. Consider a dipole antenna with length l, charge q and frequency . The power emitted by the antenna
at a large distance r is P. Now suppose the length l is increased to 2l , the charge is increased to 3q
and the frequency is increased to 5. By what factor is the radiated power increased?
Solution : (150)
Power radiated by dipole antenna is given by
 0 p02 4
Pi =
12c
where p = q0l is the dipole moment
Now, l  2l
q  3q
Hence, p0  6 p0
  5
So, power becomes
  
2 4
0 6 p0 5
Pf =
12c
= 6  25  Pi
= 150  Pi
Pf
= 150
Pi
16. Calculate the self-energy, in Joules, of a spherical conductor of radius 8.5 cm, which carries a charge
100µC.
Solution : (529)
Self energy of spherical conductor is given by
Q2 1 9  109  (104 ) 2
U=  
80 R 2 8.5  102
9
=  1000
17
= 529.41 J
17. A heat engine is operated between two bodies that are kept at constant pressure. The constant pressure
heat capacity Cp of the reservoirs is independent of temperature. Initially the reservoirs are at temperature
300K and 402K. If, after some time, come to a common final temperature Tf , the process remaining
adiabatic, what is the value of Tf (in Kelvin)?
Solution : (347)
Let the final temperature of reservoir be Tf
402
300
Change in the entropy of source

Tf
dQ C dT
S1 =    P
T 402
T
Tf
= CP log
402
Change in entropy of sink
T
dQ
f
CP dT Tf
S 2 =     CP log
T 300 T 300
Since, process is adiabatic, the net change in the entropy in zero.
S1  S2 = 0
Tf Tf
CP log  CP log =0
402 300
T f2
log =0
402  300
Tf = 402  300  347.27K
18. N particles are distributed among three energy levels having energies : 0, kBT and 2kBT respectively. If
the total equilibrium energy of the system is approximately 42.5 kBT then find the value of N (to the
closest integer)
Solution : (100)
Let N0 be the number of particles in the state having energy  0
Number of particles in the state having energy 
N = N 0 e / kT
Number of particle having energy  kT
= N0e –1
Number of particle having energy  2kT
= N0e –2
Total number of particles = N
 N0 + N0e–1 + N0e–2 =N
N
N0 =
1  e  e2 1
Total equilibrium energy E = 42.5 kT

 N0 × 0 + N0e × kT + N0e × 2kT=42.5kT
–1 –2
N0(e–1 + 2e–2)=42.5

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TIFR

Vishal Deoarshi Jyoti Ahuja

2021, SAMVEDNA PUBLICATION

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or distributed

All disputes are subject to Delhi jurisdiction only.

Laser Typesetting : Samvedna Publication, Delhi

For more information on

This book is dedicated to my

1. TIFR-2020 ............................................................................................................ 1-24

2. TIFR-2019 ............................................................................................................ 1-20

1. TIFR-2018 ............................................................................................................ 1-22

2. TIFR-2017 ............................................................................................................ 1-26

3. TIFR-2016 ............................................................................................................ 1-28

4. TIFR-2015 ............................................................................................................ 1-22

5. TIFR-2014 ............................................................................................................ 1-24

6. TIFR-2013 ............................................................................................................ 1-22

7. TIFR-2012 ............................................................................................................ 1-16

8. TIFR-2011 ............................................................................................................ 1-18

9. TIFR-2010 ............................................................................................................ 1-18

2. This test consists of TWO sections.

4. The grading scheme will be as follows :

0 permittivity of free space 8.85 × 10–12 Fm–1

c conversion constant 3.16 × 10–26 Jm–1= 0.1973 GeV fm

3. The eigenvector e1 corresponding to the smallest eigenvalue of the matrix

An integrating factor for this is

–xds = x(1  y )dx  x ydy

d = ( R sin  cos )2  ( R sin  sin )2  ( R cos   R ) 2

= R 2 sin 2   R 2 (1  cos )2

(A) the forward direction (B) the backward direction,

(a) Logf(E) (b) Logf(E)

(c) Logf(E) (d) Logf(E)

(a) provided the wavefunction ( x) is normalized

Conserving angular momentum

= ( cos x  5 sin y )kˆ

=   ( cos x  5 sin y )dxdy

 sin x  5x sin y

(a) R2 is decreased slightly (b) R2 is increased slightly

is incident from the left on the apparatus as sketched below.

Left Y Y1 /3 Right

After Polarizer, E  E0 cos(kz  t )

2. This test consists of TWO sections.

4. The grading scheme will be as follows :

0 permittivity of free space 8.85 × 10–12 Fm–1

c conversion constant 3.16 × 10–26 Jm–1= 0.1973 GeV fm

These two coins are tossed simultaneously twice in succession.

Now, Vout = Vm + Vin

Tijkl = Tjikl = Tijlk = –Tklij

(c) 3/2G (d) 3 /G

The distance between the slits can be calculated as

(a) 13.2 µm (b) 2.92 µm

(c) (r) (d) (r)

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING FURTHER

SECTION A CONTINUES (TO BE ANSWERED BY ALL CANDIDATES)

Let the final temperature of reservoir be Tf

Change in the entropy of source

Total equilibrium energy E = 42.5 kT

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