BSC101 Physics 2023-2024

Exercise Bank (Semester – II)

Module – 1: Electromagnetic Radiation (Problems)

Problem 1
By using generalized expression for the Coulomb electric field, compare the contribution of each
term in case of Electric field due to the proton at the location of electron in hydrogen atom.
[Given: Velocity of proton in hydrogen atom ≈ 106 m/s, Bohr radius r = 0.53 A˚]

Problem 2
The charge distribution on the wire used in radio transmitter executing simple harmonic motion
𝑟
represented by 𝑥 (meter) = 10−9 sin [1013 (𝑡 − 𝑐 )] . Compute the maximum magnitude of
electric field contributed from all three terms (in generalized Coulomb’s law) at a point ‘P’,
40,000 Km away from the wire. Comment on the electric field term mainly responsible for
RADAR communications. Given that the charge distribution is having total charge of 108 𝑒,
where 𝑒 is the electronic charge.

E1 = 9 x 10-17 N/C
E2 = 3 x 10-21 N/C
E3 = 4 x 10-9 N/C

Problem 3
A geostationary satellite orbiting at a distance of 36000 km from an earth-based laboratory sends
a signal (to the lab) radiated by a hydrogen ion performing SHM in an ion – trap attached to the
satellite. If the angular frequency and amplitude of SHM are respectively 1015 rad/s and 1 A˚,
estimate the maximum magnitude of the electric field signal received by the laboratory detector.
Further, compare this value with the value of electric field obtained by assuming that the ion was
at rest.
Ans. Emax = 4.44 × 10−14 N/C
E ar
And E C = c2 ≈ 1010
max

Problem 4
Aditi’s cell phone rang, as her mobile cell antenna received radio-frequency electromagnetic waves (EM)
waves from a cellular base station (cell tower). The incident EM waves caused the motion of the charges
(q = Ne = 109 e) in the cell antenna, which can be modelled as an SHM for which the maximum
acceleration is 5 × 1020 m⁄s 2 . The total electric field produced in the cell antenna is determined to be
3.5 V/m. Estimate how far the cellular base station is from Aditi.

Ans: r = 2.285 km

1
 Module – 2: Polarization (problems)

Problem 1
A nano – photonic device makes a beam of around 20000 unpolarized photons incident on a
“polarizer analyzer system”
a) If a photon counter detects around 7500 photons transmitted by the analyzer, find θ.
b) If θ is set equal to 60˚, find the number of blocked photons.
c) If θ is set equal to 40˚, find the probability of transmission of the photons.
d) If θ is set equal to 50˚, find the probability of blocking of photons.
Ans:
a) θ = 30˚ b) 7500 c) 0.586 d) 0.586

Problem 2

Unpolarized light with intensity 96 W/m2 passes successively through two identical
polarizers A and B, placed such that the angular separation between their polarization axes
is 45˚ as shown in figure 1. Determine the intensity of transmitted light after it passes through
polarizer B.

Ans: 24 W/m2
Problem 3

The expression for the electric field for an EM wave is given by;

𝐸⃗ = E0x cos(𝜔𝑡) 𝑖̂ + E0y cos(𝜔𝑡 + 𝛼) 𝑗̂

Where E0x and E0y are the amplitude of electric field along x-axis and y-axis
respectively. Identify the type of polarization for the following different cases:

i. E0x = E0y = 2; 𝛼 = 0
𝜋
ii. E0x = 2 E0y = 1; 𝛼 = − 2
𝜋
iii. E0x = E0y = 2; 𝛼 = 2
Ans:
i) Plane polarized Light
ii) Elliptical polarized Light
iii) Circularly polarized Light.