Q.The binding energy of a H-atom, considering an electron moving around a fixed nucleus (proton), is B=−8n2ε02h2me4 (m = electron mass). If one decides to work in a frame of reference where the electron is at rest, the proton would be moving around it. By similar arguments, the binding energy would be B=−8n2ε02h2Me4 (M = proton mass). This last expression is not correct because
Concept understanding — Bohr Model Energy Levels
The Intuition: Why Can't an Electron Just Sit Anywhere?
Imagine you're rolling a marble on a staircase. The marble can rest on any step — step 1, step 2, step 3 — but it can never float halfway between two steps. The staircase forces the marble into specific, fixed positions.
That's the core idea of the Bohr model. Before Bohr, physicists thought electrons orbited the nucleus like planets around the sun — they could be at any distance, any energy. But experiments showed something strange: atoms only emit or absorb light at very specific colours (wavelengths), not a continuous rainbow. That meant electrons could only have certain, fixed energies — like the steps of a staircase.
Bohr's genius was to say: an electron in an atom cannot have any arbitrary energy. It can only occupy certain "allowed" energy levels. When it jumps from one level to another, it either absorbs or emits a photon of light whose energy exactly matches the difference between those levels.
The Precise Statement
In the Bohr model of the hydrogen atom (and hydrogen-like ions with one electron), the electron moves in circular orbits around the nucleus. But only those orbits are allowed where the electron's angular momentum is an integer multiple of 2πh (where h is Planck's constant).
This quantisation condition leads to a simple formula for the energy of the electron in the n-th orbit:
En=−n213.6 eV
Here:
- n is the principal quantum number — a positive integer (n=1,2,3,…)
- En is the energy of the electron in that level (in electronvolts)
- The negative sign means the electron is bound to the nucleus — you need to add energy to free it
The lowest energy state (n=1) is called the ground state. Its energy is −13.6 eV. The higher states (n=2,3,4,…) are excited states — they have less negative (higher) energies.
As n increases, the energy levels get closer together. At n=∞, the energy becomes 0 eV — the electron is completely free from the atom (ionisation).
What This Explains
When an electron jumps from a higher level (ni) to a lower level (nf), it emits a photon of energy:
ΔE=Enf−Eni=13.6(nf21−ni21) eV
This single formula predicts all the spectral lines of hydrogen — the Lyman series (jumps to n=1), Balmer series (to n=2), Paschen series (to n=3), and so on. Each series corresponds to a different "final step" on the staircase.
The Bohr model works perfectly only for hydrogen and one-electron ions (like He+, Li2+). For multi-electron atoms, it fails — electron-electron repulsion changes the energy levels in ways Bohr's simple picture cannot capture. That's where quantum mechanics takes over.
Key Takeaways for Exams
- Energy levels are quantised — only specific values allowed, given by En=−13.6/n2 eV for hydrogen
- The ground state (n=1) is the most stable, lowest energy
- Excited states (n>1) are higher in energy (less negative)
- Transitions between levels produce line spectra — not continuous
- The ionisation energy of hydrogen (energy to remove the electron from ground state) is +13.6 eV
The negative sign in En is not optional — it tells you the electron is bound. A positive energy would mean a free electron (ionised atom).
Searches like "Bohr model energy levels formula" and "hydrogen spectrum series class 12 physics" are extremely common, since this concept anchors the Atoms chapter of the NCERT/CBSE Class 12 Physics curriculum. Energy-level transition and spectral-series questions built on this model are a staple of JEE Main and NEET.
Why this formula?
Why the Bohr Model Gives Those Energy Levels
The Bohr model is a beautiful piece of physics because it takes a simple, almost desperate idea — "electrons only exist in certain orbits" — and derives the entire hydrogen spectrum from it. The key is that Bohr didn't just assume the energy levels; he forced them to be consistent with classical physics in one specific way, then broke with it in another.
The Two Non-Negotiable Pieces
First, the electron moves in a circle around the proton. That's pure classical mechanics: the Coulomb attraction provides the centripetal force.
4πε01r2e2=rmv2
This gives you a relation between speed v and radius r:
v2=4πε0mre2
Second, the total energy of the electron is the sum of its kinetic and potential energies. Potential energy for a Coulomb force is −4πε01re2 (negative because the force is attractive, and we set zero at infinity).
E=21mv2−4πε01re2
Substitute v2 from above:
E=21(4πε0re2)−4πε0re2=−214πε0re2
So far, nothing is quantised. Any radius r gives a valid classical orbit, and the energy just follows from that radius. The problem is that a classical electron in a curved path radiates energy and spirals into the nucleus — atoms should collapse. Bohr needed a rule to pick out stable orbits.
The Quantisation Condition
Bohr's revolutionary step was to postulate that the angular momentum of the electron is quantised in units of ℏ=h/2π:
mvr=nℏ,n=1,2,3,…
Why this particular rule? Bohr later said it was the simplest way to get the right answer. But there's a deeper physical motivation: if you think of the electron as a wave (de Broglie's idea, which came a decade later), the condition that a standing wave fits exactly around the circumference 2πr=nλ gives mvr=nℏ directly. So the quantisation condition is really a wave condition imposed on a particle picture.
The angular momentum quantisation is the only non-classical assumption in the Bohr model. Everything else follows from classical mechanics and electromagnetism.
Deriving the Allowed Radii and Energies
From mvr=nℏ, we get v=nℏ/(mr). Substitute this into the centripetal force equation:
4πε01r2e2=rm(mrnℏ)2=mr3n2ℏ2
Solve for r:
rn=me24πε0ℏ2n2
The constant in front is the Bohr radius a0≈0.529A˚. So the radii are rn=a0n2.
Now plug rn back into the energy expression E=−214πε0re2:
En=−214πε0e2⋅a0n21=−214πε0a0e2⋅n21
Substitute a0=me24πε0ℏ2:
En=−214πε0e2⋅4πε0ℏ2me2⋅n21=−8ε02h2me4⋅n21
En=−n213.6 eV
That's the famous result. The 1/n2 dependence comes directly from the n2 dependence of the radius, which came from the angular momentum quantisation.
Why the Negative Sign Matters
The energy is negative because the electron is bound. To remove the electron from the atom (ionise it), you need to add +13.6 eV to get it to E=0 (free electron at rest). The ground state (n=1) is the most tightly bound; higher n states are less negative, meaning they're closer to being free.
A common mistake is to think the energy levels are equally spaced. They're not — the gap between n=1 and n=2 is about 10.2 eV, while between n=2 and n=3 is only 1.9 eV. The spacing shrinks as 1/n3 for large n.
The Physical Picture
The Bohr model gives you a ladder of energies because the electron can only exist in orbits whose angular momentum is an integer multiple of ℏ. Each orbit has a specific radius, and therefore a specific energy. When the electron jumps from a higher orbit to a lower one, the energy difference is emitted as a photon of frequency f=(Ei−Ef)/h — which exactly matches the hydrogen spectral lines.
The model fails for multi-electron atoms and doesn't explain why angular momentum is quantised in the first place. But for hydrogen, it's remarkably accurate — and the derivation shows that the 1/n2 energy law is a direct consequence of combining classical circular motion with a single quantisation postulate.
The key idea is that the frame where the electron is at rest is non-inertial because the electron itself is accelerating (it orbits the centre of mass). Bohr’s model assumes an inertial frame centred on the nucleus.
Reasoning:
- In the original Bohr model, the nucleus is taken as fixed in an inertial frame. The electron’s centripetal acceleration is caused by the Coulomb force, and quantisation applies to its angular momentum.
- If we switch to the electron’s rest frame, the proton now accelerates around the electron. This frame is non-inertial — a fictitious force (centrifugal) appears, altering the dynamics.
- The naive replacement of m by M ignores this fictitious force and the fact that the reduced mass μ=m+MmM should actually appear. The correct binding energy uses μ, not M alone.
The correct option is (C): the frame in which the electron is at rest is not inertial.
The binding energy formula depends on the reduced mass of the system, not on either mass alone. The frame where the electron is at rest is non-inertial because the electron accelerates, so the proton’s motion in that frame is not governed by the same simple Bohr quantisation — making option (C) the correct reason.
The problem highlights a subtle but crucial point about reference frames in Bohr’s model. The original derivation assumes the nucleus is fixed — an excellent approximation because the proton is nearly 2000 times heavier than the electron. But if you flip the frame and treat the electron as fixed, you are no longer in an inertial frame. The electron accelerates (it is in orbit around the proton in the lab frame), so a frame attached to it is accelerating. Newton’s laws — and therefore Bohr’s quantisation conditions — do not hold in their simple form there.
Let’s walk through the reasoning step by step.
- Why the two expressions differ In the standard Bohr model for hydrogen, the electron orbits a fixed proton. The centripetal force is provided by the Coulomb attraction:
rmv2=4πε0r2e2
Combined with Bohr’s quantisation mvr=nℏ, you derive the energy levels:
En=−8n2ε02h2me4
The binding energy B is just En (since the zero of energy is at infinite separation). This uses the electron mass m because the proton is taken as stationary.
If you naively swap roles and treat the electron as fixed, you would write the same equations with the proton mass M:
rMvp2=4πε0r2e2,Mvpr=nℏ
giving B=−8n2ε02h2Me4. This is not correct — but why?
- The real motion: both bodies move In truth, both the electron and proton revolve around their common centre of mass. The correct treatment replaces the electron mass m with the reduced mass μ=m+MmM. The binding energy becomes:
B=−8n2ε02h2μe4
Since M≫m, μ≈m, so the original formula is an excellent approximation. But neither m nor M alone is exact.
-
Why the “electron-at-rest” frame fails
The electron in a hydrogen atom is accelerating (it has centripetal acceleration). A frame where the electron is at rest is therefore non-inertial. In such a frame, fictitious forces appear — the proton experiences not just the Coulomb force but also a centrifugal or Coriolis-type force. The simple Bohr quantisation condition Mvpr=nℏ no longer applies because it was derived assuming an inertial frame with only the Coulomb force.
Watch outA common mistake is to think that Bohr quantisation “applies only to the electron” (option B). That is not the core issue — you can quantise the proton’s angular momentum in principle, but only in an inertial frame. The real problem is that the electron’s rest frame is accelerating, so the proton’s dynamics there are not governed by the simple Coulomb-plus-centripetal balance.
-
Checking the other options
- (A) n not being integral: No, n remains an integer in the correct reduced-mass treatment.
- (B) Bohr quantisation applies only to the electron: This is misleading. Bohr quantisation applies to any bound particle’s angular momentum in an inertial frame. The proton can be quantised too — but not in a non-inertial frame.
- (D) The proton’s orbit not being circular: In the centre-of-mass frame, both orbits are circular (or elliptical in the Sommerfeld extension). In the electron’s rest frame, the proton’s path is indeed circular — but the dynamics are wrong because of fictitious forces. So this option is not the fundamental reason.
Only option (C) correctly identifies the root cause: the electron’s rest frame is non-inertial.
A quick way to see the flaw: if you set the electron fixed, the proton’s mass M appears in the energy formula. But the actual binding energy must be symmetric in m and M (it depends on the reduced mass). Swapping roles should give the same physical result — it doesn’t here, signalling that the frame is invalid.
The correct option is (C) — the frame in which the electron is at rest is not inertial.
Method: Checking Whether a Reference-Frame Switch Is Valid in a Derivation
Many exam questions dress up a physics result in a different frame ("what if we work in the frame where X is at rest?") and ask you to spot what breaks. This method gives a general checklist for that class of question, rather than analysing this one scenario from scratch.
Steps
Step 1: Identify what was held FIXED in the original, correct derivation
Every standard derivation (Bohr's model here) picks a frame and typically treats one body as stationary to simplify the dynamics -- that choice is baked into which mass appears in the final formula and which body's angular momentum gets quantised.
Step 2: Ask whether the "flipped" frame is inertial
Newton's laws (and any quantisation rule built on them, like mvr=nℏ) are only valid, unmodified, in an inertial frame. If the body you are now calling "at rest" was itself accelerating in the original (correct) description, then a frame attached to it is non-inertial, and fictitious forces would have to be added to make the dynamics work -- the original equations do NOT simply carry over by swapping labels.
Step 3: Check for a hidden extra physical ingredient the naive swap ignores
Often the naive "just swap the masses" substitution silently drops a real effect -- here, the correct two-body treatment needs the reduced mass μ=m+MmM, not either mass alone. Spotting that a swap ignores such a term is a strong sign the swapped expression is not simply the mirror image of the original.
Step 4: Applying to this problem
The electron accelerates around the nucleus in the correct picture, so a frame in which the electron is "at rest" is non-inertial -- Bohr's quantisation cannot be applied there in its simple form. This directly identifies option (C) as the flaw, and explains (without needing to compute anything) why option (B) is a distractor: quantisation isn't restricted "only to the electron" by rule, it fails here because of the frame, not because of who is being quantised.
Showing the 12 most recent of 22 on this concept.
- TG EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-11-AN1 markMCQQ.If the time period of an electron in the ground state of hydrogen atom is 1.5×10−16 s, then the time period of the electron in the third excited state of hydrogen atom is (A) 2.4×10−15 s (B) 9.6×10−15 s (C) 6.4×10−15 s (D) 4.8×10−15 s
›Reveal solutionSolution
The time period of an electron in a hydrogen atom scales as n3, so the third excited state (n=4) has a period 43=64 times the ground-state period, giving 9.6×10−15 s.
The key idea is that the electron in a hydrogen atom moves in a circular orbit (in the Bohr model) with a period proportional to the cube of the principal quantum number n. This comes from combining the Bohr quantization condition with the centripetal force law. Once we know the scaling, we can directly compute the period for any excited state from the ground-state value.
Why T∝n3?
In the Bohr model, the radius of the n-th orbit is rn=n2a0, and the orbital speed is vn=v1/n, where v1 is the speed in the ground state. The period is Tn=2πrn/vn. Substituting:
Tn=2π(n2a0)/(v1/n)=(2πa0/v1)n3=T1n3.
So the period scales as n3.
Now, step by step:
-
Identify the state number.
The ground state corresponds to n=1. The "third excited state" means the electron has been excited three times above the ground state: n=1+3=4. (Be careful: the first excited state is n=2, second is n=3, third is n=4.)
-
Apply the scaling law.
Since Tn=T1⋅n3, for n=4:
T4=T1⋅43=T1⋅64.
- Plug in the given value. T1=1.5×10−16 s, so
T4=64×1.5×10−16=96×10−16=9.6×10−15 s.
- Match with the options. The result 9.6×10−15 s corresponds to option (B).
Watch outA common mistake is to confuse "third excited state" with n=3. Remember: ground state is n=1, first excited is n=2, second excited is n=3, third excited is n=4.
TipThe n3 scaling is a quick shortcut for any Bohr-model period problem. It also applies to the time for one revolution in classical orbits of hydrogen-like atoms.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (B).
ANSWER: B
-
- TG EAPCET 2026Set ap-2026-05-04-AN1 markMCQQ.When an electron at rest is accelerated through an electric potential, the de Broglie wavelength associated with the electron is λ. For de Broglie wavelength associated with the electron to become 32λ, the percentage increase in the potential to be applied is (A) 75 (B) 225 (C) 125 (D) 150
›Reveal solutionSolution
The de Broglie wavelength of an electron is inversely proportional to the square root of the accelerating potential. To reduce the wavelength to 32 of its original value, the potential must increase by a factor of 49, which corresponds to a 125% increase. The correct option is (C).
The key idea here is the relationship between de Broglie wavelength and accelerating potential for a charged particle. When an electron is accelerated from rest through a potential difference V, it gains kinetic energy equal to eV. This kinetic energy is non-relativistic for typical potentials in such problems, so we can write:
21mv2=eV
The de Broglie wavelength λ is given by λ=mvh, where h is Planck's constant and m is the electron mass. Combining these, we get a direct proportionality between λ and 1/V.
Let’s work through it step by step.
- Write the expression for de Broglie wavelength in terms of potential. From eV=21mv2, we get v=m2eV. Substituting into λ=mvh:
λ=mm2eVh=2meVh
So λ∝V1. This is the central proportionality — double the potential, and the wavelength shrinks by 2.
- Set up the ratio for the new wavelength. Let the original potential be V1, giving λ1=λ. The new potential V2 gives λ2=32λ. Using the proportionality:
λ1λ2=V2V1
Substitute the given ratio:
32=V2V1
- Solve for the ratio of potentials. Square both sides:
94=V2V1⇒V2=49V1
So the new potential is 2.25 times the original.
- Find the percentage increase. The increase in potential is V2−V1=49V1−V1=45V1. Percentage increase = originalincrease×100=15/4×100=125%.
Watch outA common mistake is to forget that λ∝1/V, not 1/V. If you mistakenly use λ∝1/V, you'd get V2=23V1 and a 50% increase — which is option (D) and wrong. Always derive the proportionality from first principles.
TipYou can remember this as: for an electron, λ (in Å) = V12.27 (with V in volts). This shortcut comes from plugging constants into 2meVh. Using it, the ratio method is even faster.
✓Final answerThe percentage increase in potential is 125%, so the correct option is (C).
- TG EAPCET 2026Set ap-2026-05-04-AN1 markMCQQ.If the speed of the electron in an orbit of hydrogen atom is 5481 times the speed of light in vacuum, then the angular momentum of the electron in this orbit is (h – Planck’s constant) (A) π2h (B) π4h (C) 2πh (D) π3h
›Reveal solutionSolution
The speed of an electron in a hydrogen atom's orbit is related to the principal quantum number n and the fine-structure constant α. By using the given speed to find n, we can then determine the angular momentum using Bohr's quantization rule. The angular momentum is π2h.
The problem connects the speed of an electron in a hydrogen atom's orbit to its angular momentum. This requires understanding the Bohr model, specifically the formulas for electron speed and angular momentum in a given orbit.
The key idea is that both the speed of the electron and its angular momentum are quantized, meaning they can only take on discrete values determined by the principal quantum number n. We are given the electron's speed, which allows us to identify the specific orbit (i.e., find the value of n). Once n is known, we can directly calculate the angular momentum using Bohr's quantization condition.
- Relate electron speed to the principal quantum number: In the Bohr model for a hydrogen atom, the speed of an electron in the n-th orbit, vn, is given by the formula:
vn=n12ϵ0he2
This formula can be expressed more compactly using the fine-structure constant, $\alpha$. The fine-structure constant is defined as $\alpha = \frac{e^2}{2\epsilon_0 hc}$, where $c$ is the speed of light in vacuum. Substituting this into the speed formula, we get:vn=n1αc
The approximate value of the fine-structure constant is $\alpha \approx \frac{1}{137}$. > [!FORMULA] > The speed of an electron in the $n$-th orbit of a hydrogen atom is $v_n = \frac{\alpha c}{n}$.2. Determine the principal quantum number (n):
We are given that the speed of the electron is 5481 times the speed of light in vacuum. So, v=5481c.
Equating this with the formula for vn:
5481c=nαc
We can cancel $c$ from both sides:5481=nα
Now, substitute the approximate value of $\alpha = \frac{1}{137}$:5481=n1/137
n=548×1371
Performing the division:n=4
This means the electron is in the fourth orbit.3. Calculate the angular momentum:
According to Bohr's quantization condition, the angular momentum of an electron in the n-th orbit is an integral multiple of 2πh:
Ln=n2πh
Since we found $n=4$, the angular momentum of the electron in this orbit is:L4=4×2πh
L4=2π4h
L4=π2h
✓Final answerThe angular momentum of the electron in this orbit is π2h.
- TG EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-02-FN1 markMCQQ.If the difference in the frequencies of the first and second lines of Lyman series of hydrogen atom is f, then the difference in frequencies of the first and second lines of Balmer series of hydrogen atom is (A) 43f (B) f (C) 207f (D) 169f
›Reveal solutionSolution
The key idea is that the frequency of any spectral line in hydrogen is proportional to the difference of two inverse-square terms, and the Lyman and Balmer series share the same lower-level pattern. The required ratio simplifies to 7/20, so the answer is (C).
The problem asks for the difference in frequencies between the first and second lines of the Balmer series, given that the same difference for the Lyman series is f. Since both series come from the hydrogen atom, we can use the Rydberg formula for frequency:
ν=R(n121−n221)
where R is the Rydberg constant (in frequency units), n1 is the lower energy level, and n2>n1 is the upper level. The trick is to write the differences for each series and compare them algebraically — the constant R cancels out.
- Identify the lines in the Lyman series
Lyman series: n1=1.
- First line: n2=2 → νL1=R(121−221)=R(1−41)=43R.
- Second line: n2=3 → νL2=R(121−321)=R(1−91)=98R. Their difference:
f=νL2−νL1=98R−43R=R(3632−3627)=365R.
- Identify the lines in the Balmer series
Balmer series: n1=2.
- First line: n2=3 → νB1=R(221−321)=R(41−91)=R(369−4)=365R.
- Second line: n2=4 → νB2=R(221−421)=R(41−161)=R(164−1)=163R. Their difference:
ΔνB=νB2−νB1=163R−365R.
- Compute the Balmer difference in terms of f Find a common denominator for 163 and 365: LCM of 16 and 36 is 144.
163=14427,365=14420.
So
ΔνB=R(14427−14420)=1447R.
From step 1, f=365R=14420R. Therefore,
ΔνB=1447R=207⋅14420R=207f.
TipNotice that the first Lyman line and the first Balmer line have the same frequency 365R — this is because both involve a transition from n=2 to n=1 (Lyman) and from n=3 to n=2 (Balmer) are different, but here the coincidence is accidental? Actually check: Lyman first is n=2→1, Balmer first is n=3→2; they are not equal in general. The equality here is a numerical coincidence for these specific terms? Let’s verify: Lyman first = R(1−1/4)=3R/4, Balmer first = R(1/4−1/9)=5R/36. They are not equal. So the tip above is wrong — ignore it. The correct path is the algebra we did.
Watch outA common mistake is to assume the frequency differences are the same for all series, or to forget that the lower level n1 changes. Always write the explicit Rydberg formula for each line.
- Match with the options The result 207f corresponds to option (C).
✓Final answerThe correct option is (C).
ANSWER: C
- Identify the lines in the Lyman series
Lyman series: n1=1.
- TG EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-02-AN1 markMCQQ.When a photosensitive material is illuminated by photons of energy 3.1 eV, the stopping potential of the photoelectrons is 1.7 V. When the same photosensitive material is illuminated by photons of energy 2.5 eV, the stopping potential of the photoelectrons is (A) 1.8 V (B) 1.4 V (C) 1.1 V (D) 1.3 V
›Reveal solutionSolution
The photoelectric equation relates photon energy, work function, and stopping potential. Using the two given conditions, the work function cancels out, giving the second stopping potential as 1.1 V.
The core idea here is the photoelectric effect equation:
Ephoton=ϕ+eVs
where ϕ is the work function (the minimum energy needed to eject an electron) and Vs is the stopping potential (the voltage that just stops the most energetic photoelectrons). The stopping potential multiplied by the electron charge e gives the maximum kinetic energy of the photoelectrons in eV.
Since the same material is used in both cases, the work function ϕ is constant. That means we can write two equations and subtract them to eliminate ϕ, directly finding the unknown stopping potential.
- Write the equation for the first case Photon energy E1=3.1 eV, stopping potential Vs1=1.7 V:
3.1=ϕ+1.7
(Here eVs is numerically equal to Vs in eV because e=1 in these units.)
- Write the equation for the second case Photon energy E2=2.5 eV, unknown stopping potential Vs2:
2.5=ϕ+Vs2
- Subtract the two equations to eliminate ϕ:
(3.1−2.5)=(1.7−Vs2)
0.6=1.7−Vs2
- Solve for Vs2:
Vs2=1.7−0.6=1.1 V
TipNotice that the difference in photon energies directly equals the difference in stopping potentials. This shortcut works because the work function cancels — you don’t even need to compute it.
Watch outA common mistake is to think that higher photon energy always gives higher stopping potential, but here the second photon has lower energy, so the stopping potential must be lower than 1.7 V. Options like 1.8 V are traps.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (C).
ANSWER: C
- TG EAPCET 2025Set ap-2025-04-29-FN1 markMCQQ.The ratio of frequencies of second line of Lyman series and third line of Balmer series of hydrogen atom is (A) 360:174 (B) 27:5 (C) 5:36 (D) 800:189
›Reveal solutionSolution
The frequency of emitted light during an electron transition in a hydrogen atom is determined by the Rydberg formula. By identifying the initial and final energy levels for the second line of the Lyman series (ni=3→nf=1) and the third line of the Balmer series (ni=5→nf=2), we find their frequency ratio to be 800:189.
Concept and Intuition
When an electron in a hydrogen atom transitions from a higher energy level to a lower one, it emits a photon. The energy of this photon corresponds precisely to the difference in energy between the two levels. This emitted energy manifests as light of a specific frequency (and wavelength), giving rise to the characteristic spectral lines of hydrogen.
The energy levels of a hydrogen atom are quantized, meaning electrons can only exist in discrete orbits, each with a specific energy. The energy of an electron in the n-th orbit is given by En=−n213.6 eV, where n is the principal quantum number (n=1,2,3,…).
When an electron jumps from an initial energy level ni to a final energy level nf (where ni>nf), the energy of the emitted photon is ΔE=Eni−Enf. According to Planck's relation, this energy is also equal to hν, where h is Planck's constant and ν is the frequency of the emitted photon.
Combining these ideas, we can derive a general formula for the frequency of the emitted photon:
ν=hΔE=hEni−Enf
Substituting the expression for En:
ν=h1(−ni2RHhc−(−nf2RHhc))
ν=RHc(nf21−ni21)
Here, RH is the Rydberg constant and c is the speed of light. This is the Rydberg formula for frequency, which we will use to solve the problem.
Different series of spectral lines correspond to different final energy levels (nf):
- Lyman series: Transitions to nf=1 (ultraviolet region).
- Balmer series: Transitions to nf=2 (visible region).
- Paschen series: Transitions to nf=3 (infrared region). And so on. Within each series, the "first line" corresponds to the smallest possible jump (e.g., ni=2→nf=1 for Lyman), the "second line" to the next smallest jump (e.g., ni=3→nf=1 for Lyman), and so forth.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Identify the transition for the second line of the Lyman series.
The Lyman series corresponds to transitions where the electron falls to the ground state, nf=1.
- The first line of the Lyman series is for ni=2→nf=1.
- The second line of the Lyman series is for ni=3→nf=1. Using the frequency formula:
νL=RHc(nf21−ni21)=RHc(121−321)
νL=RHc(1−91)=RHc(99−1)=RHc(98)
- Identify the transition for the third line of the Balmer series.
The Balmer series corresponds to transitions where the electron falls to the first excited state, nf=2.
- The first line of the Balmer series is for ni=3→nf=2.
- The second line of the Balmer series is for ni=4→nf=2.
- The third line of the Balmer series is for ni=5→nf=2. Using the frequency formula:
νB=RHc(nf21−ni21)=RHc(221−521)
νB=RHc(41−251)
To subtract these fractions, find a common denominator, which is $100$:νB=RHc(10025−1004)=RHc(10025−4)=RHc(10021)
- Calculate the ratio of the frequencies. We need to find the ratio νL:νB.
νBνL=RHc(10021)RHc(98)
The terms $R_H c$ cancel out:νBνL=1002198=98×21100
νBνL=9×218×100=189800
The ratio of frequencies is $800 : 189$.✓Final answerThe ratio of frequencies of the second line of the Lyman series and the third line of the Balmer series of the hydrogen atom is 800:189.
- TG EAPCET 2024Set ap-2024-05-07-AN1 markMCQQ.The energy gap between conduction and valence bands of silicon is (A) 5.4 eV (B) 1.1 eV (C) 0.7 eV (D) 1.4 eV
›Reveal solutionSolution
Silicon is a semiconductor with a characteristic band gap that determines its electrical properties at room temperature. The energy gap is 1.1 eV.
The band gap of a material is the minimum energy required to excite an electron from the valence band (where electrons are bound to atoms) to the conduction band (where they are free to move and conduct electricity). This fundamental property distinguishes insulators, semiconductors, and conductors.
For insulators, the band gap is very large (typically >3 eV), making thermal excitation at room temperature negligible. Conductors have overlapping bands with no gap. Semiconductors occupy the middle ground: their band gaps are small enough that a significant number of electrons can be thermally excited at room temperature, yet large enough that the material isn't a good conductor in its pure state.
Silicon is the archetypal semiconductor, and its band gap is one of the most important numbers in solid-state physics and electronics. Let me walk through why each option does or doesn't make sense:
-
Option (A): 5.4 eV – This is far too large for a semiconductor. A gap this wide would make silicon behave like an insulator at room temperature (thermal energy kBT≈0.026 eV at 300 K is negligible compared to 5.4 eV). Diamond, an insulator, has a band gap around 5.5 eV, which is close to this value.
-
Option (B): 1.1 eV – This is the correct value for silicon at room temperature. It's small enough that thermal excitation produces a modest number of charge carriers, giving silicon its semiconducting properties. This value is precisely why silicon dominates the electronics industry.
-
Option (C): 0.7 eV – This is actually the band gap of germanium, another important semiconductor. Germanium was used in early transistors but has a smaller gap than silicon, making it more temperature-sensitive.
-
Option (D): 1.4 eV – This is close to the band gap of gallium arsenide (GaAs), which is around 1.42 eV. GaAs is used in high-speed and optoelectronic applications.
TipA useful mnemonic: the three classic elemental/compound semiconductors have band gaps in increasing order: Ge (0.7 eV) < Si (1.1 eV) < GaAs (1.4 eV).
The 1.1 eV gap of silicon makes it ideal for room-temperature electronics. It's large enough to prevent excessive leakage current at operating temperatures, yet small enough to be easily modulated by doping and external fields in transistors.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (B) 1.1 eV.
-
- TG EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-10-FN1 markMCQQ.The ratio of the centripetal accelerations of the electron in two successive orbits of hydrogen is 81:16. Due to a transition between these two states, the angular momentum of the electron changes by (h – Planck’s constant) (A) 3πh (B) π3h (C) 2πh (D) π2h
›Reveal solutionSolution
The centripetal acceleration in Bohr's model scales as a∝1/n4, so a ratio of 81:16 (i.e. 34:24) corresponds to the two successive orbits n=2 and n=3. The angular momentum change for a transition between them is ΔL=ℏ=h/(2π), so the correct option is (C).
Concept & Intuition
In Bohr's hydrogen atom, the electron moves in circular orbits with quantized angular momentum L=nℏ, where ℏ=h/(2π). The centripetal acceleration is a=v2/r. Using Bohr's relations v∝1/n and r∝n2, the acceleration scales as a∝1/n4. So the given ratio of accelerations lets us pin down the two quantum numbers, and the angular momentum change follows directly from their difference.
Step-by-step reasoning
- Centripetal acceleration in Bohr's model. For a hydrogen atom, the Coulomb force provides the centripetal force:
rmv2=r2ke2
With rn∝n2 and vn∝1/n,
an=rnvn2∝n21/n2=n41.
- Use the given ratio.
an2an1=n14n24=1681=2434
So n2/n1=3/2, and since these are stated to be successive orbits, the smallest integers satisfying this ratio are n1=2 and n2=3 (check: 24=16, 34=81, giving exactly 81:16).
- Angular momentum change. Bohr's quantization condition gives L=nℏ. For a transition between n=2 and n=3,
ΔL=∣n2−n1∣ℏ=1×ℏ=2πh.
- Match with the options. 2πh is option (C).
Watch outA common mistake is to assume a∝1/n2 (like the radius) or a∝1/n (like the speed). Always derive the scaling from a=v2/r using v∝1/n and r∝n2, which together give a∝1/n4.
TipThe fourth root of 81/16 is exactly 3/2, so the two quantum numbers must be in the ratio 2:3 — the only successive integers satisfying this are 2 and 3.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (C).
ANSWER: C
- TG EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-11-FN1 markMCQQ.In hydrogen atom, the frequency of the photon emitted when an electron jumps from second orbit to first orbit is ‘f’. The frequency of the photon emitted when an electron jumps from third excited state to first excited state is (A) 2f (B) 4f (C) 8f (D) f
›Reveal solutionSolution
The key idea is that the frequency of emitted light in hydrogen is proportional to the difference of inverse squares of the principal quantum numbers. For the given transitions, the ratio of frequencies is 1/4, so the answer is f/4.
The relevant concept is the Rydberg formula for hydrogen: the wavenumber (or frequency) of emitted light is proportional to (nf21−ni21), where ni is the initial orbit and nf is the final orbit. The frequency f is directly proportional to this difference because E=hf and the energy difference between orbits follows the same pattern. So we don’t need to plug in constants — we just compare the two transitions.
- Identify the quantum numbers for the first transition. The electron jumps from the second orbit (ni=2) to the first orbit (nf=1). The frequency f is proportional to:
f∝(121−221)=1−41=43.
- Identify the quantum numbers for the second transition. “Third excited state” means n=4 (since ground state is n=1, first excited is n=2, second excited is n=3, third excited is n=4). “First excited state” means n=2. So the transition is from ni=4 to nf=2. The frequency f′ is proportional to:
f′∝(221−421)=41−161=164−161=163.
- Find the ratio of the two frequencies.
ff′=3/43/16=163×34=164=41.
Therefore, f′=4f.
Watch outA common mistake is to confuse “third excited state” with n=3. Remember: ground state is n=1, so the first excited state is n=2, second excited is n=3, third excited is n=4.
TipYou can skip the constant 43 and 163 entirely by noticing the pattern: the frequency is proportional to the difference of reciprocals of squares. The ratio simplifies directly without calculating the actual numbers.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (B).
ANSWER: B
- TG EAPCET 2023Set ap-2023-05-10-FN1 markMCQQ.When a body is projected vertically up, at a point ‘P’ in its path, the ratio of potential energy to kinetic energy is 2:3. If the same body is projected up with double the previous velocity, the ratio of potential energy to kinetic energy of the body, at the same point ‘P’ is (A) 2:25 (B) 1:9 (C) 2:9 (D) 4:9
›Reveal solutionSolution
The ratio of potential to kinetic energy at a fixed point depends on the square of the projection speed. Using energy conservation, the new ratio becomes 2:9, so option (C) is correct.
The key idea here is that potential energy at a given point depends only on height, while kinetic energy depends on speed. When you change the projection speed, the total mechanical energy changes, but the potential energy at point P stays the same (since P is at a fixed height). So the ratio changes because the kinetic energy at P changes.
Let’s work through it step by step.
- Set up the first case. Let the mass of the body be m, and let the initial projection speed be u. At point P, let the height be h (so potential energy U=mgh). The ratio given is:
KU=32
where K is the kinetic energy at P. This means U=32K, or equivalently K=23U.
- Use energy conservation for the first case. Total mechanical energy at projection = total mechanical energy at P:
21mu2=U+K=U+23U=25U
So:
U=51mu2
This tells us the potential energy at P in terms of the initial kinetic energy.
- Now consider the second case. The projection speed is doubled: u′=2u. The new total energy is:
21m(2u)2=21m⋅4u2=2mu2
At the same point P, the potential energy U is unchanged (same height h), so U=51mu2 as before.
- Find the new kinetic energy at P. By energy conservation at P:
Total energy=U+K′
2mu2=51mu2+K′
K′=2mu2−51mu2=510mu2−51mu2=59mu2
- Compute the new ratio.
K′U=59mu251mu2=91
So the ratio of potential to kinetic energy is 1:9. But wait — the question asks for the ratio of potential energy to kinetic energy, which is 1:9. However, looking at the options, 1:9 is option (B). But let’s double-check: the original ratio was 2:3, meaning U:K=2:3. In the new case we got U:K′=1:9. That matches option (B).
Watch outA common mistake is to think the ratio scales directly with the square of the speed. Here, U is fixed, so K scales with the square of the speed, but the ratio U/K scales inversely with the square of the speed. From 2:3 to 1:9 is a factor of 6 decrease, and indeed (2/3)÷(1/9)=6, while the speed doubled means the square factor is 4, but the total energy also changed — so careful algebra is needed.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (B), with the ratio 1:9.
- TG EAPCET 2023Set ap-2023-05-10-FN1 markMCQQ.Photoelectrons are emitted with maximum kinetic energies 1.2 eV and 3.6 eV when lights of wavelengths λ and 2λ respectively incident on a photosensitive material. The work function of the photosensitive material is (A) 1.2 eV (B) 2.4 eV (C) 3.6 eV (D) 4.8 eV
›Reveal solutionSolution
Using Einstein’s photoelectric equation for two wavelengths, the work function is found by eliminating the unknown constant. The work function is 1.2 eV.
The photoelectric effect tells us that when light of a certain frequency (or wavelength) strikes a metal surface, electrons are ejected if the photon energy exceeds the material’s work function. The excess energy appears as the kinetic energy of the emitted electron. Einstein’s photoelectric equation gives the maximum kinetic energy as:
Kmax=hν−ϕ
where hν is the photon energy and ϕ is the work function. Since frequency ν=c/λ, we can write it in terms of wavelength:
Kmax=λhc−ϕ
Here we have two different wavelengths, λ and λ/2, producing two different maximum kinetic energies. The work function ϕ is a property of the material and remains the same in both cases. So we can set up two equations and solve for ϕ.
- Write the equations for both cases. For wavelength λ, K1=1.2 eV:
1.2=λhc−ϕ(1)
For wavelength λ/2, K2=3.6 eV:
3.6=λ/2hc−ϕ=λ2hc−ϕ(2)
- Eliminate the unknown hc/λ. Let x=λhc. Then equation (1) becomes:
1.2=x−ϕ⇒x=1.2+ϕ
Equation (2) becomes:
3.6=2x−ϕ
Substitute x from the first into the second:
3.6=2(1.2+ϕ)−ϕ
- Solve for ϕ. Expand:
3.6=2.4+2ϕ−ϕ=2.4+ϕ
Subtract 2.4 from both sides:
ϕ=3.6−2.4=1.2 eV
Watch outA common mistake is to forget that halving the wavelength doubles the photon energy, not just the kinetic energy. If you incorrectly set 3.6=λhc−ϕ for the second case, you’d get a wrong answer. Always check: λ/2 means frequency doubles, so photon energy doubles.
TipNotice that the difference in kinetic energies (3.6 – 1.2 = 2.4 eV) equals the increase in photon energy when the wavelength is halved. That increase is exactly hc/λ, which is 1.2+ϕ from the first equation. So hc/λ=2.4 eV, and then ϕ=1.2 eV — a quick mental check.
✓Final answerThe work function is 1.2 eV, which corresponds to option (A).
- TG EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-12-AN1 markMCQQ.The additional energy that should be given to an electron to reduce its de-Broglie wavelength from 1 nm to 0.5 nm is (A) four times initial energy (B) thrice the initial energy (C) equal to the initial energy (D) twice the initial energy
›Reveal solutionSolution
The de-Broglie wavelength is inversely proportional to momentum, and for an electron, kinetic energy is proportional to the square of momentum. Halving the wavelength doubles the momentum, which quadruples the kinetic energy. The additional energy needed is therefore three times the initial energy.
The key concept here is the de-Broglie relation and how kinetic energy scales with momentum for a non-relativistic particle.
For an electron (or any particle), the de-Broglie wavelength is given by
λ=ph
where h is Planck’s constant and p is the momentum.
If the wavelength is halved, the momentum must double.
Now, the kinetic energy E of a non-relativistic electron is
E=2mp2
so energy is proportional to the square of momentum.
Thus, doubling momentum quadruples the energy.
The question asks for the additional energy, not the final energy — so we subtract the initial energy from the final energy.
Let’s work through it step by step.
- Initial wavelength and momentum Let the initial wavelength be λ1=1 nm. The initial momentum is
p1=λ1h
The initial kinetic energy is
E1=2mp12=2mλ12h2
- Final wavelength and momentum The final wavelength is λ2=0.5 nm=2λ1. The final momentum is
p2=λ2h=λ1/2h=λ12h=2p1
So momentum doubles.
- Final kinetic energy
E2=2mp22=2m(2p1)2=2m4p12=4E1
So the final energy is four times the initial energy.
- Additional energy required The extra energy needed is
ΔE=E2−E1=4E1−E1=3E1
That is, three times the initial energy.
Watch outA common mistake is to think that halving the wavelength doubles the energy, because wavelength and energy are often inversely related in photon problems. But for a massive particle, energy is proportional to 1/λ2, not 1/λ. Always check the scaling: E∝p2∝1/λ2.
TipYou can solve this in one line:
λ∝1/p and E∝p2, so λ∝1/E.
Halving λ means E doubles, so E quadruples. The increase is 4−1=3 times the original.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (B).
ANSWER: B
🎓Unlock everything free for 14 days
- ✓Full step-by-step solutions
- ✓Concept-first explanations
- ✓Methods, shortcuts & mistakes
- ✓PYQ mapping + timed mock tests
Full access for 14 days. No credit card required.