UNIT - VIII

ATOMS & NUCLEI

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 FOURTEEN YEARS BOARD PROBLEMS

CBSE 2023

1. A hydrogen atom makes a transition from n = 5 to n = 1 orbit. The wavelength of

photon emitted is 'A. The wavelength of photon emitted when it makes a transition from n =
5 to n = 2 orbit is
(a) (b)
(c) (d)
2. The radius of nucleus is R. The radius of nucleus will be
(a) R (b) ( ) R

(c) ( ) (d) ( )
3. The curve of binding energy per nucleon as a function of atomic mass number has a
sharp peak for helium nucleus. This implies that helium nucleus is
(a) Radioactive
(b) Unstable
(c) easily fissionable
(d) more stable nucleus than its neighbours

4. Specify the transition of electron in the wavelength of the line in the Bohr model of hydrogen
atom which gives rise to the spectral line of highest wavelength.
(a) n = 3 to n = 1 (b) n = 3 to n = 2
(c) n = 4 to n = 1 (d) n = 4 to n = 2
5.
(a) What is meant by ionisation energy ? Write its value for hydrogen atom.
OR
(b) Define the term, mass defect. How is it related to stability of the nucleus ?
6.
(a) Distinguish between nuclear fission and fusion giving a n example of each.
(b) Explain the release of energy in nuclear fission and fusion on the basis of binding
energy per nucleon curve.
OR
(a) How is the size of a nucleus found experimentally? Write the relation between
the radius and mass number of a nucleus.
(b) Prove that the density of a nucleus is independent of its mass number.

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 CBSE 2022

1. State Bohr’s postulate to explain stable orbits in a hydrogen atom. Prove that the speed with
which the electron revolves in nth orbit is proportional to (1/n).
2. (a) James Chadwick, in 1932, studied the emission of neutral radiations when Beryllium.
Nuclei were bombarded with alpha particles. He concluded that emitted radiations were
neutrons and not photons Explain. (b) Two nuclei may have the same radius, even though
they contain different number of protons and neutrons. Explain.
3. (i) Distinguish between isotopes and isobars.
(ii) Two nuclei have different mass numbers A1 and A2. Are these nuclei necessarily the
isotopes of the same element ? Explain.
4. (a) The energy of hydrogen atom in an orbit i.e. – 1.51 eV. What are kinetic and potential energies
of the electron in this orbit ?
(b)The electron in a hydrogen atom is typically found at a distance of about 5.3 X 10–11 m from the
nucleus which has a diameter of about 1.0 X 10–11 m. Assuming the hydrogen at.om to be a sphere of
radius 5.3 X 10–11 m, what fraction of its volume is occupied by the nucleus?
5. A narrow beam of protons, each having 4.1MeV energy is approaching a sheet of lead
(Z =82).Calculate :
(i) the speed of a proton in the beam, and
(ii) the distance of its closest approach

CBSE 2020

1. Which of the following statements is not correct according to Rutherford model ?

(A) Most of the space inside an atom is empty.
(B) The electrons revolve around the nucleus under the influence of coulomb force acting on them.
(C) Most part of the mass of the atom and its positive charge are concentrated at its centre.
(D) The stability of atom was established by the model.

2. According to Bohr’s atomic model, the circumference of the electron orbit is always an ___________
multiple of de Broglie wavelength.
OR
In -decay, the parent and daughter nuclei have the same number of _____________ .
3. The nuclear radius of is 3·6 fermi. Find the nuclear radius of
OR
A proton and an electron have equal speeds. Find the ratio of de Broglie wavelengths associated with them.
4. Define the term ‘Half-life’ of a radioactive substance. Two different radioactive substances have half-lives
T1 and T2 and number of undecayed atoms at an instant, N1 and N2, respectively. Find the ratio of their
activities at that instant.
5. Using Bohr’s atomic model, derive the expression for the radius of nth orbit of the revolving electron in a
hydrogen atom.

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6. Using Bohr’s atomic model, derive the expression for the velocity of revolving electron in nth orbit in a
hydrogen atom
7. Define activity of a sample of a radioactive substance. The value of the disintegration constant of a
radioactive substance is 0·0693 h–1. Find the time after which the activity of a sample of this substance
reduces to one-half that of its present value.
8. Explain, how the process of emission of photoelectrons is different from the process of emission of -
particles.
9. The nucleus , initially at rest, decays into by emitting an -particle

The binding energies per nucleon of the parent nucleus, the daughter nucleus and -particle are 7·8 MeV,
7·835 MeV and 7·07 MeV, respectively. Assuming the daughter nucleus to be formed in the unexcited state
and neglecting its share in the energy of the reaction, find the speed of the emitted -particle. (Mass of -
particle = 6·68  10–27 kg)

CBSE 2019

1. The wavelength of light from the spectral emission line of sodium is 590 nm. Find the kinetic energy at
which the electron would have the same de-Broglie wavelength. (2)
2. A hydrogen atom in the ground state is excited by an electron beam of 12·5 eV energy. Find out the
maximum number of lines emitted by the atom from its excited state. (2)
3. Draw a plot of -particle scattering by a thin foil of gold to show the variation of the number of the scattered
particles with scattering angle. Describe briefly how the large angle scattering explains the existence of the
nucleus inside the atom. Explain with the help of impact parameter picture, how Rutherford scattering
serves a powerful way to determine an upper limit on the size of the nucleus. (3)
4. Why is it difficult to detect the presence of an anti-neutrino during -decay ? Define the term decay constant
of a radioactive nucleus and derive the expression for its mean life in terms of the decay constant. (3)
5. (a) State two distinguishing features of nuclear force. (b) Draw a plot showing the variation of potential
energy of a pair of nucleons as a function of their separation. Mark the regions on the graph where the force
is (i) attractive, and (ii) repulsive. (3)
6. Using Bohr’s postulates, derive the expression for the radius of the nth orbit in which the electron is
revolving in hydrogen atom. How does de-Broglie’s hypothesis explain the stability of hydrogen atom ?
Explain. (3)
7. (a) Plot a graph showing the variation of potential energy of a pair of nucleons as a function of their
separation. Also indicate the regions where the force is (i) attractive and (ii) repulsive.
(b) Write two characteristic properties of nuclear force. (3)
8. (a) Draw the energy level diagram for the line spectra representing Lyman series and Balmer series in the
spectrum of hydrogen atom.
(b) Using the Rydberg formula for the spectrum of hydrogen atom, calculate the largest and shortest
wavelengths of the emission lines of the Balmer series in the spectrum of hydrogen atom. (Use the value of
Rydberg constant R = 1·1 X 107 m–1) (3)

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 CBSE 2018

1. Four nuclei of an element undergo fusion to form a heavier nucleus, with release of energy.
Which of the two -- the parent or the daughter nucleus -- would have higher binding energy per
nucleon ? (1)
2. (a) State Bohr’s postulate to define stable orbits in hydrogen atom. How does de Broglie’s hypothesis
explain the stability of these orbits ?
(b) A hydrogen atom initially in the ground state absorbs a photon which excites it to the n = 4 level.
Estimate the frequency of the photon. (3)
3. (a) Explain the processes of nuclear fission and nuclear fusion by using the plot of binding energy per
nucleon (BE/A) versus the mass number A.
(b) A radioactive isotope has a half-life of 10 years. How long will it take for the activity to reduce to
3·125% ? (3)
CBSE 2017

1. A 12.5 eV electron beam is used to excite a gaseous hydrogen atom at room temperature. Determine the
wavelengths and the corresponding series of the lines emitted. (2)
2. Asha's mother read an article in the newspaper about a disaster that took place at Chernobyl. She could not
understand much from the article and asked a few questions from Asha regarding the article. Asha tried to
answer her mother's questions based on what she learnt in Class XII Physics (4)
(a) What was the installation at Chernobyl where the disaster took place ? What, according to you, was the
cause of this disaster ?
(b) Explain the process of release of energy in the installation at Chernobyl.
(c) What according to you, were the values displayed by Asha and her mother ?
Solution
(a) "Oh April 1986, the world's worst nuclear accident happened at the chernobyl. Plant near pripyat ukrain
in the soviet union. An explosion and fire in the No. 4 reactor sent radioactivity into the atmosphere
(b) the value displayed by the Asha is that she is caring and having helping nature towards here mother. the
value displayed by Asha's mother is that she has no idea the out burst take place in chemobyl (ukrain) but
she has the curiosity about the incident that take place on April 26, 1986, at the chernobyl plant near
Priyat, Ukrain, in the soviyat union.

CBSE 2016

1. When is Hα line in the emission spectrum of hydrogen atom obtained ? Calculate the frequency of the
photon emitted during this transition. [2]
OR
Calculate the wavelength of radiation emitted when electron in a hydrogen atom jumps from
n = ∞ to n = 1. (2)
2. (a) Derive the mathematical expression for law of radioactive decay for a sample of a radioactive nucleus.
(b) How is the mean life of a given radioactive nucleus related to the decay constant ? (3)

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 CBSE 2015

1. When the electron orbiting in hydrogen atom in its ground state moves to the third excited state, show how
the de Broglie wavelength associated with it would be affected. (2)
2. Determine the distance of closest approach when an alpha particle of kinetic energy 4·5 MeV strikes a
nucleus of Z = 80, stops and reverses its direction. (2)
3. (a) The figure shows the plot of binding energy (BE) per nucleon
as a function of mass number A. The letters A, B, C, D and E
represent the positions of typical nuclei on the curve. Point out,
giving reasons, the two processes (in terms of A, B, C, D and E),
one of which can occur due to nuclear fission and the other due to
nuclear fusion. (3)

(b) Identify the nature of the radioactive radiations emitted in each step of the decay process given
below.

CBSE 2014

1. Why is it found experimentally difficult to detect neutrinos in nuclear -decay? (1)

2. Using Rutherford model of the atom, derive the expression for the total energy of the electron in hydrogen
atom. What is the significance of total negative energy possessed by the electron? (2)
OR
Using Bohr’s postulates of the atomic model, derive the expression for radius of electron orbit.
Hence obtain the expression for Bohr’s radius.
3. For the past some time, Aarti had been observing some erratic body movement, unsteadiness and lack of
coordination in the activities of her sister Radha, who also used to complain of severe headache
occasionally. Aarti thoroughly examined Radha and diagnosed that she has a brain tumour.
(a) What, according to you, are the values displayed by Aarti?
(b) How can radioisotopes help a docyor to diagnose brain tumour? (4)

CBSE 2013

1. Define the activity of a given radioactive substance. Write its S.I. unit. (2)
2. Using Bohr’s postulates, derive the expression for the frequency of radiation emitted when electron in
hydrogen atom undergoes transition from higher energy state ( ) to the lower state,
( )
When electron in hydrogen atom jumps from energy state identify the spectral series
to which the emission lines belong. (5)

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 OR
(a) Draw the plot of blinding energy per nucleon ( ) as a function of mass number A. Write two important
conclusions that can be drawn regarding the nature of nuclear force.
(b) Use this graph to explain the release of energy in both the processes of nuclear fusion and fission.
(c) Write the basic nuclear process of neutron undergoing . Why is the detection of neutrinos found
very difficult ? (5)

CBSE 2012

1. Draw a plot of potential energy per of nucleon as a function their separations. Mark the regions where the
nuclear force is (i) attractive and (ii) repulsive. Write any two characteristic features of nuclear forces. (3)
2. In a Geiger-Marsden experiment, calculate the distance of closest approach to the nucleus of , when
an -particle of energy impinges on it before it comes momentarily to rest and reverse its direction.
How will the distance of closest approach be affected when the kinetic energy of the -particle is doubled?
(3)
OR
The ground state energy of hydrogen atom is – 13.6 . If electron makes a transition from an energy level-
0.85 to -3.4 , calculate the wavelength of the spectral line emitted. To which series of hydrogen
spectrum does this wavelength belong? (3)
CBSE 2011

1. Write any two characteristic properties of nuclear force. (1)

2. (a) Using de Broglie’s hypothesis, explain with the help of a suitable diagram, Bohr’s second postulate of
quantization of energy levels in a hydrogen atom.
(b)The ground state energy of hydrogen atom is -13.6 . What are the potential energies of the electron in
this state ? (3)
CBSE 2010

1. Define ionization energy. What is its value for a hydrogen atom? (1)
2. Draw a plot of potential energy of a pair of nucleons as a function of their separation. Write two important
conclusions which you can draw regarding the nature of nuclear forces. (2)
OR
Draw a plot of the binding energy per nucleon as a function of mass number for a large number of
nuclei, . How do you explain the constancy of binding energy per nucleon in the range
using the property that nuclear force is short-ranged? (2)

3. (a) Write symbolically the , decay process of . (3)

(b) Derive an expression for the average life of a radionuclide. Give its relationship with the half-life.

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 CBSE 2009

1. Two nuclei have mass numbers in the ratio . What is the ratio of their nuclear radii? (1)
2. (a) The mass of a nucleus in its ground state is always less than the total mass of its constituents – neutrons
and protons. Explain.
(b) Plot a graph showing the variation of potential energy of a pair of nucleons as a function of their
separation. (2)
3. Draw a schematic arrangement of the Geiger – Marsden experiment. How did the scattering of -particles
by a thin foil of gold provide and important way to determine an upper limit on the size of the nucleus?
Explain briefly. (3)