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PHYSICS

8. ATOMS & NUCLEI

GIST

Thomson’ s model of atom- Every atom consists of Its drawbacks: couldn’t explain large angle
fuels charged sphere in which electrons are embedded scattering & the origin of spectral series.
like seeds in water melon.

Limitations: couldn’t explain the stability

Rutherford’s model of atom- i) Every atom consists of a
of the nucleus & the emission of line
tiny central core, called the atomic nucleus, in which
spectra of fixed frequencies.
the entire positive charge and almost entire mass of the
atom are concentrated.
-15
ii) The size of nucleus is of the order of 10 m , which is
very small as compared to the size of the atom which is
-10
of the order of 10 m.

iii)e atomic nucleus is surrounded by certain number of

electrons. As atom on the whole is electrically neutral,
the total negative charge of electrons surrounding the
nucleus is equal to total positive charge on the nucleus.

iv)These electrons revolve around the nucleus in

various circular orbits as do the planets around the aun.
The centripetal force required by electron for
revolution is provided by the electrostatic force of
attraction between the electrons and the nucleus.

Distance of closest approach of the alpha particle in the 2kZe2

r0=
α particle scattering experiment 1/2mv2

Impact parameter of the alpha particle kZe2cotθ/2

b=
1/2mv2

Bohr’s model of atom Limitation applicable only for hydrogen like

atoms & couldn’t explain the splitting of
spectral lines. (not consider electro static
force among the electrons)
2 2
Orbit radius of the electron around the nucleus r=e2/4πЄ0mn2, v=2πke2 / nh, r= n2 h
4π mke2

Energy of the electron in the nth orbit of hydrogen En= -2p2mk2e4/n2h2 = -13.6/n2 eV
Atom E= -2.18 x 0-18/n2 joule

1
Wave Number n
l = R [ 1n 2
1
1
n22 ]

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UNIT - 8 : ATOMS AND NUCLEI

ONE MARK QUESTION

1. In Bohr's theory of model of a Hydrogen atom, name the physical quantity which
h
equals to an integral multiple of ?
2p

2. What is the relation between 'n' & radius 'r' of the orbit of electron in a Hydrogen
atom according to Bohr's theory / Ans: r a n2

3. What is Bohr's quantization condition ?

4. How is a B particle different from an electron ?

5. Draw graph between no. of nuclei undecayed with time for a radioactive substance
6. Among the alpha, beta & gamma radiations, with are the radiations affected by a
magnetic field ?
Ans : alpha & beta

7. Why do a particles have high ionizing power ?

8. Write the relationship between the half life & the average life of a radioactive
substance.

9. Why heavy water is often used in nuclear reactor as a moderator ?

10. Why is neutron very effective as a bombarding particle in a nuclear reaction?
11. Why are the control rods made of cadmium ?
12. Name the phenomenon by which the energy si produced in stars.

13. Define atomic unit. Write its energy equivalent in MeV.

14. What was the drawback of Rutherford's model of atom ?

15. Name the series of hydrogen spectrum which has least wavelength. Ans : Lyman
series

16. Any tow protons repel each other, then how is this possible for them to remain
together in a nucleus.
Ans : Nucler force between two proton is 100 times stronger than the electrostatic
force.
17. Define radioactive decay constant.

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PHYSICS

18. Write two important inferences drawn from Geiger-Marsden's experiment.

19. What is the distance of closest approach when a 5 Mev proton approaches a gold
nucleus (Z = 79)
20. Two nuclei have mass numbers in the ration 1 : 8. What is the ratio of their nuclear
radii ?
21. What is the relation between the radius of the atom & mass number ?
Ans: size a A1/3
22. What is the ratio of the nuclear densities of two nuclei having mass numbers in the ration
1:4 ?

TWO MARKS QUESTIONS

*1. Define the activity of a given radioactive substance. Write its S. I. unit.
*2 (a) The mass of a nucleus in its ground state is always less than the total mass of its
constituents-neutrouns and protons. Explain.
*3 The radioactive isotope D decays according to the sequence
b-Particle a-Particle
D------------------------------D1-------------------------D2
If the mass number and atomic number of d2 are 176 and 71 respectively, What is (i)
the mas number (ii) atomic number of D?
*4 Why is it found experimentally difficult to detect neutrinos in nuclear B-decay ?
*5 Draw a plot of potential energy of a pair of nucleons as a function of their separation.
What is thhe significance of negative potentail energy in the graph drawn ?

6. If 70% of a given radioactive sample is left un-decayed after 20 days, what is the % of

original sample will get decayed in 60 days?

7. How does the neutron to proton ratio affected during (i) decay ii) α decay
8. A radioactive sample having N nuclei has activity R. Write an expression for its
half-life in terms of R & N.
Ans: R=Nλ, t1/2=0.693/λ =0.693N/R
9. Tritium has a half-life of 12.5 years against beta decay. What fraction of a sample of
pure tritium will remain un-decayed after 25 years?
Ans: N0/4

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PHYSICS

10. What percentage of a given mass of a radioactive substance will be left un-decayed

after 5 half-life periods? Ans: N/N0 =1/2n =1/32 =3.125%

11. A radioactive nucleus ‘A’ decays as given below:

If the mass number & atomic number of A1 are 180 & 73 respectively, find the mass

number & atomic number of A & A2.

12. Two nuclei P & Q have equal no: of atoms at t=0.Their half-lives are 3 & 9 hours
espectively. Compare the rates of disintegration after 18 hours from the start.
Ans: 3:16
13. What is neutron multiplication factor? For what value of this, a nuclear reactor is said to

be critical? Ans: K=1

14. 4 nuclei of an element fuse together to form a heavier nucleus .If the process is
accompanied by release of energy, which of the two: the parent or the daughter nuclei
would have higher binding energy per nucleon. Justify your answer.
*15. Find the ratio of energies of photons produced due to transition of an electron of
hydrogen atom from its: (i) second permitted energy level to the first level, and (ii) the
highest permitted energy level to the first permitted level.
*16. The ground state energy of hydrogen atom is – 13.6 eV. What are the kinetic and

potential energies of electron in this state?

*17. Using Bohr’s postulates of the atomic model derive the expression for radius of n th
electron orbit. Hence obtain the expression for Bohr’s radius.
*18. Using Rutherford model of the atom, derive the expression for the total energy of the
electron in hydrogen atom. What is the significance of total negative energy possessed

by the electron?

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THREE MARKS QUESTIONS

1. Obtain the binding energy of the nuclei 56Fe26 &209Bi83 in MeV from the following data:
mH=1.007825amu,mn=1.008665amu,m(56Fe26)=55.934939amu,
m(209Bi83)=208.980388amu,1a.m.u=931.5MeV
2. Plot a graph of the binding energy per nucleon as a function of mass number for a large
number of nuclei. Explain the energy release in the process of nuclear fission from the
above plot. Write a typical nuclear reaction in which a large amount of energy is
released in the process of nuclear fission.
3. Define the activity of a radionuclide. Write its S.I. units. Plot a graph of activity of a
radioactive species versus time. How long will a radioactive isotope, whose half-life is T
years, take for its activity to reduce to 1/8th of its initial value?
4*. Plot a graph of potential energy of a pair of nucleons as a function of their separations.
Mark the regions where the nuclear force is (i) attractive and (ii) repulsive. Write any two
characteristic features of nuclear forces.
5. Plot a graph of potential energy of a pair of nucleons as a function of their separation.
Write two important conclusions which you can draw regarding the nature of nuclear
forces.
6. Using the curve for the binding energy per nucleon as a function of mass number A,
state clearly how the release in energy in the processes of nuclear fission and nuclear
fusion can be explained.
7. Two radioactive materials X1& X2 have decay constants 10λ & λ respectively. If initially
they have the same no: of nuclei, find the time after which the ratio of the nuclei of X1 to
that of X2 will be 1/e? Ans: N=N0e-λt, t=1/9λ
8* . At a given instant there are 25% un-decayed radioactive nuclei in a sample. After 10
seconds the number of un-decayed nuclei reduces to 12.5 %.calculate the i) mean life
of the nuclei ii) the time in which the number of the un-decayed nuclei will further reduce
to 6.25 % of the reduced number.
Ans: t1/2=10s, λ=.0693/s, t=1/λ=14.43s, N/No=(1/2)n →t=4x10=40s
9. (a) Draw the energy level diagram showing the emission of β-particles followed by
γ-rays by a 2760 nucleus.(b) Plot the distribution of kinetic energy of β- particles and
state why the energy spectrum is continuous.
10*.Using Bohr’s postulates, derive the expression for the frequency of radiation emitted
when electron in hydrogen atom undergoes transition from higher energy state
(quantum number ni) to the lower state, (nf ). When electron in hydrogen atom jumps
from energy state ni=4 to nf =3, 2,1, identify the spectral series to which the emission
lines belong.

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PHYSICS

11*.Given the value of the ground state energy of hydrogen atom as –13·6 eV, find out its

kinetic and potential energy in the ground and second excited states.

12*.State the law of radioactive decay. If N0 is the number of radioactive nuclei in the

sample at some initial time, t0 , find out the relation to determine the number N present

at a subsequent time. Plot a graph of N as a function of time.

13*. Distinguish between isotopes and isobars. Give one example for each of the species. A

radioactive isotope has a half-life of 5 years. How long will it take the activity to reduce

to 3.125%?
14*.(a) Write symbolically the β - decay process of 15P32.

(b) Derive an expression for the average life of a radionuclide. Give its relationship with

the half- life.

15*. The energy levels of an atom are as shown below. a) Which of them will result in the

transition of a photon of wavelength 275 nm? b) Which transition corresponds to the

emission of radiation maximum wavelength?

Ans: E=hc/λ=4.5eV, transition B Eα1/λ, transition A

- 10 eV

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PHYSICS

VALUE BASED QUESTION

1a) A farmer in a village was worried about the poor yield of the soil. Rohan, during his visit
to his native place happened to meet this farmer and suggested him to use a phosphate
fertilizer incorporated with Radio Phosphorous. He also explained that Phosphorous
will be taken by the plant for its growth and radio phosphorous will increase the yield.
The farmer thanked him for his valuable suggestion.
a) Suggest the moral value that you derive out of Rohan
b) A radioactive isotope has a half-life of T years. How long will it take, the activity to
reduce to i) 3.125% ii)1% of its original value?
Ans: a) Concern for the society/locality., awareness, presence of mind.
b) NCERT exercise 13.7
2a) Akil and Nikhil are arguing about the estimation of age of specimen by any scientific
method. Akil said that there is no way of finding the age of a specimen scientifically. But
Nikhil argued that there should be one method to find the age of specimen, but he is not
aware of that method. Tarun, who is witnessing this argument, convinced them not to
proceed with the argument. He said that the age of the specimen can be estimated by
noting the drop in the activity of carbon C14 when the organism is dead. Listening to the
explanation given by Tarun, both of them were convinced and also felt happy as they
have learnt a new concept.
a) What moral value do you observe in Tarun?
b) Obtain the amount of Co60 necessary to provide a radioactive source of 8mci strength.
The half-life of Co60 is 5.3 years.
Ans : a) Readiness to teach his juniors, concern of juniors towards learning.
b) NCERT exercise 13.9
3)a) Shyam saw his younger brother wondering with a question which deals with emission of
light from a vapour lamp. He was anxious to know how different colors were being
emitted by different light. He also saw mercury and sodium vapour lamps in the physics
lab and was curious to know what is inside the lamps. On seeing his anxiety to know
more about it Shyam explained about absorption of energy and reemission of photons
in the visible region. He also advised him not to touch or break any items in the lab for
the thirst of knowledge.
a) What is the moral you derive from Shyam?
Ans: Concern for his brother/ care about the school property.
b) Which series in the hydrogen spectrum is in the visible region?
Ans. Balmer.

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