[A.

Beiser 1] At what temperature would one in a thousand of the atoms in a gas of

atomic hydrogen be in the n = 2 energy level?

Solution: (a) The ratio between the numbers of atoms in the n = 1 and n = 2 states is
n( E1 ) A g ( E1 )e E1 / kBT g ( E1 ) ( E1  E2 )/ kBT
  e
n( E2 ) A g ( E2 )e E2 / kBT g ( E2 )

Since, number of possible states that correspond to the quantum number n is 2n2.
For n = 1: Thus the number of states of energy E1 is g(E1)=2(1)2 = 2;
For n = 2: The number of states of energy E2 is g(E2 ) =2(2)2 = 8;
The ground-state energy is E1= –13.6 eV, E2 = –3.4 eV and E1– E2 = –10.2 eV, so
E1  E2 10.2 1.6 1019 J 11.82 104
 
kBT 1.38 10 
23  T T
The result is
11.8210 4
1000 2 11.82 104
 e T
  ln  4000 
1 8 T

11.82 104 11.82 104

T    14251K
ln  4000  8.294
[A.Beiser 2] The temperature in part of the sun’s atmosphere is 5000 K. Find the
relative numbers of hydrogen atoms in this region that are in the n = 1, 2, 3, and 4
energy levels. Be sure to take into account the multiplicity of each level.
Solution: (a) The ratio between the numbers of atoms in the n = 1 and n = 2 states is
n( E1 ) g ( E1 )  ( E1  E2 )/ kBT
 e
n( E2 ) g ( E2 )
Since, number of possible states that correspond to the quantum number n is 2n2.
g(E1)=2(1)2 = 2; g(E2 ) =2(2)2 = 8; g(E3 ) =2(3)2 = 18; g(E4 ) =2(4)2 = 32;

E1= –13.6 eV, E2 = –3.4 eV, E3= –1.51 eV, E4 = –0.85eV,

and E1– E2 = –10.2 eV, E1– E3 = –12.1 eV, E1– E4 = –12.75 eV,

E1  E2 10.2 1.6 1019 J n( E1 ) 2 23.64

  23.64  e  4.6 109
kBT 1.38 1023   5000 n( E2 ) 8
E1  E3 12.11.6 1019 J n( E1 ) 2 28.05
  28.05  e  1.69  1011
kBT 1.38 10   5000
23
n( E3 ) 18
E1  E4 12.75 1.6 1019 J n( E1 ) 2 29.56
  29.56  e  4.3 1011
kBT 1.38 10   5000
23
n( E4 ) 32
[A.Beiser 3] The 32P1/2 first excited state in sodium is 2.093 eV above the 32S1/2
ground state. Find the ratio between the numbers of atoms in each state in sodium
vapor at 1200 K.
Solution: (a) The ratio between the numbers of atoms in the n = 1 and n = 2 states is

E1  E2 2.093 1.6 1019 J

  20
kBT 1.38 10  1200
23

nS g ( E1 )  ( E1  E2 )/ kBT 2 20
 e  e  1.6 108
nP g ( E2 ) 6
[A.Beiser 4] The frequency of vibration of the H2 molecule is 1.32 x1014 Hz. (a)
Find the relative populations of the ν = 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 vibrational states at 5000
K. (b) Can the populations of the ν = 2 and ν = 3 states ever be equal? If so, at
what temperature does this occur?
 1
E   n   h E0  E1  E2  E1  E3  E2  E4  E3  h
 2
For a one-dimensional oscillator the degeneracy of each state is 1.

n( E1 ) g ( E1 )  ( E1  E2 )/ kBT
 e e h / k BT

 exp 
 6.62  10 32
J .s    1.32  1014
Hz  

n( E2 ) g ( E2 ) 

1.38 10   5000
23 

n( E0 ) n( E2 ) n( E3 )
 1.266 102   
n( E1 ) n( E3 ) n( E4 )

Since degeneracy of each state is same, populations of the ν = 2 and ν = 3

states will never be equal at one temperature. For different temperatures,
For n(E2) = n(E3),
n( E2 )  E3 E2  E3 E2
 1  exp     
n( E3 )  B 3
k T k B 2
T T3 T2
[A.Beiser 8] Show that the average kinetic energy per molecule at room
temperature (20°C) is much less than the energy needed to raise a hydrogen
atom from its ground state to its first excited state.

Solution: The average kinetic energy per molecule at room temperature

(20°C) is
3 3
kT  1.38 1023   293  6.06 1021 J
2 2
  6.06 1021 1.6 1019  eV  9.7 102 eV

E1= –13.6 eV, E2 = –3.4 eV and E1– E2 = –10.2 eV,

Energy needed to raise a hydrogen atom from its ground state to its first
excited state is 10.2 eV
[A.Beiser 10] Show that the de Broglie wavelength of an oxygen molecule
in thermal equilibrium in the atmosphere at 20°C is smaller than its diameter
of about 4 x 10–10 m.

Solution: The average kinetic energy per molecule at room temperature

(20°C) is
3 3
E  kBT  1.38 1023   293  6.06 1021 J
2 2
  6.06 1021 1.6 1019  eV  9.7 102 eV
Corresponding momentum is

p  2mE  2  9.11031 kg  6.06 1021 J  10.5 105 kg  m  s 1

The de Broglie wavelength ‘’ is

h 6.62  10 34
  5
 6.3  10 30
m
p 10.5  10
which is smaller than its diameter of about 4 x 10–10 m.
[A.Beiser 15] At the same temperature, will a gas of classical molecules, a gas of
bosons, or a gas of fermions exert the greatest pressure? The least pressure? Why?

The no. of particles having energy ‘E’ is

given by the relation,

n( E )  g ( E ) f ( E )
If we consider g(E) to be same in all the cases, then n(E) is determined by f(E).
From the fig. it can be seen that it is largest for BE and least for FD.

Hence the pressure exerted will also follow the same order as the pressure is
created by the bombardment of these particles on the wall of container.
[A.Beiser 17] How many independent standing waves with wavelengths between
9.5 and 10.5 mm can occur in a cubical cavity 1 m on a side? How many with
wavelengths between 99.5 and 100.5 mm? (Hint: First show that g()d =
8L3d/4 .)
[A.Beiser 18] If a red star and a white star radiate energy at the same rate,
can they be the same size? If not, which must be the larger?

Solution: The red star emits less energy than a white star. So in order to
release the same amount of energy at the same rate, the red star would have
to be larger than the white.

The red star must be cooler than the white one, so if it is to radiate energy at
the same rate, it must have a larger surface area and hence a larger size.

Power output
R  e T 4
surface area
hc
T max   2.898 103 m-K
4.965k
[A.Beiser 23] An object is at a temperature of 400°C. At what temperature would it
radiate energy twice as fast?

Since,
R T4
For, R  2R; T  21/4T
[A.Beiser 29] Considering the sun as a blackbody at 6000 K, estimate the
proportion of its total radiation that consists of yellow light between 570 and
590 nm.

v1  c / 590nm v2  c / 570nm
2 
8 h 2  3 8 h  k BT 
2 x2
x3
u   u( )d  3  h / kBT d  3   x e x  1 dx
1 c 1 e  1 c  h  1

h
where x  5
k BT 3  x 4   x3  3x 2  6 x  6  e x
x
 e x  1 dx  4  e x  12
OR
Radiation between  and  + d  , is
h 1
u( )d  8 c hc /  k BT
d
e 1  5

where  = (570 + 590)/2 and d = 590 – 570 = 20nm