PHYS1241 Tutorial Problems

Week 10


1. A diffraction grating has a resolving power of R = / = Nm. Calculate the corresponding
frequency range, , that can just be resolved.
[ Ans: = c/(Nm ) ]

2. Why do sunglasses made of polarizing materials have a marked advantage over those that only
depend on the absorption effects?

3. What must be the angle between the polarization axes of two ideal polarizing sheets, if the
transmitted light intensity is to be 25% of the intensity of unpolarised light incident on the first
sheet?
[Ans: 45
0
]

4. An unpolarised beam of light is incident on a group of 4 polarising sheets which are lined up so
that the vibration direction of each is rotated by 30
0
clockwise with respect to the preceding sheet.
What fraction of the incident light is transmitted?
[Ans: 21% ]

5. Lighting produces a maximum air temperature on the order of 10
4
K, whereas a nuclear explosion
produces a temperature on the order of 10
7
K. (a) Use Wiens displacement law to find the order
of magnitude of the wavelength of the thermally produced photons radiated with greatest intensity
by of these sources. (b) Name the part of the E.M. spectrum where you would expect each to
radiate most strongly.
[Ans: (a) lightning 10
-7
m, nuclear exp: 10
-10
m; (b) U.V., X-ray]

6. The average threshold of dark adapted vision for humans is 4 x 10
-11
W/m
2
at a central wavelength
of 500nm. If light with this intensity and wavelength enters the eye and the pupil is open to its
maximum diameter of 8.5 mm, how many photons per second enter the eye?
[Ans: 5.71 x 10
3
photons per second]

7. In the photoelectric effect, why does the existence of a cut-off frequency speak in favour of the
photon theory and against the wave theory?

8. List the assumptions made by Planck in connection with the cavity radiation problem, by Einstein
in connection with the photoelectric effect, and by Compton in connection with the Compton
effect.

9. Sketch the experimental arrangement needed to measure the photoelectric effect.

10. Show that the energy E of a photo in eV is related to its wavelength, , in nm by: E = 1240/

11. Incident photons strike a sodium surface having a work function of 2.2 eV, causing photoelectric
emission. When a stopping potential V = 5.0 V is imposed, there is no photocurrent. Calculate
the wavelength of the incident photons. [Ans: 172 nm]