ENGINEERING PHYSICS (BAS101): IMPORTANT QUESTIONS UNIT 1 – QUANTUM
MECHANICS
------------------------- SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS -------------------------
Q1. Define the black body radiation. Black body radiation is the electromagnetic radiation emitted
by a perfect black body — an ideal object that absorbs all incident radiation and emits maximum
radiation at every wavelength depending only on its temperature.
Q2. What is Planck’s hypothesis of black body radiation? Planck proposed that energy is emitted or
absorbed in discrete packets called quanta. Each quantum has energy E = hν, where h is Planck’s
constant and ν is the frequency of radiation.
Q3. What is Compton Shift? Compton shift is the increase in wavelength (∆λ) of X-rays or gamma
rays when they are scattered by electrons. ∆λ = (h/m_e c)(1 - cosθ)
Q4. Why Compton Effect is not observed with visible light? Because visible light photons have very
small energy and large wavelength, the wavelength shift (∆λ) is extremely small and cannot be
detected.
Q5. What is matter wave? According to de Broglie, every moving particle has a wave associated
with it, called a matter wave. λ = h/p
Q6. What is outcome of Davisson–Germer Experiment? It demonstrated electron diffraction by a
crystal, proving that electrons have wave nature, confirming de Broglie’s hypothesis.
Q7. Explain Phase velocity and Group velocity. Phase velocity: v_p = ω/k = E/p Group velocity: v_g
= dω/dk = dE/dp For matter waves, v_p * v_g = c² (relativistic case).
Q8. Explain the physical significance of wave function. The wave function ψ describes the quantum
state of a particle. |ψ|² gives the probability density of finding a particle in a given region.
Q9. Write the normalization condition. ∫|ψ|² dx = 1
Q10. What is the application of Schrödinger wave equation? Used to determine allowed energy
levels of atoms/molecules and quantum behavior of particles in potentials.
------------------------- LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS -------------------------
Q1. What is Compton Effect? Derive expression for Compton shift. ∆λ = (h/m_e c)(1 - cosθ)
Compton shift not seen with visible light because ∆λ is negligible.
Q2. Expression for direction of recoiled electron: tanφ = sinθ / (E'/E + cosθ)
Q3. Maximum kinetic energy of recoiled electron: K = E - E' E' = E / [1 + (E/m_e c²)(1 - cosθ)] At θ =
180°, K_max = 2E² / (m_e c² + 2E)
Q4. Time-independent Schrödinger equation: −(■²/2m)(d²ψ/dx²) + Vψ = Eψ
Q5. Particle in a 1D box (0 < x < L): ψ_n(x) = √(2/L) sin(nπx/L) E_n = n²h² / (8mL²)
Q6. Gamma ray (0.88 MeV) falls on aluminum: K_max = 2E² / (m_e c² + 2E) = 0.682 MeV
Q7. Electron in 1D box (L = 1Å): E_1 = 37.6 eV, E■ - E■ = 188 eV
Q8. Planck’s formula: u(ν) = (8πhν³ / c³)(1 / (e^{hν/kT} - 1)) For long wavelengths, u(ν) = (8πν²kT) /
c³ (Rayleigh–Jeans Law)
Q9. Phase velocity and Group velocity relation: v_p = ω/k, v_g = dω/dk, v_p * v_g = c²
