Physics 112

Homework 11 (solutions)

(2004 Fall)

Solutions to Homework Questions 11 (Rev 1)

Chapt27, Problem-1:

(a) What is the surface temperature of Betelgeuse, a red giant star in the
constellation of Orion, which radiates with a peak wavelength of about 970 nm? (b) Rigel, a bluish-white star
in Orion, radiates with a peak wavelength of 145 nm. Find the temperature of Rigels surface.
Solution:
From Wiens displacement law (eqn 27.1),

0.2898 !10 "2 m # K 0.2898 !10 "2

=
$max
970 !10 "9
"2
0.2898 !10 m # K 0.2898 !10 "2
T=
=
$max
145 ! 10"9
T=

(a)
(b)

m#K
m
m#K
m

= 2.99 ! 103 K , or ! 3 000 K

= 2.00 ! 104 K , or ! 20 000 K

Chapt27, Problem-2:

(a) Lightning produces a maximum air temperature on the order of 104 K,

while (b) a nuclear explosion produces a temperature on the order of 107 K. Use Wiens displacement law to
find the order of magnitude of the wavelength of the thermally produced photons radiated with greatest
intensity by each of these sources. Name the part of the electromagnetic spectrum where you would expect
each to radiate most strongly.
Solution:

Using Wiens displacement law,

(a)

!max

0.2898 " 10#2 m.K

=
104 K

= 2.898 ! 10"7 m ,

Ultraviolet
by looking at Table 21.22, you will see that this wavelength is in the
band of the
electromagnetic spectrum
0.2898 "10 #2 m $ K
! max =
= 2 .898 " 10#10 m
7
10 K
(b)
again from Table 21.22, you will see that photons with such ! are known as ! - rays

Chapt27, Problem-5:

Calculate the energy in electron volts of a photon having a wavelength in (a)

the microwave range, 5.00 cm; (b) the visible light range, 500 nm; and (c) the x-ray range, 5.00 nm.
Solution:

The equation to use here is eqn27.2 with n=1, which we already saw as eqn22.1. However we also
have to work out the frequency corresponding to the wavelengths we are given (using eqn 21.31),
and convert the units from Joules to eV (which we introduced way back in Chpt16 see eqn 16.8).
#34
J$ s 3.00 " 108 m s % 1.00 eV (
hc 6.63 "10
1.24 ! 10"6 m # eV
f
,which
yields
E = hf =
=
E
=
*
'
& 1.60 "10 #19 J )
!
!
$
"6
1.24 ! 10 m # eV
"5
(a)
E=
= 2.49 !10 eV
5.00 !10 "2 m
1.24 ! 10"6 m # eV
(b)
E=
= 2.49 eV
500 !10 "9 m
1.24 ! 10"6 m # eV
(c)
E=
= 249 eV
5.00 !10 "9 m

)(

Physics 112

Homework 11 (solutions)

Chapt27, Problem-8:

(2004 Fall)
11

The threshold of dark-adapted (scotopic) vision is 4.0x10 W/m2 at a

central wavelength of 500 nm. If light with this intensity and wavelength enters the eye when the pupil is
open to its maximum diameter of 8.5 mm, how many photons per second enter the eye?
Solution:

Here we are given the power per unit area of the light entering the eye (in the case where that faint
light is only just detectable by the cones). We are given the diameter of the pupil, so we can work
out its area, and hence calculate the total power of the light entering the eye. [Note that the radius
is D/2, for

! r2 = (! D2 )/4]. So

this is

2)
&%
! = I " A = 4.0 # 10$11 W m 2 ( 8.5 # 10$3 m + = 2.3 #10 $15 W
'4
*
Now the power is given in Watts (Joules per second), so if we calculate the energy of each photon
(in Joules), we can easily calculate the number of photons
The energy of a single photon is
$34
J% s 3.00 # 108 m s
hc 6.63 #10
E! =
=
= 3.98 #10 $19 J ,
"
500 # 10$9 m
so the number of photons entering the eye in !t = 1.00 s is
-15
!E #$ (!t ) 2 .3% 10 J s (1.00 s )
3
N=
=
=
= 5.7 !10
&19
E"
E"
3.98 % 10 J

) (

)(

Chapt27, Problem-20:

Calculate the minimum wavelength x-ray that can be produced when a

target is struck by an electron that has been accelerated through a potential difference of (a) 15.0 kV, (b) 100
kV.
Solution:

A photon of maximum energy and minimum wavelength is produced when the electron gives up all its
kinetic energy in a single collision. (see eqn27.9)
6.63 #10 $34 J% s 3.00 # 108 m s 1.24 # 10$6 V % m
hc
hc
!min =
=
=
=
eV
V
E"
1.60 #10 -19 C V

( )

max

)(

#6

1.24 "10 V $ m
"11
= 8.29 ! 10 m
15.0 "103 V
1.24 "10 #6 V $ m
"11
=
= 1.24 ! 10 m
3
100 " 10 V

(a)

If V = 15.0 kV , !min =

(b)

If V = 100 kV , !min

Chapt27, Problem-25:

X-rays of wavelength 0.140 nm are reflected from a certain crystal, and the
first-order maximum occurs at an angle of 14.4. What value does this give for the interplanar spacing of this
crystal?
Solution:

The interplanar spacing in the crystal is given by Braggs law (eqn 27.10, with m=1) as
m!
(1 )(0.140 nm ) = 0.281 nm
d=
=
2 sin"
2sin14.4

Physics 112

Homework 11 (solutions)

Chapt27, Problem-28:

(2004 Fall)

A beam of 0.68-nm photons undergoes Compton scattering from free

electrons. What are the energy and momentum of the photons that emerge at a 45 angle with respect to the
incident beam?
Solution:

Using the Compton shift formula, (eqn27.11) the wavelength is found to be

! = !0 + "! = !0 + !C (1# cos $ )
= 0.68 nm + ( 0.00243 nm )( 1# cos 45 ) = 0.6807 nm
Therefore the energy of the photon (see eqn27.12) is
$34
8
)
hc 6.63 #10 J % s 3.00 # 10 m s &
1 keV
1.8 keV ,
E! =
=
(
$9
$16 + =
"
0.6807 #10 m
' 1.60 # 10 J *
h 6.63 "10 #34 J$ s
"25
kg # m s
and the momentum (eqn 27.13) is
p= =
= 9.7 ! 10
#9
! 0.6807 "10 m

)(

Chapt27, Problem-34:

Calculate the de Broglie wavelength for an electron that has kinetic energy
(a) 50.0 eV and (b) 50.0 keV (ignore relativistic effects).
Solution:

The de Broglie wavelength is ! = h p , where p is the linear momentum. If relativistic effects are
ignored, then one can easily relate the momentum p=mv to KE=(mv2)/2 so p = 2 m ( KE)
(a)

If KE= 50.0 eV and the particle is an electron,

6.63 "10 #34 J$ s
!=
= 1.74 !10 "10 m = 0.174 nm
#31
#19
2 9.11 " 10 kg ( 50.0 eV ) 1.60 "10
J eV

(b)

For 50.0 keV electrons,

!=

6.63 "10 #34 J $ s

#31

2 9.11 " 10

)(

)(

#19

kg 50.0 "10 eV 1.60 " 10

J eV

"12
= 5.49 !10 m

Chapt27, Problem-42:

A 50.0-g ball moves at 30.0 m/s. If its speed is measured to an accuracy of

0.10%, what is the minimum uncertainty in its position?
Solution:

For this question, the eqn27.16 is relevant. We are given the information to calculate the momentum
p = mv , and so !p = m( !v ) assuming m is without uncertainty. Since !v = 1.0 "10 #3 v = 3.0 " 10#2 m s ,
we have
!p = 50.0 " 10#3 kg 3.0 "10 #2 m s = 1.5 "10 #3 kg $ m s ,

and

)(

%34

!x "

h
6.63 $ 10 J & s
"32
=
= 3.5 !10 m
4# ( !p ) 4# 1.5 $10 %3 kg & m s

Chapt27, Conceptual-3: Are blackbodies black?

Solution:

(see explanation in text)

3

Physics 112

Homework 11 (solutions)

(2004 Fall)

Chapt27, Conceptual-5: All objects radiate energy. Why, then, are we not able see all objects in a
dark room?
Solution:

(see explanation in text)

Chapt27, Conceptual-10: Which has more energy, a photon of ultraviolet radiation or a photon
of yellow light?
Solution:

Ultraviolet light has a shorter wavelength and a higher frequency (so photon energy) than visible
light see Table21.22).

Chapt27, Conceptual-14: The brightest star in the constellation Lyra is the bluish star Vega,
whereas the brightest star in Bootes is the reddish star Arcturus. How do you account for the difference in
color of the two stars?
Solution:

Most stars radiate nearly as blackbodies. Vega has a higher surface temperature than Arcturus. So
Vega radiates more intensely at shorter wavelengths (i.e. in the blue end of the visible spectrum).
In contrast Arcturus, with its cooler surface, radiates more intensely at longer wavelengths (i.e.
towards the red end of the visible band).