Modern Physics: PHY 104

Spring Semester 2013

Second Collaborative homework

Solution
Note: Deadline is 15 March 2013, 10 am. Place your homework in
the orange box on physics floor. Mention names of all collaborators
in the group. Work alone or in groups upto five. Solution will be
posted online at 10 am.
1. An electron in chromium makes a transition from the n = 2 state to the n = 1
statez without emitting a photon. Instead, the excess energy is transferred to an outer
electron (in the n = 4 state), which is ejected by the atom. (This is called an Auger
process, and the ejected electron is referred to as an Auger electron.) Use the Bohr
theory to nd the kinetic energy of the Auger electron.

Coulomb interaction
Auger electron
is ejected
+Ze

n=1 n=2 n=3 n=4

Answer 1:
Chromium is making a transition from n = 2 to n = 1 state. In order to calculate
the kinetic energy of the Auger electron, rst calculate the energy of the three levels
n = 1, n = 2 and n = 3. According to Bohrs atomic model,
( 2)
Z
En = 13.6 2 eV,
n = 1, 2, 3.....
n

Date: 11, March 2013

Modern Physics: PHY 104

Spring Semester 2013

Hence
13.6 (24)2
1
= 7.83 103 eV.

E1 =

Similarly setting n = 2 yields,

13.6 (24)2
22
= 1.96 103 eV.

E2 =

and setting n = 4 gives,

13.6 (24)2
42
= 489.6 103 eV.

E4 =

The energy available from the n = 2 to n = 1 transition is,

E = E2 E1
(
)
= 1.96 (7.83) 103 eV
= 5.87 103 eV.
This energy is not directly emitted, rather it is transferred to the Auger electron.
Energy required to completely remove an electron from its orbit is equal to the binding
energy of that electron. Since the energy of n = 4 orbit state is 489.8 eV, this is also
the binding energy for n = 4 electron. Hence the energy available E is providing the
binding energy and the excess energy appears as the K.E of the Auger electron,
K = E E4
K = 5.87 103 eV 489.8 eV
= 5.38 103 eV
= 5.4 keV.
2. An electron initially in the n = 3 state of a one-electron atom of mass M at rest
undergoes a transition to the n = 1 ground state.
(a) Show that the recoil speed of the atom from emission of a photon is given approximately by,
v=
Date: 11, March 2013

8hR
.
9M
2

Modern Physics: PHY 104

Spring Semester 2013

(b) Calculate the percent of the 3 1 transition energy that is carried o by the
recoiling atom if the atom is deuterium.
Answer 2:
(a) Energy carried o by the electron as the transition from n = 3 to n = 1 takes place
is,
)
(
1
8hcR
=
,
E = E3 E1 = hcR 1
9
9
where R is the Rydberg constant. This emitted photon has momentum, P = E/c =
8hR/9. Since P = M v, v = 8hR/9M as required.

Photon is emitted
with momentum P

Atom takes a kick in the opposite direction and

moves with a speed v, to conserve momentum
(b) If the atom is 2 H, M mass of 1 proton + mass of 1 neutron = mp + mn (as mass
of electron is negligible).
(
)2
1
1
8hR
2
Energy of the recoiling atom = M v = M
.
2
2
9M
This is a fraction of the energy of the emitted photon. The fraction is,
(
)2
8hR
4hR
1
9
M
=

2
9M
8hcR
9M c
4 6.67 1034 Js 1.097 107 m1
=
9 (1.67 1027 kg 2) 3 108 m/s
= 3.2 109
= 3.2 107 %.
3. Apply classical mechanics to an electron in a stationary state of hydrogen to show that
L2 = me ke2 r and L3 = me k 2 e4 /. Here k is the Coulomb constant, L is the magnitude
Date: 11, March 2013

Modern Physics: PHY 104

Spring Semester 2013

of the orbital angular momentum of the electron, and me , e, r, and are the mass,
charge, orbit radius, and orbital angular frequency of the electron, respectively.
Answer 3:
Magnitude of angular momentum is given by,
L = rP = r(me v) = rme v
L2 = r2 m2e v 2 .

(1)

Coulombs force between electron and nucleus is,

Fc = k

e2
.
r2

This force must be equal to the centripetal force of the electron,

k

v2
e2
=
m

e
r2
r
2
ke
v2 =
.
me r

(2)

Use value of v 2 from equation (2) in equation (1),

( 2)
ke
2
2 2
L = r me
me r
2
= me ke r,
as required.
Now L3 can be written as,
L3 = L2 L
= me ke2 r rme v = m2e ke2 r2 v
m2e ke2 r2
=
v2
v
m2e ke2 r2
ke2
=

from equation (2)

v
me r
r
1
= me k 2 e4 = me k 2 e4
v

2 4
me k e
L3 =
,
as required.

4. Wavelengths of spectral lines depend to some extent on the nuclear mass. This occurs
because the nucleus is not an innitely heavy stationary mass and both the electron
and nucleus actually revolve around their common center of mass. It can be shown
Date: 11, March 2013

Modern Physics: PHY 104

Spring Semester 2013

that a system of this type is entirely equivalent to a single particle of reduced mass
that revolves around the position of the heavier particle at a distance equal to the
electronnucleus separation. See Figure below.

(a)

(b)

M
r

+
CM

me
Electron

Nucleus
(at rest)

Moving particle of
reduced mass

(a) Both the electron and the nucleus actually revolve around the center of mass.
(b) To calculate the effect of nuclear motion, the nucleus can be considered to be
at rest and me is replaced by the reduced mass .
Here, = me M/(me + M ), where me is the electron mass and M is the nuclear mass.
To take the moving nucleus into account in the Bohr theory we replace me with .
Thus equation for allowed energy levels becomes,
( )
ke2 1
En =
,
2me a0 n2
and equation for emitted wavelength becomes,
(
) ( ) (
)
1

1
1
ke2
1
1
=
2 =
R 2 2 .

2me a0 hc n2f
ni
me
nf
ni
Determine the corrected values of wavelength for the rst Balmer line (n = 3 to n = 2
transition) taking nuclear motion into account for (a) hydrogen,
2

H, (b) deuterium,

H, and (c) tritium, 3 H. (Deuterium, was actually discovered in 1932 by Harold Urey,

who measured the small wavelength dierence between 1 H and 2 H.)

Answer 4:
For Hydrogen:
First calculate the reduced mass.
=
Date: 11, March 2013

me M
,
me + M
5

Modern Physics: PHY 104

Spring Semester 2013

where me = mass of electron = 9.11 1031 kg and M = mass of hydrogen = 1.67

1027 kg.
9.11 1031 kg 1.67 1027 kg
9.11 1031 kg + 1.67 1027 kg
1.52 1057 kg2
=
1.67 1027 kg
= 9.09 1031 kg.

Wavwlength of the rst Balmer line will be,

( ) (
)
( )
1

1
1
5

=
R 2 2 =
R

me
2
3
36 me
5
9.09 1031 kg
=

1.1 107 m1
36 9.11 1031 kg
= 1524423.71 m1
= 6.56 107 m
= 656 nm.
For Deuterium:
For deuterium M = 2 1.67 1027 kg = 3.34 1027 kg.
=
=
=

1
=

=
=

9.11 1031 kg 3.34 1027 kg

9.11 1031 kg + 3.34 1027 kg
3.04 1057 kg2
3.34 1027 kg
9.10 1031 kg
( )
5

R
36 me
9.10 1031 kg
5

1.1 107 m1
36 9.11 1031 kg
1526100.744 m1

= 6.55 107 m
= 655 nm.
For Tritium:

Date: 11, March 2013

Modern Physics: PHY 104

Spring Semester 2013

For tritium M = 3 1.67 1027 kg = 5.01 1027 kg.

=
=
=

1
=

=
=

9.11 1031 kg 5.01 1027 kg

9.11 1031 kg + 5.01 1027 kg
4.564 1057 kg2
5.01 1027 kg
9.11 1031 kg
( )
5

R
36 me
5
9.11 1031 kg

1.1 107 m1
36 9.11 1031 kg
1527777.778 m1

= 6.54 107 m
= 654 nm.
The small wavelength dierence between 1 H, 2 H and 3 H in fact is a signature of the
nuclear mass and can be used as technique for isotopic identication.
5. An electron with kinetic energy less than 100 eV collides head-on in an elastic collision
with a massive mercury atom at rest.
(a) If the electron reverses direction in the collision (like a ball hitting a wall), show
that the electron loses only a tiny fraction of its initial kinetic energy, given by,
K
4M
=
,
K
me (1 + M/me )2
where me is the electron mass and M is the mercury atom mass.
(b) Using the accepted values for me and M , show that,
K
4me
=
,
K
M
and calculate the numerical value of K/K.
Answer 5:

Before collision
mev

Date: 11, March 2013

After collision
-mev

MV

Modern Physics: PHY 104

Spring Semester 2013

(a) We are given that,

Initial kinetic energy of electron = K = 100 eV
Initial kinetic energy of mercury atom = 0
Let energy loss by electron = K
Final kinetic energy of electron = K K
Final kinetic energy of mercury atom = K.
Since collision between mercury atom and electron is elastic, both the energy and
momentum will be conserved. Let v and v be the speed of electron before and after
collision respectively, and let V be the speed of mercury atom after collision, then
according to law of conservation of energy,
1
1
1
2
me v 2 + 0 = me v + M V 2
2
2
2
M
2
v2 = v +
V 2.
me

(3)

According to law of conservation of momentum,

me v + 0 = (me v ) + M V
M
v = v +
V.
me

(4)

Using the value of v from equation (4) in equation (3), we obtain,

(
)2
M

v +
V
me
(
)2
M
M
2
v +
V
2 vV
me
me
)2
(
M
M
V
2 vV
me
me
M
V 2v
me

= v +

M 2
V
me

= v +

M 2
V
me

M 2
V
me

= V

)
(
1 M
v =
1 V.
2 me

Date: 11, March 2013

(5)

Modern Physics: PHY 104

Spring Semester 2013

Inserting value of v from equation (5) to equation (3), we obtain,

2

v =
=
=
=
v =
V =

) )2
( (
M 2
1 M
1 V
+
V
2 me
me
[( )2
]
M
M 2
1
M
+12
V2+
V
4 me
me
me
[( )2
]
1
M
M
M
+12
+4
V2
4 me
me
me
]2
[( )2
]
[
1 M
1
M
M
2
V =
+1 V2
+1+2
4 me
me
4 me
[
]
1 M
+1 V
2 me
2v
(
).
M
+1
me

The equation of energy conservation will become,

[
]2
2v
M
2
2
v = v +
me M/me + 1
[
]
M
4v 2
2
2
v = v
me (M/me + 1)2
[
M ]
(M/me + 1)2 4 m
e
=
v2
(M/me + 1)2
[
]
(M/me 1)2 2
=
v .
(M/me + 1)2
Energy transferred to the mercury atom will be,
1
1
2
me v 2 me v
2
2 [
]
1
1
(M/me 1)2 2
2
= me v me
v
2
2
(M/me + 1)2
(
[
)]
(M/me 1)2
1
2
= me v 1
2
(M/me + 1)2
[
]
2
2
1
2 (M/me + 1) (M/me 1)
= me v
.
2
(M/me + 1)2

K =

Use identity, (a + b)2 (a b)2 = 4ab,

[
]
1
4M/me
2
K = me v
.
2
(M/me + 1)2

Date: 11, March 2013

Modern Physics: PHY 104

Spring Semester 2013

Since K = mv 2 /2, therefore,

[

]
4M/me
K = K
(M/me + 1)2
[
]
K
4M
=
,
K
me (M/me + 1)2

as required.

(b) We know that,

Mass of electron = me = 9.11 1031 kg
Mass of mercury atom = M = 3.21 1025 kg.
Since M me ,

1 + M/me M/me . Therefore,

[
]
K
4M
=
K
me (M/me )2
4me
=
.
M

Numerical value of K/K will be,

K
4 9.11 1031 kg
=
K
3.21 1025 kg
= 1.1 105 .

Date: 11, March 2013

10