ARUL INSTITUTE, CHENNAI

CBSE – CLASS XII – PHYSICS – CHAPTER 12

ATOMS

EXERCISE PROBLEMS
12.1 Choose the correct alternative from the clues given at the end of the each statement:

(a) The size of the atom in Thomson’s model is _______ the atomic size in Rutherford’s

model.

(much greater than / no different from / much less than)

(b) In the ground state of _______ electrons are in stable equilibrium, while in _______

electrons always experience a net force.

(Thomson’s model / Rutherford’s model)

(c) A classical atom based on _______ is doomed to collapse.

(Thomson’s model / Rutherford’s model)

(d) An atom has a nearly continuous mass distribution in a _______ but has a highly

non-uniform mass distribution in _______

(Thomson’s model / Rutherford’s model)

(e) The positively charged part of the atom possesses most of the mass in _______

(Rutherford’s model / both the models)

 ARUL INSTITUTE, CHENNAI
Solution:

(a) The size of the atom in Thomson’s model is no different from the atomic size in

Rutherford’s model.

(b) In the ground state of Thomson’s model electrons are in stable equilibrium, while in

Rutherford’s model electrons always experience a net force.

e
(c) A classical atom based on Rutherford’s model is doomed to collapse.

ut
(d) An atom has a nearly continuous mass distribution in a Thomson’s model but has a

tit
highly non-uniform mass distribution in Rutherford’s model.

(e) The positively charged part of the atom possesses most of the mass in both the
ns
models.
I
ul
Ar
 ARUL INSTITUTE, CHENNAI
12.2 Suppose you are given a chance to repeat the alpha-particle scattering experiment using

a thin sheet of solid hydrogen in place of the gold foil.

(Hydrogen is a solid at temperatures below 14 K)

What results do you expect?

Solution:

e
When we use a thin sheet of solid hydrogen in place of gold foil in α–particle scattering

ut
experiment, then the scattering angle would not be large enough because the mass of

tit
hydrogen nucleus 1.67 x 10−27 kg is less than the mass of incident α-particles 6.64 x 10–27 kg

Since the mass of target nucleus is less than the mass of incident particles, the alpha-
ns
particles would not bounce back.
I
ul
Ar
 ARUL INSTITUTE, CHENNAI
12.3 A difference of 2.3 eV separates two energy levels in an atom. What is the frequency of

radiation emitted when the atom make a transition from the upper level to the lower

level?

Solution:

E = hν

e
E 2.3 x 1.6 x 10 −19
ν= =

ut
h 6.63 x 10 − 34

ν=
3.68 x 10 −19
6.63 x 10 − 34
tit
ns
3680 x 10 −22
ν=
663 x 10 − 36
I

ν = 5.55 x 1014 Hz
ul
Ar
 ARUL INSTITUTE, CHENNAI
12.4 The ground state energy of hydrogen atom is –13.6 eV. What are the kinetic and

potential energies of the electron in this state?

Solution:

The ground state energy of the hydrogen atom is −13.6 eV. This is the total energy of the

hydrogen atom.

e
Kinetic Energy is given as the negative of the total energy.

ut
Kinetic Energy = −E = −(−13.6) = 13.6 eV

Potential energy is given as the two times of total energy.

tit
Potential Energy = 2E = 2 x (−13.6 ) = −27.2 eV
ns
Ze 2 Ze2 Ze 2
PEn = − ; KEn = ; TEn = −
4πε orn 8πε orn 8πε orn
I

Ze 2
ul

TEn = − = –KEn (OR) KEn = –TEn

8πε orn
Ar

Ze 2
−
PE n 4 πε o rn Ze 2 8πε orn
= = − x = –2
KE n Ze 2 4πε orn Ze 2
8πε orn

PEn = –2KEn

Ze 2
−
PE n 4 πε orn Ze 2 8 πεorn
= = − x − =2
TE n Ze 2 4πε orn Ze 2
−
8πε orn

PEn = 2TEn
 ARUL INSTITUTE, CHENNAI
12.5 A hydrogen atom initially in the ground level absorbs a photon, which excites it to the

n = 4 level. Determine the wavelength and frequency of photon.

Solution:

–0.85 eV n = 4 (Third Excited State)

n = 3 (Second Excited State)

n = 2 (First Excited State)

absorbs
photon

–13.6 eV n = 1 (Ground State)

− 13.6
En = eV
n2

Energy of the first level (n = 1),

− 13.6
E1 = = – 13.6 eV
12

Energy of the fourth level (n = 4),

− 13.6 − 13.6
E4 = 2
eV = = – 0.85 eV
4 16

Energy of the photon (E) = E4 – E1 = –0.85 – (–13.6) = –0.85 + 13.6 = 12.75 eV

 ARUL INSTITUTE, CHENNAI
Frequency of the photon

E 12.75 x 1.6 x 10 −19

E = hν ; ν = =
h 6.63 x 10 − 34

20.4 x 10 −19 2040 x 10 −19

ν= − 34
= − 34
= 3.077 x 1015 Hz
6.63 x 10 663 x 10

Wavelength of the photon

e
c 3 x 10 8 30000 x 104

ut
λ= = 15
= 12
= 9.75 x 10–8 m
ν 3.077 x 10 3077 x 10

λ = 975 x 10–10 m = 975 A

o
tit
I ns
ul
Ar
 ARUL INSTITUTE, CHENNAI
12.6 (a) Using the Bohr’s model calculate the speed of the electron in a hydrogen atom in the

n = 1, 2 and 3 levels.

(b) Calculate the orbital period in each of these levels.

Solution:

 e2  Z
(a) vn =  
 2ε o h  n
 

e
ut
 (1.6 x 10 −19 ) 2 Z
vn =  
 2 x 8.854 x 10 −12 x 6.63 x 10 − 34  n
 

Z
vn = 2.18 x 106   m/s
n
tit
ns
For hydrogen atom, Z = 1

 2.18 x 106 
vn =   m/s
I

 n 
 
ul

 2.18 x 106 
For n = 1 (first orbit), v1 =   = 2.18 x 106 m/s
 1 
 
Ar

 2.18 x 106 
For n = 2 (second orbit), v2 =   = 1.09 x 106 m/s
 2 
 

 2.18 x 106 
For n = 3 (third orbit), v3 =   = 0.727 x 106 m/s
 3 
 
 ARUL INSTITUTE, CHENNAI
(b) Time period of revolution

o
2πrn 2π (0.53 A ) n 2
Tn = =
vn  2.18 x 106 
 
 n 
 

2 x 3.14 x 0.53 x 10 −10

Tn = 6
n3
2.18 x 10

3.328 x 10 −10 3328 x 10 −13

e
Tn = 6
n3 = 4
n3 = 15.26 x 10–17 n3
2.18 x 10 218 x 10

ut
Tn = 1.526 x 10–16 n3

For n = 1 (first orbit),

tit
T1 = 1.526 x 10–16 x 13 = 1.526 x 10–16 s

For n = 2 (second orbit), T2 = 1.526 x 10–16 x 23 = 1.526 x 10–16 x 8 = 12.2 x 10–16 s

ns
T2 = 1.22 x 10–15 s
I

For n = 3 (third orbit), T3 = 1.526 x 10–16 x 33 = 1.526 x 10–16 x 27 = 41.2 x 10–16 s

ul

T3 = 4.12 x 10–15 s
Ar
 ARUL INSTITUTE, CHENNAI
12.7 The radius of the innermost electron orbit of a hydrogen atom is 5.3 x 10–11 m. What are

the radii of the n = 2 and n = 3 orbits?

Solution:

rn = (5.3 x 10 −11 m ) n 2

For n = 2 (second orbit),

e
r2 = 5.3 x 10 −11 m x 22 = 5.3 x 10 −11 m x 4 = 21.2 x 10–11 m = 2.12 x 10–10 m

ut
For n = 3 (third orbit),

r3 = 5.3 x 10 −11 m x 32 = 5.3 x 10 −11 m x 9 = 47.7 x 10–11 m = 4.77 x 10–10 m

tit
I ns
ul
Ar
 ARUL INSTITUTE, CHENNAI
12.8 A 12.5 eV electron beam is used to bombard gaseous hydrogen at room temperature.

What series of wavelengths will be emitted?

Solution:

In ground state, the energy of gaseous hydrogen at room temperature = –13.6 eV

When it is bombarded with 12.5 eV electron beam the energy becomes

e
–13.6 + 12.5 eV = –1.1 eV

ut
The electron would jump from n = 1 to n = 3.

–1.51 eV
tit n = 3 (Second Excited State)
ns
n = 2 (First Excited State)
I

electron beam
12.5 eV
ul
Ar

–13.6 eV n = 1 (Ground State)

On de-excitation, the electron may jump from n = 3 to n = 2 giving rise to Balmer series.

It may also jump from n = 2 to n = 1 and n = 3 to n = 1 giving rise to Lyman series.

 ARUL INSTITUTE, CHENNAI

–1.51 eV n = 3 (Second Excited State)

Balmer series
–3.4 eV n = 2 (First Excited State)

Lyman series

–13.6 eV n = 1 (Ground State)

Balmer series (from n = 3 to n = 2)

− 13.6
En = eV
n2

Energy of the third level (n = 3),

− 13.6 − 13.6
E3 = 2
= = – 1.51 eV
3 9

Energy of the second level (n = 2),

− 13.6 − 13.6
E2 = 2
eV = = – 3.4 eV
2 4

Energy of the photon (E) = E3 – E2 = –1.51 – (–3.4) = –1.51 + 3.4 = 1.89 eV

hc
E = hν =
λ

hc 6.63 x 10 −34 x 3 x 108 19.89 x 10 −26 19890 x 10 −26

λ= = = =
E 1.89 x 1.6 x 10 −19 3.024 x 10 −19 3024 x 10 −19

λ = 6.577 x 10–7 m = 657.7 x 10–9 m = 657.7 nm

 ARUL INSTITUTE, CHENNAI
Lyman series (from n = 3 to n = 1)

− 13.6
En = eV
n2

Energy of the third level (n = 3),

− 13.6 − 13.6
E3 = 2
= = – 1.51 eV
3 9

e
Energy of the first level (n = 1),

ut
− 13.6
E1 = eV = – 13.6 eV
12
tit
Energy of the photon (E) = E3 – E1 = –1.51 – (–13.6) = –1.51 + 13.6 = 12.09 eV

hc
E = hν =
ns
λ

hc 6.63 x 10 −34 x 3 x 108 19.89 x 10 −26 19890 x 10 −26

I

λ= = = =
E 12.09 x 1.6 x 10 − 19 19.344 x 10 −19 19344 x 10 −19
ul

λ = 1.028 x 10–7 m = 102.8 x 10–9 m = 102.8 nm

Ar

Lyman series (from n = 2 to n = 1)

− 13.6
En = eV
n2

Energy of the second level (n = 2),

− 13.6 − 13.6
E2 = 2
eV = = – 3.4 eV
2 4

Energy of the first level (n = 1),

− 13.6
E1 = eV = – 13.6 eV
12
 ARUL INSTITUTE, CHENNAI
Energy of the photon (E) = E2 – E1 = –3.4 – (–13.6) = –3.4 + 13.6 = 10.2 eV

hc
E = hν =
λ

hc 6.63 x 10 −34 x 3 x 108 19.89 x 10 −26 1989 x 10 −26

λ= = = =
E 10.2 x 1.6 x 10 − 19 16.32 x 10 −19 1632 x 10 −19

λ = 1.219 x 10–7 m = 121.9 x 10–9 m = 121.9 nm

e
(OR)

ut
Balmer series (from n = 3 to n = 2)

1
λB
 1
2
1 
=R  2− 2 =R
3 
1 1
 −  = R
4 9  36 
=
tit
 9 − 4  5R
36
ns
36 36 36 36000
λB = = 7
= 7
= 7
= 6.563 x 10–7 m = 656.3 nm
5R 5 x 1.097 x 10 5.485 x 10 5485 x 10
I

Lyman series (from n = 3 to n = 1)

ul

1  1 1   1  9 − 1  8R
= R  2 − 2  = R 1 −  = R  =
λ L1 1 3   9  9  9
Ar

9 9 9 9000
λL1 = = 7
= 7
= 7
= 1.025 x 10–7 m = 102.5 nm
8R 8 x 1.097 x 10 8.776 x 10 8776 x 10

Lyman series (from n = 2 to n = 1)

1  1 1   1  4 − 1  3R
= R  2 − 2  = R 1−  = R  =
λ L2 1 2   4  4  4

4 4 4 4000
λL2 = = 7
= 7
= 7
= 1.215 x 10–7 m = 121.5 nm
3R 3 x 1.097 x 10 3.291 x 10 3291 x 10
 ARUL INSTITUTE, CHENNAI
12.9 In accordance with the Bohr’s model, find the quantum number that characterises the

earth’s revolution around the sun in an orbit of radius 1.5 x 1011 m/s with orbital speed

3 x 104 m/s. (Mass of earth = 6.0 x 1024 Kg)

Solution:

According to Bohr’s quantization condition of angular momentum,

e
Angular momentum of the Earth around the Sun is

ut
nh
mvr =
2π

2πmvr
tit
2 x 3.14 x 6 x 10 24 x 3 x 104 x 1.5 x 1011
n= =
h 6.63 x 10 − 34
ns
169.56 x 10 39 16956 x 10 39
n= − 34
= − 34
= 25.6 x 1073
6.63 x 10 663 x 10
I
ul

n = 2.56 x 1074
Ar