MODERN PHYSICS – ALL DERIVATIONS

DUAL NATURE OF MATTER AND RADIATION

Deduce an expression for the de Broglie wavelength of a particle of mass m moving

with velocity v. Hence derive de Broglie wavelength of an electron accelerated
through a potential difference of V volts.

Considering photon as an electromagnetic wave of frequency ν , its energy from Planck’s

quantum theory is given by

E  hν

Where h is Planck’s constant. Considering photon as a particle of mass m, the energy

associated with it is given by Einstein’s mass energy relationship as

E  mc 2

From equations (i) and (ii), we get

hv  mc 2
hc
  mc 2
λ
h h
λ 
mc p

According the de Broglie hypothesis, the above equation must be true for material particles
like electrons, protons, neutrons etc. Hence a particle of mass m moving with velocity v must
be associated with a matter wave of wavelength λ given by

h h
λ 
mv p

 p  2m(KE)
and KE  qV
 h
λ 
2m(qV)
As, h  6.62  1034 Js
m  9.11 1031kg
q  1.6  1019 C
We get
12.27 o
λ AB
V

ATOMS

Using Bohr’s postulates, derive an expression for the velocity of an electron revolving
in an orbit. Also show that the velocity of electron in innermost orbit of H atom is
1/137 of times the speed of light.

Consider an electron of mass m and charge e revolving with velocity v around a nucleus
having atomic number z. Then the centripetal force required by the electron is provided by
electrostatic force of attraction between nucleus and electron according to equation

mv 2 k  Ze  e

r r2
kZe2
 mv 2  ....(i)
r
According to Bohr’s quantum condition for angular momentum

nh
mvr  ....(ii)
2π

Expression for velocity

kZe2
From (i) r  ....(iii)
mv 2

nh
From (ii) r  ....(iv)
2πmv

Therefore

nh kZe2

2πmv mv 2
 2πkZe2
 v
nh

Putting
,
π  3.14, k  9  109 Nm2 C2 , Z  1, e  1.6  10 19 C,n  1 and h  6.62  1034 Js

we get

 1 
v  c
 137 

________________________________________________________________________

Using Bohr’s postulates, derive an expression for the radii of the permitted orbits in
the hydrogen atom.

Putting the value of v obtained above in equation (iv), we get

nh nh
r .
2πm 2πkZe2
n 2h 2
 r
4π mkZe2
2

_________________________________________________________________________

Using Bohr’s postulates, derive an expression for the total energy of an electron
revolving in an orbit.

Kinetic energy of electron in nth orbit

1 kZe2
K.E  mv 2  [Using equation (i)]
2 2r

Potential energy of electron in nth orbit is

q1q2 (Ze)( e) Ze2

P.E  k k  k
r r r

Total energy T.E = P.E + K.E

Ze2 Ze2 Ze2

T.E  k k  k
2r r 2r

Putting the value of r, we get

 kZe2 4π 2mkZe2
T.E   .
2 n2 h 2

2π 2mk 2 Z2 e4
 T.E  
n2 h 2

On the basis of Bohr’s theory, derive an expression for the wavelength of emitted
photon when an electron comes back from a higher state n2 to a lower state n1.

From Bohr’s theory, the energy of an electron in the nth orbit of hydrogen atom is given by
2π 2mk 2 Z 2 e4 1
En   . 2
h2 n

According to Bohr’s condition, whenever an electron makes a transition from a higher energy
level n2 to lower energy level n1, the difference of energy appears in the form of a photon is
given by

hv  En2  En1
2π 2mk 2 e 4 1 1
 hv   2  2
h2  n1 n2 
c 2π 2mk 2 e4 1 1
   2  2
λ h3  n1 n2 

1 2π 2mk 2 e41 1
   2  2
λ ch3  n1 n2 
1 1 1
 R 2  2 
λ  n1 n2 
2π 2mk 2 e4
where R  , is the Rydberg constant
ch3

NUCLEI

Derive an expression for the density of nucleus. Hence show that the density is
independent of mass number.

Let A be the mass number and R be the radius of a nucleus. If m is the average mass of a
nucleon, then

Mass of nucleus = mA
Volume of nucleus

4 3
 R
3
3
4  1
 4
   Ro A 3   Ro A
3   3

Therefore, nuclear density

Mass of nuclues

Volume of nucleus

mA 3m
 
4 3 4R3o
Ro A
3

Clearly, density of nucleus is independent of mass number A or the size of the nucleus.

Taking m  1.67  1027 kg , R o  1.2  10 15 m , we get

  2.30  1017 kgm3 which is very large as compared to the density of ordinary matter.