CBSE · NCERT · Class 12 Physics · Chapter 12

NCERT Solutions: Class 12 Physics Chapter 12 - Atoms

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Chapter-wise NCERT intext questions and exercise answers for Atoms, grounded in the official textbook.

Questions are taken verbatim from the NCERT textbook; answers were grounded against the chapter's content during generation. Items needing review are marked.
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Exercises 9
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1Exercises9 questions
Q.12.1Choose 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.)v
Solution

Both Thomson's and Rutherford's models describe an atom of the same overall size. In Thomson's model, electrons can be in stable equilibrium inside the positive charge distribution. In Rutherford's model, orbiting electrons experience centripetal force and, classically, should radiate energy and collapse into the nucleus. Thomson's model spreads mass and positive charge nearly continuously, while Rutherford's model concentrates most mass and all positive charge in the tiny nucleus. In both models, most of the atomic mass is associated with the positively charged part.

Answer:

(a) no different from. (b) Thomson’s model; Rutherford’s model. (c) Rutherford’s model. (d) Thomson’s model; Rutherford’s model. (e) both the models.

Q.12.2Suppose 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?v
Solution

Gold nuclei are heavy and highly charged, so an alpha-particle can be strongly repelled while the nucleus remains nearly fixed. A hydrogen nucleus has charge $+e$ and mass much smaller than a gold nucleus and comparable to the alpha-particle mass. The target nucleus would recoil appreciably, and the Coulomb repulsion would be much weaker. Therefore the Rutherford experiment with solid hydrogen would not show the same appreciable large-angle scattering seen with gold foil.

Answer:

Large-angle back scattering would be extremely rare or absent; most alpha-particles would pass through with small deflections.

Q.12.3A 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?v
Solution

The emitted photon has energy $E=h\nu=2.3\,\text{eV}=2.3(1.602\times10^{-19})=3.68\times10^{-19}\,\text{J}$. Hence $\nu=E/h=(3.68\times10^{-19})/(6.626\times10^{-34})=5.6\times10^{14}\,\text{Hz}$.

Answer:

$5.6\times10^{14}\,\text{Hz}$.

Q.12.4The ground state energy of hydrogen atom is –13.6 eV. What are the kinetic and potential energies of the electron in this state?v
Solution

For a Coulomb orbit in the hydrogen atom, $K=-E$ and $U=2E$, where $E=K+U$ is the total energy. With $E=-13.6\,\text{eV}$, $K=+13.6\,\text{eV}$ and $U=-27.2\,\text{eV}$.

Answer:

Kinetic energy $=+13.6\,\text{eV}$; potential energy $=-27.2\,\text{eV}$.

Q.12.5A 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.v
Solution

For hydrogen, $E_n=-13.6/n^2\,\text{eV}$. Thus $E_1=-13.6\,\text{eV}$ and $E_4=-13.6/16=-0.85\,\text{eV}$. The absorbed photon energy is $\Delta E=12.75\,\text{eV}$. Therefore $\lambda=hc/\Delta E=1240/12.75=97.3\,\text{nm}$ and $\nu=\Delta E/h=12.75(1.602\times10^{-19})/(6.626\times10^{-34})=3.08\times10^{15}\,\text{Hz}$.

Answer:

$\lambda=97.3\,\text{nm}$ and $\nu=3.08\times10^{15}\,\text{Hz}$.

Q.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.v
Solution

In Bohr's model, $v_n=v_1/n$ with $v_1=2.18\times10^6\,\text{m s}^{-1}$. Hence $v_2=1.09\times10^6\,\text{m s}^{-1}$ and $v_3=7.27\times10^5\,\text{m s}^{-1}$. The orbit radius is $r_n=n^2a_0$, with $a_0=5.29\times10^{-11}\,\text{m}$. Thus $T_n=2\pi r_n/v_n=2\pi n^2a_0/(v_1/n)=n^3T_1$. Now $T_1=2\pi(5.29\times10^{-11})/(2.18\times10^6)=1.5\times10^{-16}\,\text{s}$, so $T_2=8T_1=1.2\times10^{-15}\,\text{s}$ and $T_3=27T_1=4.1\times10^{-15}\,\text{s}$.

Answer:

(a) $v_1=2.18\times10^6\,\text{m s}^{-1}$, $v_2=1.09\times10^6\,\text{m s}^{-1}$, $v_3=7.27\times10^5\,\text{m s}^{-1}$. (b) $T_1=1.5\times10^{-16}\,\text{s}$, $T_2=1.2\times10^{-15}\,\text{s}$, $T_3=4.1\times10^{-15}\,\text{s}$.

Q.12.7The radius of the innermost electron orbit of a hydrogen atom is 5.3×10–11 m. What are the radii of the n = 2 and n =3 orbits?v
Solution

Bohr radii scale as $r_n=n^2r_1$. With $r_1=5.3\times10^{-11}\,\text{m}$, $r_2=4r_1=2.12\times10^{-10}\,\text{m}$ and $r_3=9r_1=4.77\times10^{-10}\,\text{m}$.

Answer:

$r_2=2.12\times10^{-10}\,\text{m}$ and $r_3=4.77\times10^{-10}\,\text{m}$.

Q.12.8A 12.5 eV electron beam is used to bombard gaseous hydrogen at room temperature. What series of wavelengths will be emitted?v
Solution

At room temperature, hydrogen atoms are mostly in the ground state. A $12.5\,\text{eV}$ electron can excite hydrogen from $n=1$ to $n=2$ because $\Delta E_{1\to2}=10.2\,\text{eV}$, and to $n=3$ because $\Delta E_{1\to3}=13.6(1-1/9)=12.09\,\text{eV}$. It cannot excite $n=4$, which requires $12.75\,\text{eV}$. Possible emissions are $2\to1$, $3\to1$ and $3\to2$. Their energies are $10.2\,\text{eV}$, $12.09\,\text{eV}$ and $1.89\,\text{eV}$, giving wavelengths $\lambda=1240/E$: $121.6\,\text{nm}$, $102.6\,\text{nm}$ and $656.5\,\text{nm}$.

Answer:

The emitted wavelengths are about $121.6\,\text{nm}$, $102.6\,\text{nm}$ and $656.5\,\text{nm}$.

Q.12.9In 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 × 1011 m with orbital speed 3 × 104 m/s. (Mass of earth = 6.0 × 1024 kg.)v
Solution

Bohr quantisation gives $mvr=n h/(2\pi)$, so $n=2\pi mvr/h$. Substituting $m=6.0\times10^{24}\,\text{kg}$, $v=3.0\times10^4\,\text{m s}^{-1}$ and $r=1.5\times10^{11}\,\text{m}$ gives $mvr=2.7\times10^{40}\,\text{kg m}^2\text{s}^{-1}$. Hence $n=2\pi(2.7\times10^{40})/(6.626\times10^{-34})=2.6\times10^{74}$.

Answer:

$n\approx2.6\times10^{74}$.