NCERT Solutions for Class 11

Physics
Chapter 2 – Units and measurement

1: Fill in the blanks.

a) The volume of a cube of side 1cm is equal to ……………… m 3 .
Ans: We know that,
1
1cm  m
100
Volume of a cube of side 1cm would be,
V  1cm 1cm 1cm  1cm3
On converting it into unit of m3 , we get,
3
 1 
m   102 m 
3
1cm  
3

 100 
1cm3  106 m3
Therefore, the volume of a cube of side 1cm is equal to 106 m3 .

b) The surface area of a solid cylinder of radius 2.0cm and height 10.0cm is
equal to ……………….  mm 
2

Ans: We know the formula for the total surface area of cylinder of radius r and
height h to be,
S  2r  r  h 
We are given:
r  2cm  20mm
h  10cm  100mm
On substituting the given values into the above expression, we get,
S  2 20  20  100   15072mm2  1.5 104 mm 2
Therefore, the surface area of a solid cylinder of radius 2.0cm and height
10.0cm is equal to 1.5  104  mm  .
2

c) A vehicle moving with a speed of 18kmh 1 covers…………………. m in

1s.

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 1

Ans: We know the following conversion:
5
1km / h  m / s
18
5
 18km / h  18   5m / s
18
Now we have the relation:
Distance = speed  time
Substituting the given values, Distance = 5 1 =5m
Therefore, a vehicle moving with a speed of 18kmh 1 covers 5m in 1s.

d) The relative density of lead is 11.3. Its density is ………………. gcm 3

or………………… kgm 3 .
Ans: We know that the relative density of substance could be given by,
density of substance
Relative density =
density of water
density of water = 1kg/m3
density of lead = Relative density of lead  density of water = 11.3  1= 11.3g/cm3
But we know,
1g  103 kg
1cm3  106 m3
103
 1g / cm3  6 kg / m3  103 kg / m3
10
11.3g / cm  11.3  103 kg / m3
3

Therefore, the relative density of lead is 11.3. Its density is 11.3gcm 3 or

11.3  103 kgm3 .

2. Fill ups.
a) 1kgm2s2  ..................gcm2 s2
Ans: We know that:
1kg  103 g
1m2  104 cm2
1kgm2s 2  103 g 104 cm2 1s 2  107 gcm 2s 2
Therefore, 1kgm2s 2  107 gcm2s 2

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 2

b) 1m  .................ly
Ans: We know that light year is the total distance covered by light in one year.
1ly  Speed of light  one year
 1ly   3  108 m / s    365  24  60  60s   9.46  1015 m
1
1m   1.057  1016 ly
9.46  1015

Therefore, 1m  1.057 1016 ly

c) 3.0m / s2  .................km / hr 2
Ans: 3.0m / s2  …………. km / hr 2
We have, 1m  103 km
1hr  3600s
2
 1  2
 1s  
2
 hr
 3600 
Then,
3  103
3.0m / s 
2
2
km / hr 2
 1 
 h
 3600 
3.0m / s2  3.9 104 km / hr 2

d) 6.67  1011 Nm2 / kg 2  .............g 1cm3s 2

Ans: We have,
1N  1kgms 2
1kg  103 g
1m3  106 cm3
 6.67  1011 Nm 2 kg 2  6.67  1011  1kgms 2 1m 2 1s 2 
 6.67  1011  1kg  1m3  1s 2 
 6.67  1011  103 g 1 106 cm3 1s 2 
 6.67  1011 Nm2 / kg 2  6.67 108 cm3s 2g 1

3. A calorie is a unit of heat or energy and is equivalent to 4.2 J where

1J  1kgm2s2 . Suppose we employ a system of units in which the unit of

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mass equals  kg , the unit of length equals  m, the unit of time is  s .
Show that a calorie has a magnitude 4.212  2 in terms of the new unit.
Ans: We are given that,
1calorie  4.2 1kg  1m 2 1s 2 
Let the new unit of mass   kg .
1
So, one kilogram in terms of the new unit, 1 kg    1 .

1
One meter in terms of the new unit of length can be written as, 1m   1 or

1m2  2 .
And, one second in terms of the new unit of time,
1
1 s    1

1 s2   2
1 s2   2
1calorie  4.2 1 1 12 1 2   4.2 12  2
Therefore, the value equivalent to one calorie in the mentioned new unit system
is 4.212  2 .

4. Explain this statement clearly:

“To call a dimensional quantity 'large' or 'small' is meaningless without
specifying a standard for comparison”. In view of this, reframe the
following statements wherever necessary:
Ans: The given statement is true because a dimensionless quantity may be large
or small, but there should be some standard reference to compare that.
For example, the coefficient of friction is dimensionless but we could say that
the coefficient of sliding friction is greater than the coefficient of rolling
friction, but less than static friction.
a) Atoms are very small objects.
Ans: An atom is a very small compared to a soccer ball.

b) A jet plane moves with great speed.

Ans: A jet plane moves with a speed greater than that of a bicycle.

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 4

c) The mass of Jupiter is very large.
Ans: Mass of Jupiter is very large compared to the mass of a cricket ball.

d) The air inside this room contains a large number of molecules.

Ans: The air inside this room contains a large number of molecules as
compared to that contained by a geometry box.

e) A proton is much more massive than an electron.

Ans: A proton is more massive than an electron.

f) The speed of sound is much smaller than the speed of light.

Ans: Speed of sound is less than the speed of light.

5. A new unit of length is chosen such that the speed of light in vacuum is
unity. What is the distance between the Sun and the Earth in terms of the
new unit if light takes 8 min and 20 s to cover this distance?
Ans: Distance between the Sun and the Earth:
x= Speed of light  Time taken by light to cover the distance
It is given that in the new system of units, the speed of light c  1 unit .
Time taken, t  8 min 20 s  500 s
Thus, the distance between the Sun and the Earth in this system of units is given
by x '  c  t  1 500  500 units

6. Which of the following is the most precise device for measuring length?
Ans: A device which has the minimum least count is considered to be the most
precise device to measure length.
a) A vernier calipers with 20 divisions on the sliding scale.
Ans: Least count of vernier calipers is given by
LC  1 standard division SD   1 vernier division  VD 

b) A screw gauge of pitch 1 mm and 100 divisions on the circular scale.

Pitch
Ans: Least count of screw gauge 
No of divisions

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 5

 1
 LC   0.001cm
1000

c) An optical instrument that can measure length to within a wavelength of

light.
Ans: Least count of an optical device  Wavelength of light 105cm
 LC  0.00001cm
Hence, it can be inferred that an optical instrument with the minimum least
count among the given three options is the most suitable device to measure
length.

7. A student measures the thickness of a human hair using a microscope of

magnification 100. He makes 20 observations and finds that the average
width of the hair in the field of view of the microscope is 3.5 mm. Estimate
the thickness of hair.
Ans: We are given that:
Magnification of the microscope  100
Average width of the hair in the field of view of the microscope  3.5 mm
3.5
 Actual thickness of the hair would be,  0.035 mm.
100

8. Answer the following:

a) You are given a thread and a meter scale. How will you estimate the
diameter of the thread?
Ans: Wrap the thread on a uniform smooth rod in such a way that the coils thus
formed are very close to each other.
Measure the length that is wounded by the thread using a metre scale.
The diameter of the thread is given by the relation,
Length of thread
Diameter 
Number of turns

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b) A screw gauge has a pitch of 1.0 mm and 200 divisions on the circular
scale. Do you think it is possible to increase the accuracy of the screw gauge
arbitrarily by increasing the number of divisions on the circular scale?
Ans: Increasing the number divisions of the circular scale will increase its
accuracy to a negligible extent only.

c) The mean diameter of a thin brass rod is to be measured by Vernier

calipers. Why is a set of 100 measurements of the diameter expected to
yield a more reliable estimate than a set of 5 measurements only?
Ans: A set of 100 measurements is more reliable than a set of 5 measurements
because random errors involved will be reduced on increasing the number of
measurements.

9. The photograph of a house occupies an area of 1.75cm 2 on a 35 mm

slide. The slide is projected on to a screen, and the area of the house on the
screen is 1.55m 2 . What is the linear magnification of the projector-screen
arrangement?
Ans: We are given,
The area of the house on the 35mm slide (area of the object) is given by,
AO  1.75cm2 .
The area of the image of the house that is formed on the screen is given by,
AI  1.55m2  1.55  104 cm2
We know that areal magnification is given by,
A
ma  I
AO
Substituting the given values,
1.55 104
ma 
1.75
Now, we have the expression for Linear magnification as, ml  ma
1.55
 ml   104
1.75
 ml  94.11
Thus, we found the linear magnification in the given case to be, m l  94.11.

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10. State the number of significant figures in the following:
a) 0.007m2
Ans: We know that when the given number is less than one, all zeroes on the
right of the decimal point are insignificant and hence for the given value, only 7
is the significant figure. So, the number of significant figures in this case is 1.

b) 2.64  1024 kg
Ans: We know that the power of 10 is considered insignificant and hence, 2, 6
and 4 are the significant figures in the given case. So, the number of significant
figures here is 3.

c) 0.2370gcm3
Ans: For decimal number, the trailing zeroes are taken significant. 2, 3, 7 and 0
are the significant figures. So, the number of significant figures here is 4.

d) 6.320J
Ans: All figures present in the given case are significant. So, the number of
significant figures here is 4.

e) 6.032Nm2
Ans: Since all the zeroes between two non-zero digits are significant, the
number of significant figures here is 4.

f) 0.0006032m2
Ans: For a decimal number less than 1, all the zeroes lying to the left of a non-
zero number are insignificant. Hence, the number of significant digits here is 4.

11. The length, breadth and thickness of a rectangular sheet of metal are
4.234m, 1.005m and 2.01cm respectively. Give the area and volume of the
sheet to correct significant figure.
Ans: We are given:
Length of sheet, l  4.234m ; number of significant figures: 4
Breadth of sheet, b  1.005m ; number of significant figures: 4
Thickness of sheet, h  2.01cm  0.0201m ; number of significant figures: 3
So, we found that area and volume should have the least significant figure
among the given dimensions, i.e., 3.

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Surface area, A  2  l  b  b  h  h  l 
Substituting the given values,
 A  2  4.234  1.005  1.005  0.0201  0.0201 4.234   2  4.25517  0.02620  0.08510 
 A  8.72m2
Volume, V  l  b  h
Substituting the given values,
 V  4.234 1.005  0.0201
 V  0.0855m3
Therefore, we found the area and volume with 3 significant figures to be
A  8.72m2
and V  0.0855m3 respectively.

12. The mass of a box measured by a grocer's balance is 2.300 kg. Two gold
pieces of masses 20.15 g and 20.17 g are added to the box. What is:
a) the total mass of the box?
Ans: We are given:
Mass of grocer’s box  2.300kg
Mass of gold piece I  20.15g  0.02015kg
Mass of gold piece II  20.17g  0.02017kg
Total mass of the box  2.3  0.02015  0.02017  2.34032kg
In addition, the final result should retain as many decimal places as there are in
the number with the least decimal places. Hence, the total mass of the box is
2.3kg .

b) the difference in the masses of the pieces to correct significant figures?

Ans: Difference in masses  20.17  20.15  0.02g
While subtracting, the final result should retain as many decimal places as there
are in the number with the least decimal places.

13. A physical quantity P is related to four observables a,b,c and d as

follows:
a 3b 2
P
 cd 

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The percentage errors of measurement in a,b,c and d are 1%,3%,4%
and 2% respectively. What is the percentage error in the quantity P? If the
value of P calculated using the above relation turns out to be 3.763, to what
value should you round off the result?
Ans: We are given the relation,
a 3b 2
P
 cd 
The error could be calculated using the following expression,
P 3a 2b 1 c d
   
P a b 2 c d
 P   a b 1 c d 
  100  %   3   100  2   100    100   100  %
 P   a b 2 c d 
1
 3 1  2  3   4  2
2
 3  6  2  2  13%
Percentage error in P  13% .
Value of P is given as 3.763 .
By rounding off the given value to the first decimal place, we get P  3.8 .

14. A book with many printing errors contains four different formulas for
the displacement y of a particle undergoing a certain periodic motion:
( a  maximum displacement of the particle, v  speed of the particle. T 
time period of motion). Rule out the wrong formulas on dimensional
grounds.
 2t 
a) y  asin  
 T 
Ans: It is correct.
 2t 
Given: y  a sin  
 T 
Dimensions of y  M0LT 1 0

Dimensions of a  M0L1T 0
 2t 
M LT
0 0 0
Dimensions of sin 
 T 

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Since the dimensions on the RHS is equal to LHS, the given formula is
dimensionally correct.

b) y  asin vt
Ans: It is incorrect.
Given: y  a sin vt
Dimensions of y  M0LT
1 0

Dimensions of a  M0L1T 0
1 1
Dimensions of vt  M0LT  M0L0T1  M0LT
1 0

Since the dimension on the RHS is not equal to LHS, the given formula is
dimensionally incorrect.

a t
c) y    sin
 T a
Ans: It is incorrect.
a t
Given: y    sin
T a
Dimensions of y  M0LT 1 0

a 1 1
Dimensions of  M0LT
T
t
Dimensions of  M 0 L1T1
a
Since the dimensions on the RHS is not equal to LHS, the given formula is
dimensionally incorrect.

 
d) y  a 2  sin

 2t
T
 cos
2t 
T 
Ans: It is correct.
 2t 2t 

Given: y  a 2  sin
 T
 cos
T 


Dimensions of y  M0LT
1 0

Dimensions of a  M0L1T 0
t
Dimensions of  M 0 L0T 0
T

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Since the dimensions on the RHS is equal to LHS, the given formula is
dimensionally correct.

15. A famous relation in physics relates „moving mass‟ m to the „rest mass‟
m 0 of a particle in terms of its speed v and speed of light c. (This relation
first arose as a consequence of special relativity due to Albert Einstein). A
boy recalls the relation almost correctly but forgets where to put the
constant c. He writes:
m0
m 1

1  v 
2 2

Ans: We are given the following relation:

m0
m 1

1  v 
2 2

Dimension of m, M1L0T0
Dimension of m 0 , M1L0T0
1 1
Dimension of v, M0LT
Dimension of v2 , M0L2T2
1 1
Dimension of c, M0LT
For the formula to be dimensionally correct, the dimensions on the LHS should
1
be same as those on the RHS. In order to satisfy this condition, 1  v 2  2 should
be dimensionless and for that we require v2 be divided by c 2 . So, the
dimensionally correct version of the above relation would be,
m0
m 1
 v2  2
1  c2 
 

16. The unit of length convenient on the atomic scale is known as an

 
angstrom and is denoted by A :1A  1010 m . The size of a hydrogen atom is
about 0.5A. What is the total atomic volume in m 3 of a mole of hydrogen
atoms?
Ans: Radius of hydrogen atom is given to be,

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 12

 
r  0.5A  0.5  1010 m
The expression for the volume is,
4
V  r 3
3
Now on substituting the given values,
V    0.5  1010   0.524  1030 m3
4 3

3
But we know that 1 mole of hydrogen would contain Avogadro number of
hydrogen atoms, so volume of 1 mole of hydrogen atoms would be,
V'  NA V  6.023 1023  0.524 1030  3.16 107 m3
Therefore, we found the required volume to be 3.16  107 m3 .

16. One mole of an ideal gas at standard temperature and pressure

occupies 22.4L (molar volume). What is the ratio of molar volume to the
atomic volume of a mole of hydrogen? (Take the size of hydrogen molecule

to be about 1A ). Why is this ratio so large?

Ans: Radius of hydrogen atom, r  0.5A  0.5  1010 m
4
Volume of hydrogen atom, V  r 3
3
 V     0.5  1010   0.524  1030 m3
4 22 3

3 7
Now, 1 mole of hydrogen contains 6.023  1023 hydrogen atoms.
Volume of 1 mole of hydrogen atoms,
Va  6.023  1023  0.524 1030  3.16 107 m3 .
Molar volume of 1 mole of hydrogen atoms at STP, Vm  22.4L  22.4  103 m3
So, the required ratio would be,
Vm 22.4  103
 7
 7.08  104
Va 3.16  10
Hence, we found that the molar volume is 7.08  104 times higher than the
atomic volume.
For this reason, the interatomic separation in hydrogen gas is much larger than
the size of a hydrogen atom.

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 13

18. Explain this common observation clearly: If you look out of the window
of a fast-moving train, the nearby trees, houses etc. seem to move rapidly in
a direction opposite to the train's motion, but the distant objects (hill tops,
the Moon, the stars etc.) seem to be stationary. (In fact, since you are aware
that you are moving, these distant objects seem to move with you).
Ans: Line-of-sight is defined as an imaginary line joining an object and an
observer's eye. When we observe nearby stationary objects such as trees,
houses, etc., while sitting in a moving train, they appear to move rapidly in the
opposite direction because the line-of-sight changes very rapidly.
On the other hand, distant objects such as trees, stars, etc., appear stationary
because of the large distance. As a result, the line-of-sight does not change its
direction rapidly.

19. The principle of „parallax‟ in section 2.3.1 is used in the determination

of distances of very distant stars. The baseline AB is the line joining the
earth‟s two locations six months apart in its orbit around the sun. That is,
the baseline is about the diameter of the Earth‟s orbit  3  1011 m .
However, even the nearest stars are so distant that with such a long
baseline, they show parallax only of the order of 1” (second) of arc or so. A
parsec is a convenient unit of length on the astronomical scale. It is the
distance of an object that will show a parallax of 1” (second) of arc from
opposite ends of a baseline equal to the distance from the earth to the sun.
How much a parsec in terms of meters?
Ans: We know the diameter of Earth’s orbit  3  1011 m .
So, its radius would be, r  1.5 1011 m .
The distance parallax angle, 1"  4.847  106 rad .
Let D be the distance of the star and we could define parsec as the distance at
which the average radius of the earth’s orbit subtends an angle of 1”.
So, we have,
r

D
Substituting the given values, we get,
r 1.5  1011
D  6
 0.309  106
 4.847  10
 D  3.09 1016 m
Therefore, we found the value of 1 parsec to be,

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 14

1 parsec  3.09  1016 m

20. The nearest star to our solar system is 4.29 light years away. How much
is this distance in terms of parsecs? How much parallax would this star
(named Alpha Centauri) show when viewed from two locations of the
Earth six months apart in its orbit around the Sun?
Ans: Distance of the star from the solar system  4.29ly
1 light year is the distance travelled by light in one year.
1 light year  speed of light  1 year
1ly  3  108  365  24  60  60  94608 1011 m
 4.29ly  405868.32 1011 m
But we have,
1 parsec  3.08 1016 m
405868.32  1011
 4.29ly   1.32 parsec
3.08  106
We have another relation,
d

D
Where,
Diameter of Earth’s orbit, d  3  1011 m
Distance of star from the Earth, D  405868  1011 m
Substituting these values,
3  1011
  7.39  106 rad
405868.32 10 11

But 1sec  4.85  106 rad

6 7.39  106
 7.39  10 rad   1.52"
4.85  106
Therefore, 4.2ly is equal to 1.32 parsec, and a star (named Alpha Centauri)
would show at 1.52’’ when it is viewed from two locations of the Earth six
months apart in its orbit around the Sun.

21. Precise measurements of physical quantities are a need of science. For

example, to ascertain the speed of an aircraft, one must have an accurate
method to find its positions at closely separated instants of time. This was

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 15

the actual motivation behind the discovery of radar in World War II .
Think of different examples in modern science where precise
measurements of length, time, mass etc. are needed. Also, wherever you
can, give a quantitative idea of the precision needed.
Ans: It is indeed very true that precise measurements of physical quantities are
essential for the development of science. Some examples are:
a) Ultrashort laser pulses (time interval 1015 s ) are used to measure time
intervals in several physical and chemical processes.
b) X-ray spectroscopy is used to determine the interatomic separation or inter-
planar spacing.
c) The development of a mass spectrometer makes it possible to measure the
mass of atoms precisely.

22. Just as precise measurements are necessary in science, it is equally

important to be able to make rough estimates of quantities using
rudimentary ideas and common observations. Think of ways by which you
can estimate the following (where an estimate is difficult to obtain, try to
get an upper bound on the quantity):
a) the total mass of rain-bearing clouds over India during the Monsoon.
Ans: For estimating the total mass of rain-bearing clouds over India during the
Monsoon:
During monsoons, a meteorologist records about 215 cm of rainfall in India i.e.,
the height of water column, h  215 cm  2.15 m
We have the following information,
Area of country, A  3.3 1012 m2
Hence, volume of rain water, V  A  h  7.09  1012 m3
Density of water,   1 103 kg m3
We could find the mass from the given value of density and volume as,
M   V  7.09  1015 kg
Hence, the total mass of rain-bearing clouds over India is approximately found
to be 7.09  1015 kg .

b) the mass of an elephant.

Ans: For estimating the mass of an elephant:
Consider a ship floating in the sea whose base area is known.

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 16

Measure its depth in sea (say d1 ).
Volume of water displaced by the ship would be, Vb  Ad1
Now one could move an elephant on the ship and then measure the depth of the
ship  d 2  .
Let the volume of water displaced by the ship with the elephant on board be
Vbe  Ad 2
Then the volume of water displaced by the elephant  Ad 2  Ad1
If the density of water  D
Mass of elephant would be, M  AD  d 2  d1 

c) the wind speed during a storm.

Ans: Estimation of wind speed during a storm:
Wind speed during a storm can be measured by using an anemometer.
As the wind blows, it rotates and the number of rotations in one second gives
the value of the wind speed.

d) the number of strands of hair on your head.

Ans: Estimation of the number of strands of hair on your head:
Let the area of the head surface carrying hair be A .
Let the radius of a hair be r and it can be determined with the help of a screw
gauge.
 Area of one hair  r 2
Total surface area A
Number of strands of hair  
Area of one hair r 2

e) the number of air molecules in your classroom.

Ans: Estimation of the number of air molecules in your classroom:
Let the volume of the room be V .
We know that:
One mole of air at NTP occupies 22.4 l i.e., 22.4  103 m3 volume.
Number of molecules in one mole N A  6.023  1023 (Avogadro number)
 Number of molecules in room of volume(V) could be found as,
6.023  1023
n V
22.4  103
 n  134.915 1026 V

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 17

 n  1.35 1028 V
Therefore, the total number of air molecules in the classroom is

23. The sun is a hot plasma (ionized matter) with its inner core at a
temperature exceeding 107 K and its outer surface at a temperature of
about 6000K. At these high temperatures no substance remains in a solid
or liquid phase. In what range do you expect the mass density of the Sun to
be, in the range of densities of solids and liquids or gases? Check if your
guess is correct from the following data: mass of the sun  2.0  1030 kg ,
radius of the sun  7.0  108 m .
Ans: We are given the following:
Mass of the sun, M  2.0  1030 kg
Radius of the sun, R  7.0 108 m
Now we find the volume of the sun to be,
V  R 3    7.0  108   1437.3  1024 m3
4 4 3

3 3
Density of the sun is found to be,
M 2.0  1030
 
V 1437.3  1024
 1.4  103 kg / m3
So, we found the density of sun to lie in the density range of solids and liquids.
Clearly, the high intensity is attributed to the intense gravitational attraction of
the inner layers on the outer layer of the sun.

24. When the planet Jupiter is at distance of 824.7 million kilometres from
the earth, its angular diameter is measured to be 35.72" of arc. Calculate
the diameter of Jupiter.
Ans: Distance of Jupiter from the earth, D  824.7  106 km  824.7  109 m
Angular diameter  35.72"  35.72  4.874 106 rad
Diameter of Jupiter  d
Using the relation,

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 18

 d

D
 d  D  824.7  109  35.72  4.874  10 6  143520.76 103
 d  1.435  105 km
Therefore, the diameter of Jupiter .

25. A man walking briskly in rain with speed v must slant his umbrella
forward making an angle  with the vertical. A student derives the
following relation between tan   v and checks that the relation has a
correct limit: as v  0 ,   0 as expected. (We are assuming there is no
strong wind and that the rain falls vertically for a stationary man). Do you
think this relation can be correct? If not, guess the correct relation.
Ans: The given relation is incorrect on the basis of dimensional ground.
The relation is,
tan   v
Dimension on LHS  M0L0T0
1 1
Dimension on RHS  M0LT
Clearly, the given relation is dimensionally wrong as the dimensions are
different on both sides.
In order to make it dimensionally right, we could divide RHS by speed of
rainfall v ' .
So, dimensionally correct relation would be,
v
tan  
v'

26. It is claimed that two caesium clocks, if allowed to run for 100 years,
free from any disturbance, may differ by only about 0.02s. What does this
imply for the accuracy of the standard caesium clock in measuring a time-
interval of 1s?
Ans: The difference in time of caesium clocks is 0.02s and the time required for
this difference is 100years  100  365  24  60  60  3.15 109 s .
0.02
The time difference for 1s would be s.
3.15  109

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 19

Therefore, the accuracy of the standard caesium clock in measuring 1s time
3.15  109
interval is,  157.5  109 s  1.5  1011s .
0.02

27. Estimate the average mass density of a sodium atom assuming its size to

be about 2.5 A . (Use the known values of Avogadro's number and the
atomic mass of sodium). Compare it with the density of sodium in its
crystalline phase: 970kg m3 . Are the two densities of the same order of
magnitude? If so, why?

Ans: Diameter of sodium atom = Size of sodium atom  2.5A
1  
Radius of sodium atom, r   2.5A  1.25A  1.25  1010 m
2
4
Volume of sodium atom, V  r 3
3
 V   3.14  1.25  1010 
4 3

3
According to the Avogadro hypothesis, one mole of sodium contains
6.023  1023 atoms and has a mass of 23 g or 23  103 kg .
23  103
 Mass of one atom  kg
6.023  1023
Density of sodium atom,
23  103
 6.023  1023
 3.14  1.25  1010 
4 3

3
  4.67  105 kg m3
It is given that the density of sodium in crystalline phase is 970kg m3 .
Hence, the density of sodium atom and the density of sodium in its crystalline
phase are not in the same order.
This is because in solid phase, atoms are closely packed and hence the
interatomic separation is very small in the crystalline phase.

28. The unit of length convenient on the nuclear scale is a fermi:

1f  1015 m . Nuclear sizes obey roughly the following empirical relation:

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 20

 1
r  r0 A , where r is the radius of the nucleus, A its mass number, and r0
3

is a constant equal to about, 1.2 f . Show that the rule implies that nuclear
mass density is nearly constant for different nuclei. Estimate the mass
density of sodium nucleus and compare it with the average mass density of
a sodium atom obtained in Exercise. 2.27.
Ans: We know that the radius of the nucleus r is given by the relation,
1
r  r0 A 3

r0  1.2f  1.2  1015 m

4
Volume of nucleus, V  r 3
3
3
4  1
 4
V    r0 A 3   r03A …….. (1)
3   3
Now, the mass of the nuclei M is equal to its mass number i.e.,
M  A amu  A 1.66 1027 kg
Density of nucleus,
Mass of nucleus

Volume of nucleus
A  1.66  1027 3  1.66  1027
  kg / m3
4 3
r0 A 4r0 3

3
This relation shows that nuclear mass depends only on constant r0 . Hence, the
nuclear mass densities of all nuclei are nearly the same.
Density of sodium nucleus could be given by,
3  1.66  1027
sodium 
 
3
4  3.14  1.2  1015
4.98
  1018
21.71
  2.29  1017 kgm3

29. A LASER is a source of very intense, monochromatic, and

unidirectional beam of light. These properties of a laser light can be
exploited to measure long distances. The distance of the Moon from the
Earth has been already determined very precisely using a laser as a source

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 21

of light. A laser light beamed at the Moon takes 2.56 s to return after
reflection at the Moon‟s surface. How much is the radius of the lunar orbit
around the Earth?
Ans: The time taken by the laser beam to return Earth after being reflected is
2.56s .
Speed of light is known to be 3  108 m / s .
1
Time taken by the beam to reach the moon is  2.56  1.28s .
2
We know that the radius of the lunar orbit would be the distance between earth
and moon:
R  c  t  3 108 1.28  3.84 108 m
 R  3.84  105 km

30. A SONAR (sound navigation and ranging) uses ultrasonic waves to

detect and locate objects under water. In a submarine equipped with a
SONAR the time delay between generation of a probe wave and the
reception of its echo after reflection from an enemy submarine is found to
be 77.0 s . What is the distance of the enemy submarine? (Speed of sound
in water  1450ms 1 ).
Ans: Let the distance between the ship and the enemy submarine be 'S' .
We are given,
Speed of sound in water  1450 m / s
Time lag between transmission and reception of Sonar waves  77 s
In this time lag, sound waves travel a distance which is twice the distance
between the ship and the submarine  2S .
1
So, the time taken for the sound to reach the submarine   77  38.5s
2
Thus, the distance between the ship and the submarine is given by
S  1450  38.5  55825 m  55.8 km

31. The farthest objects in our Universe discovered by modern astronomers

are so distant that light emitted by them takes billions of years to reach the
Earth. These objects (known as quasars) have many puzzling features,
which have not yet been satisfactorily explained. What is the distance (in
km) of a quasar from which light takes 3.0 billion years to reach us?
Ans: We are given, time taken by quasar light to reach Earth, t  3 billion years

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 22

That is,
t  3  109 years
 t  3  109  365  24  60  60s
We know that,
Speed of light, c  3  108 m / s
Distance between the Earth and quasar,
x  c t
 x   3  108    3  109  365  24  60  60 
 x  283824  1020 m
 x  2.8 1022 km
Therefore, we found the distance (in km) of a quasar from which light takes 3.0
billion years to reach us to be x  2.8  1022 km .

32. It is a well-known fact that during a total solar eclipse the disc of the
moon almost completely covers the disc of the Sun. From this fact and from
the information you can gather from examples 2.3 and 2.4, determine the
approximate diameter of the moon.
Ans:

The position of the Sun, Moon, and Earth during a lunar eclipse would be as
shown in the given figure.
We know that,
Distance of the Moon from the Earth  3.84 108 m
Distance of the sun from the Earth  1.496 1011 m
Diameter of the sun  1.39  109 m
You could see that, TRS and TPQ are similar. So,
1.39  109 1.496 1011

RS 3.84 108

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 23

 1.39  3.84
 RS   106
1.496
 RS  3.57  106 m
Hence, the diameter of the Moon is found to be 3.57  106 m .

33. P.A.M. Dirac, a great physicist of this century loved playing with
numerical values of fundamental constants of nature. This led him to an
interesting observation that from the basic constants of atomic physics ( c,e
, mass of electron, mass of proton) and the gravitational constant G , one
could arrive at a number with the dimension of time. Further, it was a very
large number whose magnitude was close to the present estimate on the age
of the universe ( ~ 15 billion years). From the table of fundamental
constants in this book, try to see if you too can construct this number (or
any other interesting number you can think of). If its coincidence with the
age of the universe were significant, what would this imply for the
constancy of fundamental constants?
Ans: We have a relation that is consisting of some fundamental constants to
give the age of the Universe given by:
 e2  1
t  
 40  mp me c G
2 3

Where,
t  Age of universe
e  Charge of electrons  1.6  1019 C
 0  Absolute permittivity
mp  Mass of protons  1.67  1027 kg
me  Mass of electrons  9.11031 kg
c  Speed of light  3  108 m / s
G  Universal gravitational constant  6.67 1011 Nm2kg 2
Also,
1
 9  109 Nm 2 / C2
40
Substituting all these values in the above equation, we get,

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 24

t
1.6 10   9 10 
19 4 9 2

9.110  1.67 10  3 10   6.67 10

31 2 27 8 3 11

1.6 81
4

t  10761862272411 years

9.1 1.67  27  6.67  365  24  3600
 t  6  109  1018 years
 t  6 billion years

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 25