If we did all things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves.

– Thomas A. Edison

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Two Questions from Modern Physics

(1) The energy of a photon is 20eV. Its momentum in kg m/s is
(a) 2.56
×10^-27 (b) 5.33×10^-27 (c) 1.066×10^-26 (d) 2.13×10^-26 (e) 3.18×10^-26
Since E=mc^2, momentum of the photon, p = E/c = (20×1.6×10^-19)/(3×10^8). Note that we have converted the energy in eV into joule. The answer is 1.066×10^-26 kg m/s given in option (c).
(2) The wave length associated with an electron having kinetic energy 6eV is
(a) 9A.U. (b) 5A.U. (c) 2.5A.U. (d) 1.5A.U. (e) 0.5A.U.
In the case of electrons, de Broglie wave length, λ = √ [ 150/V] A.U. where V is the accelerating voltage for the electron (= 6 volt since the energy is 6 eV).
Therefore, λ = √25 = 5 A.U.

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