92 2 Quantum Mechanics – I

2.2 Problems

2.2.1 de Broglie Waves

2.1 (a) Write down the equation relating the energy E of a photon to its frequency
f . Hence determine the equation relating the energy E of a photon to its
wavelength.
(b) A π 0 meson at rest decays into two photons of equal energy. What is the
wavelength (in m) of the photons? (The mass of the π 0 is 135 MeV/c)
[University of London 2006]

2.2 Calculate the wavelength in nm of electrons which have been accelerated from
rest through a potential difference of 54 V.
[University of London 2006]
√
2.3 Show that the deBroglie wavelength for neutrons is given by λ = 0.286 Å/ E,
where E is in electron-volts.
[Adapted from the University of New Castle upon Tyne 1966]

2.4 Show that if an electron is accelerated through V volts then the deBroglie wave-

1/2
length in angstroms is given by λ = 150 V

2.5 A thermal neutron has a speed v at temperature T = 300 K and kinetic energy
m n v2
2
= 3kT
2
. Calculate its deBroglie wavelength. State whether a beam of these
neutrons could be diffracted by a crystal, and why?
(b) Use Heisenberg’s Uncertainty principle to estimate the kinetic energy (in
MeV) of a nucleon bound within a nucleus of radius 10−15 m.
2.6 The relation for total energy (E) and momentum ( p) for a relativistic particle
is E 2 = c2 p 2 + m 2 c4 , where m is the rest mass and c is the velocity of light.
Using the relativistic relations E = ~ω and p = ~k, where ω is the angular
frequency and k is the wave number, show that the product of group velocity
(vg ) and the phase velocity (vp ) is equal to c2 , that is vp vg = c2

2.2.2 Hydrogen Atom

2.7 In the Bohr model of the hydrogen-like atom of atomic number Z the atomic
energy levels of a single-electron are quantized with values given by

Z 2 m e e4
En =
8ε02 h 2 n 2

where m is the mass of the electron, e is the electronic charge and n is an

integer greater than zero (principal quantum number)
2.2 Problems 93

What additional quantum numbers are needed to specify fully an atomic quan-
tum state and what physical quantities do they quantify? List the allowed quan-
tum numbers for n = 1 and n = 2 and specify fully the electronic quantum
numbers for the ground state of the Carbon atom (atomic number Z = 6)
[Adapted from University of London 2002]
2.8 Estimate the total ground state energy in eV of the system obtained if all the
electrons in the Carbon atom were replaced by π − particles. (You are given
that the ground state energy of the hydrogen atom is −13.6 eV and that the π −
is a particle with charge −1, spin 0 and mass 270 m e
[University of London]
2.9 What are atomic units? In this system what are the units of (a) length (b) energy
(c) ~2 (d) e2 (e) m e ? (f) Write down Schrodinger’s equation for H-atom in
atomic units
2.10 (a) Two positive nuclei each having a charge q approach each other and elec-
trons concentrate between the nuclei to create a bond. Assume that the
electrons can be represented by a single point charge at the mid-point
between the nuclei. Calculate the magnitude this charge must have to
ensure that the potential energy is negative.
(b) A positive ion of kinetic energy 1 × 10−19 J collides with a stationary
molecule of the same mass and forms a single excited composite molecule.
Assuming the initial internal energies of the ion and neutral molecule were
zero, calculate the internal energy of the molecule.
[Adapted from University of Wales, Aberystwyth 2008]
2.11 (a) By using the deBroglie relation, derive the Bohr condition mvr = n~ for
the angular momentum of an electron in a hydrogen atom.
(b) Use this expression to show that the allowed electron energy states in
hydrogen atom can be written
me4
En = − 2 2 2
8ε0 h n
(c) How would this expression be modified for the case of a triply ionized
beryllium atom Be(Z = 4)?
(d) Calculate the ionization energy in eV of Be+3 (ionization energy of hydro-
gen = 13.6 eV)
[Adapted from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth 2007]
2.12 When a negatively charged muon (mass 207 m e is captured in a Bohr’s orbit
of high principal quantum number (n) to form a mesic atom, it cascades
down to lower orbits emitting X-rays and the radii of the mesic atom are
shrunk by a factor of about 200 compared with the corresponding Bohr’s atom.
Explain.
2.13 In which mu-mesic atom would the orbit with n = 1 just touch the nuclear
surface. Take Z = A/2 and R = 1.3 A1/3 fm.
94 2 Quantum Mechanics – I

2.14 Calculate the wavelengths of the first four lines of the Lyman series of the
positronium on the basis of the simple Bohr’s theory
[Saha Institute of Nuclear physics 1964]

2.15 (a) Show that the energy E n of positronium is given by E n = −α 2 m e c2 /4n 2

where m e is the electron mass, n the principal quantum number and α the
fine structure constant
(b) the radii are expanded to double the corresponding radii of hydrogen atom
(c) the transition energies are halved compared to that of hydrogen atom.

2.16 A non-relativistic particle of mass m is held in a circular orbit around the

origin by an attractive force f (r ) = −kr where k is a positive constant
(a) Show that the potential energy can be written
U (r ) = kr 2 /2
Assuming U (r ) = 0 when r = 0
(b) Assuming the Bohr quantization of the angular momentum of the particle,
show that the radius r of the orbit of the particle and speed v of the particle
can be written
   1/2
n~ k
v2 =
m m
   1/2
n~ k
r2 =
k m

where n is an integer
(c) Hence, show that the total energy of the particle is
 1/2
k
E n = n~
m
(d) If m = 3 × 10−26 kg and k = 1180 N m−1 , determine the wavelength of
the photon in nm which will cause a transition between successive energy
levels.

2.17 For high principle quantum number (n) for hydrogen atom show that the spac-
ing between the neighboring energy levels is proportional to 1/n 3 .

2.18 In which transition of hydrogen atom is the wavelength of 486.1 nm produced?

To which series does it belong?

2.19 Show that for large quantum number n, the mechanical orbital frequency
is equal to the frequency of the photon which is emitted between adjacent
levels.

2.20 A hydrogen-like ion has the wavelength difference between the first lines of
the Balmer and lyman series equal to 16.58 nm. What ion is it?