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Problem Set 1 Solutions

Lauren Pearce
January 9, 2011
1 Serway 3.1.1: Light as an Electromagnetic
Wave
PROBLEM: Classical Zeeman Eect or the Triumph of Maxwells Equa-
tions! As pointed out in Section 3.1, Maxwells equations may be used to
predict the change in emission frequency when gas atoms are placed in a
magnetic eld. Consider the situation shown in Figure P3.1. Note that
the application of a magnetic eld perpendicular to the orbital plane of the
electron induces an electric eld, which changes the direction of the velocity
vector.
1.1 A: Magnitude of Electric Field
PROBLEM: Using

E ds =
d
B
dt
show that the magnitude of the electric eld is given by
E =
r
2
dB
dt
1
SOLUTION: From the diagram, we take the magnetic eld to be uniform
inside of the circle, although it may be time dependent. Since
B
is the ux
of the magnetic eld through the circle, this reduces to:

B
=

B da
=

B da
= B

da
= r
2
B
Here we have used the fact that the innitesimal area element of the surface
is oriented perpendicular to the surface (using the right hand rule); from the
diagram we see that it is then parallel to the magnetic eld. This is shown
in the diagram:
Since the radius is held constant, the time derivative of the magnetic ux
is:
d
B
dt
= r
2
dB
dt
Now we want to consider the left hand side of the equation. From electro-
magnetism, we know that the magnitude of the electric eld will be constant
along the circle, and it will be parallel (or antiparallel) to the direction of
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the circle. To nd the direction, we use Lenzs Law; the electric eld will be
induced in a direction so that it would induce a magnetic eld which opposes
the magnetic eld creating it. The magnetic eld is growing in the positive
z direction; therefore the electric eld will want to create a magnetic eld in
the z direction. By the right hand rule, the electric eld will be in the

direction. Taking E = E

, we then have E ds = E ds. Thus we have:

E ds =

E ds
= E

ds
= 2rE
Setting the two sides of the equation equal, we nd:

E ds =
d
B
dt
2rE = r
2
dB
dt
E =
r
2
dB
dt
E =
r
2
dB
dt

We have found the magnitude of the eld as requested in the problem;


however, it is also important to note that it is in the negative

direction.
We will need this below.
1.2 B: Change of Speed
PROBLEM: Using F dt = mdv, calculate the change in speed, v, of the
electron. Show that if r remains constant,
v =
erB
2m
e
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SOLUTION: First we ask what force we should be concerned with here.
Let us think about the magnetic force, which is qv B. If we do the cross
product, we see that v B will be pointed out from the center of the cir-
cle. However, we assume that the electron is forced to go along in a circle;
therefore there must be some restoring force that counteracts this. Anyway,
because we assume the electron goes in a circle, this means that we dont
care about the magnetic force, which leaves the electric force.
If the radius remains constant, then the magnitude of the electric eld
also remains constant. Therefore, the magnitude of the force on the particle,
F = |eE|, is also constant. We will use e for the MAGNITUDE of the
electron; therefore it is a positive number. Thus we have F = eE.
To be absolutely clear about signs, we will use the equation above in the
form dF dt = m
e
dv, using m
e
for the mass of the electron. Then we have:
eEdt = m
e
dv
er
2
dB
dt

dt = m
e
dv
er
2
dB

= m
e
dv
This shows us that the component of the velocity that will change is the
component that is going around in the circle, as we expect. Now we need to
be exceedingly careful with the signs. We are asked to nd the change in the
velocity of the electron. While the velocity of the electron is by denition
always postivie, the change in the velocity can be positive or negative; the
velocity can increase or decrease. Let us rst consider whether it will increase
or decrease.
Now let us think of the direction of the force acting on the electron. We
already determined that the electric eld was pointing in the

direction,
which is the opposite direction as how the electron is travelling. The force,
as we saw above, is in the positive direction because (since the electron is
negatively charged), it is in the opposite direction as the electric eld. Since
the force is then parallel to the direction that the electron is moving, it should
accelerate the electron. Then we expect v to be positive.
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Now let us gure this out in the mathematics. We set v = v

to nd:
r
2
dB

= m
e
dv

r
2
dB = m
e
dv
Solving for dv, we nd:
dv =
er
2m
e
dB
We want to integrate this; we must take care with our limits of integration.
The particle is initially moving with speed v and after the magnetic eld is
turned on, it has speed v +v. Initially, the magnetic eld is zero, but after
it is turned on, it has the value B. We assume that r is constant and take it
outside of the integral. Thus we have:

v+v
v
dv =
er
2m
e

B
0
dB
v + v v =
er
2m
e
B
v =
erB
2m
e
As expected, this will be positive. Note how important it is that we take
e to be the magnitude of the electric charge.
1.3 C: Change in Angular Frequency
PROBLEM: Find the change in angular frequency, , of the electron
and calculate the numberical value of for B = 1 T. Note that this is also
the change in frequency of light emitted accordinate to Maxwells equations.
Find the fractional change in frequency, /, for an ordinary emission line
of 500 nm.
SOLUTION: First we recall how angular velocity is related to the speed
that the particle is moving at. This is just from circular motion:
=
v
r
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Since r is constant, this gives us:
=
v
r
Substituting from the previous section, we have:
=
eB
2m
e
Now we substitute the particular numbers, recalling that e is negative. If
we use MKS units, the result will be radians per second.
=

1.6 10
19
C

1 T
2

1
9.1 10
31
kg
= 8.8 10
10
rad
sec
To nd the fractional change in the frequency, we need to nd . We can
do this from the information given, which is the wavelength of the associated
emission line. We use:
= 2f = 2
c

In the last equality, we have used the fact that f = c. Substituting


numbers, we have:
= 2
3.0 10
8
m/s
500 10
9
m
= 3.8 10
15
rad
sec
Finally we have:

=
8.8 10
10
3.8 10
15
= 2.3 10
5
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1.4 D: Emission Line Split into Three
PROBLEM: Actually, the original emission line at
0
is split into three
components at
0
:
0
,
0
, and
0
+ . The line at
0
+ is
produced by atoms with electrons rotating as shown in Figure P3.1, wheras
the lines at
0
is produced by atoms with electrons rotating in the
opposite sense. The line at
0
is produced by atoms with electronic planes
of rotation oriented parallel to B. Explain.
SOLUTION: We rst note that the electron is just orbiting the nucleus
in the atom in any old way; it doesnt have to be lines up the magnetic eld.
The best way to picture this is that you have a bunch of atoms, and the
circular orbits of the electrons are aligned more-or-less randomly. Some will
be lined up with the magnetic eld as shown in the image; then everything
we derived will be correct.
Some will be lined up going around in the opposite direction. There are
several ways of accounting for this change; the important thing is that you
pick up the correct number of sign changes. In the way I look at it, this
changes the direction of ds and da, since the orientation of the circle is
dened by the motion of the electron. Now we need to carefully count how
many negative sign changes we nd. The ux of the magnetic eld will
change by a sign (because B doesnt change). Similarly, the electric eld
will be induced in the direction of ds, instead of the opposite direction, and
this will pick up a sign. Thus we nd the same result for E, which we should
have expected. (The electric eld is just induced by the magnetic eld, and
doesnt have anything to do with the electron.)
However, now we need to think about the next part. Now we have the
electric eld is parallel to the direction that the electron is going. Since the
charge of the electron is negative, this means that the force is antiparallel
to the direction that the electron is going. Therefore it is going to slow the
electron down, instead of speeding it up. So we expect it to have a sign
change. Where does this come into the math? This is a very subtle point.
The force hasnt changed direction, so we still get the same VECTOR v:
v =
erB
2m
e

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However, we now have v = v v, and so the change in speed is given by:
v + v = v

+
erB
2m
e

v
erB
2m
e

We keep the negative sign out in front because thats the direction the
electron is moving. Therefore, we see that the change in the SPEED (the
magnitude of the velocity) is negative. Of course, this then changes the sign
of .
Now let us consider the case where the plane of the electron is parallel to
B. Since the area element da is perpendicular to the plane of the electron,
it is also perpendicular to B. Therefore B da = 0, and following as in the
above sections, = 0.
2 Serway 3.2.2
PROBLEM: The temperature of your skin is approximately 35

C. What
is the wavelength at which the peak occurs in the radiation emitted from
your skin?
SOLUTION: We begin by modelling the human body as a blackbody.
Then we can use Weins displacement law to nd the maximum wavelength.
Weins displacement law is:

max
T = 2.898 10
3
m K
We solve this for the maximum wavelength:

max
=
2.898 10
3
m K
T
We see that we want to substitute the temperature in Kelvin, not Celsius.
We can convert by adding 273, which gives us the temperatue 308 K. We
nd:

max
=
2.898 10
3
308
m = 9.41 10
6
m
8
In nanometers, this is 9410 nm.
3 Serway 3.2.3
PROBLEM: A 2.0 kg mass is attached to a massless spring of force con-
stant k = 25 N/m. The spring is stretched .40 m from its equilibrium position
and released.
3.1 A: Classical Energy and Frequency of Oscillation
PROBLEM: Find the total energy and frequency of oscillation according
to classical calculations.
SOLUTION: We recall that the total energy of a simple harmonic oscil-
lator is:
E =
kA
2
2
where A is the amplitude of the oscillation. We assume that the spring is
released from rest; then the amplitude is .40 m. Substituting this, we have:
E =
25 N/m
2
(.40 m)
2
= 2.0 J
Next we consider the frequency of oscillation. We rst nd the angular
frequency:
=

k
m
=

25 N/m
2.0 kg
= 3.5 rad/sec
Now we nd the frequency by dividing by 2:
f =

2
=
3.5
2
Hz = .56 Hz
3.2 B: Quantum Number
PROBLEM: Assume that the energy is quantized and nd the quantum
number, n, for the system.
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SOLUTION: If the energy is quantized then it has to satisfy E
n
= nhf.
We solve this for n:
n =
E
n
hf
Now we substitute f and the energy from the rst part of the problem,
along with Plancks constant, to nd:
n =
2.0 J
6.63 10
34
Js .56 Hz
= 5.4 10
33
This is a very large number.
3.3 C: Energy in a Quantum Change
PROBLEM: How much energy would be carried away in a 1-quantum
change?
SOLUTION: To nd the amount of energy in a one quantum change, we
simply need to evaluate hf:
E = hf = 6.63 10
34
Js .56 Hz = 3.7 10
34
J
This is a very small number.
4 Serway 3.2.4
4.1 A: Total Power Radiated Per Unit Area by Tung-
sten Filament
PROBLEM: Use Setans law to calculate the total power radiated per
unit area by a tungsten lament at a temperature of 3000 K. (Assume that
the lament is an ideal radiator.)
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SOLUTION: First we recall Stefans Law, which relates the power per
unit area, P/A, to the temperature in Kelvin through the constant . Specif-
ically substituting numbers, we have:
P
A
= T
4
= 5.7 10
8
W
m
2
K
4
(3000 K)
4
= 4.6 10
6
W/m
2
4.2 B: Surface Area of Filament in a Lightbulb
PROBLEM: If the tungsten lament of a lightbulb is rated at 75 W, what
is the surface area of the lmanet? (Assume that the main energy loss is due
to radiation.)
SOLUTION: Rearranging the equation found above, we have:
A =
P
4.6 10
6
W/m
2
Substituting 75 W for the power gives us:
A =
75 W
4.6 10
6
W/m
2
= 1.6 10
5
m
2
We can also write this as 16 mm
2
, which is a reasonable size for a lightbulb.
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