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VALLIAMMAI ENGINEERING COLLEGE
SRM Nagar, Kattankulathur – 603 203

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

QUESTION BANK

I SEMESTER

PH8151-ENGINEERING PHYSICS

Regulation – 2017

Academic Year 2017 – 18

Prepared by

Dr.H.Krishnan, Dr.M.Anbuchezhiyan, Dr.K.Thiruppathi, Mrs.D.Praveena,

Mrs.S.Gandhimathi, Mrs.R.Nithya Balaji, Mrs.R.Sasireka,
Mrs.M.P.Ramya Rajan, Dr.S.Murugavel,
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VALLIAMMAI ENGINEERING COLLEGE
SRM Nagar, Kattankulathur – 603 203.

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

QUESTION BANK
SUBJECT : PH8151- ENGINEERING PHYSICS
SEM / YEAR: I SEM/AY-2017-2018

UNIT I - PROPERTIES OF MATTER

Elasticity – Stress-strain diagram and its uses - factors affecting elastic modulus and tensile strength –
torsional stress and deformations – twisting couple - torsion pendulum: theory and experiment - bending of
beams - bending moment – cantilever: theory and experiment – uniform and non-uniform bending: theory and
experiment - I-shaped girders - stress due to bending in beams.

PART - A
Q.No Questions BT Level Competence
1. Define elasticity and plasticity. BT L 2 Understand
2. Define stress and strain and write down their units. BT L 2 Understand
3. What are the different types of stress and strain? BT L 1 Remember
4. Define elastic fatigue. BT L 2 Understand
5. State Hooke’s law. BT L 2 Understand
6. What do you infer from stress and strain diagram? BT L 4 Analyse
7. List the three modulii of elasticity. BT L 1 Remember
8. What force is required to stretch a steel wire to double its length BT L 3 Apply
when its area of cross section is 2 cm2 and young’s modulus is
2 x 1011 N/m2.
9. What is Poison’s ratio? BT L 1 Remember
10. How do temperature and impurity affect the elasticity of BT L 4 Analyse
materials?
11. Define torque. BT L 2 Understand
12. A wire of length 1 m and diameter 1 mm is clamped at one of its BT L 3 Apply
ends. Calculate the couple required to twist the other end by 90°.
Given modulus of rigidity = 298 GPa.
13. Define torsional stress. BT L 1 Remember
14. What is a beam? BT L 2 Understand
15. How are the various filaments of a beam affected when the beam BT L 4 Analyse
is loaded?
16. Define cantilever. BT L 2 Understand
17. When a wire is bent back and forth it becomes hot? Why? BT L 5 Evaluate
18. Calculate the young’s modulus of the material in the cantilever
depression method. The length of cantilever beam is 1m which is
suspended with a load of 150 gm. The depression is found to be 4 BT L 3 Apply
cm. The thickness of the beam is 5 mm and breadth is 3 cm.
19. An elastic wire is cut into half of its original length. How will it BT L 5 Evaluate
affect the maximum load the wire can support?
20. What are the advantages of I- shaped girders? BT L 5 Evaluate
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PART - B
1. How will you classify three types of elastic moduli? Explain with
necessary diagrams. Write the relationship between three moduli BT L 5 Evaluate
of elasticity. (13)
2. Draw stress strain diagram and discuss the behaviour of ductile BT L 2 Understand
material under loading. (13)
3. Explain the factors affecting the elasticity of the material. (13) BT L 2 Understand
4. Derive an expression for the torsional couple per unit angular BT L 5 Evaluate
twist when a cylinder is twisted. (13)
5. Derive an expression for the period of oscillation of a torsional
pendulum. How can it be used to determine the torsional rigidity BT L 5 Evaluate
of awire. (13)
6. What is torsional pendulum? How it is used to determine the a)
Moment of inertia of the disc. b) Rigidity modulus of the wire BT L 1 Remember
using moment of inertia c) moment of inertia of a irregular body.
(13)
7. Give the theory of torsional pendulum and describe a method
BT L 2 Understand
to find the moment of inertia of an irregular body. (13)
8. What is meant by bending moment of a beam? Derive the BT L 1 Remember
expression for the bending moment of a beam. (13)
9. Derive the expression for the depression at the free end of a
cantilever due to load. Describe an experiment to determine the BT L 1 Remember
young’s modulus of the cantilever using this expression. (13)
10. i) Derive with relevant theory how a cantilever may be used to
determine the Youngs modulus of the material of bar? (10)
BT L 4 Analyse
ii) A circular and a square cantilever are made of same material
and have equal area of cross section and length. Find the ratio of
their depression, for the given load. (3)
11. Explain with necessary theory the determination of young’s
modulus of elasticity of the material of the beam supported at its
ends and loaded in the middle. Describe an experiment to BT L 5 Evaluate
determine the young’s modulus of the material using this method.
(13)
12. Discuss the method to determine the young’s modulus of
elasticity of the material of the beam supported at both the ends
which are equidistant from the centre and also describe an BT L 5 Evaluate
experiment to determine the young’s modulus of the material
using this method. (13)
13. How will you determine the young’s modulus of material of a bar
by non-uniform bending method? Explain briefly the theory BT L 4 Analyse
behind the determination of young’s modulus. (13)
14. i) Write a short note on I shaped girders. Give its applications and
advantages. (10) BT L 1 Remember
ii) Explain stress due to bending in beams. (3)
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UNIT II - WAVES AND FIBER OPTICS
Oscillatory motion – forced and damped oscillations: differential equation and its solution – plane progressive
waves – wave equation. Lasers : population of energy levels, Einstein’s A and B coefficients derivation – resonant
cavity, optical amplification (qualitative) – Semiconductor lasers: homojunction and heterojunction – Fiber optics:
principle, numerical aperture and acceptance angle - types of optical fibres (material, refractive index, mode) –
losses associated with optical fibers - fibre optic sensors: pressure and displacement.

PART – A
Q.No Questions BT Level Competence
1. Define the terms i) Time period ii) Frequency. BTL 1 Knowledge
2. What is meant by damped vibrations? Give examples. BTL 1 Knowledge
3. BTL 2
What do you understand by the term Dead Beat? Give Examples. Understand
4. Differentiate between free and forced vibrations. BTL 4 Analyse
5. A particle is executing SHM of amplitude 0.2 cm. If its velocity at BTL 4
Analyse
the mean position is 5 m/s, then find its frequency.
6. Define plane progressive wave. BTL 1 Knowledge
7. State the properties of laser beam. BTL 2 Understand
8. Spatial and temporal coherence are major attributes of a lasing BTL 6
Creating
beam. Comment.
9. Write the difference between spontaneous emission and BTL 4
Analyse
stimulated emission.
10. What is meant by population inversion and metastable state? BTL 1 Knowledge
11. Can a two level system be used for the production of laser? Why? BTL 2 Understand
12. What is an optical resonator cavity? Mention its role in a laser? BTL 3 Apply
13. Calculate the wavelength of light emission from GaAs whose band BTL 4
Analyse
gap is 1.44 eV.
14. List out the conditions to be satisfied for total internal reflection. BTL 3 Apply
15. What do you mean by the acceptance angle for an optical fibre? BTL 3 Apply
Show that it is related to the numerical aperture.
16. Differentiate between single mode and multi mode fibre. BTL 4 Analyse
17. A silica optical fibre has a core refractive index of 1.51 and a BTL 3 Apply
cladding refractive index of 1.48. Determine the critical angle at
the core cladding interface.
18. The maximum angle of acceptance for an optical fibre is 11.54°. BTL 3 Apply
Find the refractive index of cladding if the core refractive index is
1.60.
19. Distinguish between step- index and graded index fibres. BTL 4 Analyse
20. What is an active and passive fibre optic sensor? BTL 1 Knowledge
PART – B
1. Obtain the differential equation of damped harmonic oscillation and
BTL2 Understand
discuss the special cases of oscillatory motion. (13)
2. Discuss the theory of forced harmonic oscillations. How does
BTL 4 Analyse
sharpness of resonance depend on damping? (13)
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3. Establish a differential equation of motion for a damped harmonic
oscillator. Discuss the conditions for over damped, critical damped BTL 1 Knowledge
and under damped oscillations. (13)
4. Derive the expression for the wave equation of a plane progressive Understand
BTL 2
wave. (13)
5. i) Derive an expression for Einstein’s coefficient of spontaneous and BTL 2 Understand
stimulated emissions. (10)
BTL 4 Analyse
(ii) How laser light differ from ordinary light? (3)
6. Explain the principle, construction and working of a semiconductor
BTL 4 Analyse
diode laser. Mention its advantages and disadvantages. (13)
7. With suitable diagram, explain how the laser action is achieved in
BTL 4 Analyse
homo junction and hetero junction lasers? (13)
8. i) For a hetero junction semiconductor laser, the band gap of the BTL 3 Apply
semiconductor used is 1.44 eV. By doping, the band gap of the
semiconductor is increased by 0.2 eV. Calculate the change in the
wavelength of the laser. (6)
Analyse
ii) Differentiate between homo junction and hetero junction laser. (7) BTL 4
9. Define numerical aperture and derive an expression for numerical
aperture and angle of acceptance of fibre in terms of refractive index
BTL 1
of the core and cladding. Mention any six advantages of optical fibre Knowledge
for communication as a wave guide. (13)
10. How optical fibers are classified based on modes, material and
BTL 2 Understand
refractive index profile? (13)
11. i) Discuss the following losses in optical fibres. BTL 2 Understand
a). Scattering loss b). Bending loss c). Absorption loss (10)
ii) The optical power after propagating through a fibre of 1.5 km
length is reduced to 25 % of its original value. Compute the fibre loss BTL 5 Evaluation
in db/km. (3)
12. Explain the construction and working of pressure and displacement
BTL 4 Analyse
sensors. (13)
13. What is attenuation? Discuss the different mechanisms which are
BTL 2 Understand
responsible for attenuation in the optical fiber. (13 )
14. What are the different types of fibre optic sensors? Explain the BTL 1 Knowledge
working of any two sensors. (13)
UNIT III - THERMAL PHYSICS
Transfer of heat energy – thermal expansion of solids and liquids – expansion joints - bimetallic strips - thermal
conduction, convection and radiation – heat conductions in solids – thermal conductivity - Forbe’s and Lee’s disc
method: theory and experiment - conduction through compound media (series and parallel) – thermal insulation –
applications: heat exchangers, refrigerators, ovens and solar water heaters.

PART – A
Q.No Questions BT Level Competence
1. What are the modes of heat transferred from one place to another? BTL 1 Knowledge
2. Mention the types of thermal expansion of solids. BTL 1 Knowledge
3. Define coefficient of linear expansion of solids. BTL 1 Knowledge
4. Define coefficient of superficial expansion. BTL 1 Knowledge
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5. Define coefficient of cubical expansion. BTL 1 Knowledge
6. Explain the term co-efficient of apparent and real expansion of liquid. BTL 2 Understand
7. A circular hole of diameter 2.00 cm is made in an aluminium plate at Apply
0 0C. What will be the diameter at 100 0C? Linear expansion for BTL 3
aluminium = 2.3 x 10-3 / 0C
8. What is thermal conduction? BTL 1 Knowledge
9. Define coefficient of thermal conductivity and mention its unit. BTL 1 Knowledge
10. How are heat conduction and electrical conduction analogous to each BTL 4 Analyze
other?
11. Define thermal resistance. BTL 1 Knowledge
12. What is bimetallic strip? Give its use. BTL 1 Knowledge
13. What is meant by thermal insulation? BTL 1 Knowledge
14. The roof building is often painted white during summer. Why? BTL 4 Analyze
15. What are the factors to be considered in order to maintain a comfortable BTL 3 Apply
inside the building?
16. How much heat will be conducted through a slab of area 90x10-4 m2 and
thickness 1.2x10-3 m in one second when its opposite faces are
maintained at difference in temperature of 20 K. The coefficient of BTL 3 Apply
thermal conductivity of that material is 0.04 Wm-1K-1
17. Mention the properties of the thermal insulating materials. BTL 1 Knowledge
18. What is meant by solar power? BTL 2 Understand
19. Explain the principle of refrigeration. BTL 2 Understand
20. Define oven. BTL 1 Knowledge
PART – B
1. i). Explain the different modes of transferring heat energy with example. BTL 2 Understand
(8)
BTL 4 Analyze
ii). Derive the expression for thermal conductivity with unit. (5)
2. Define expansion of joints. What are the types of expansion joints and BTL 1 Knowledge
write in detail about it. (13)
3. i) Write the principle and working of bimetallic strip. (6)
ii) Describe the application and advantages of bimetallic strips. BTL 2 Understand
(7)
4. Describe Forbe’s method to determine thermal conductivity of metals BTL 2 Understand
with relevant theory and experiment. (13)
5. Explain the method of determining thermal conductivity of good BTL 4 Analyze
conductors. (13)
6. Describe Lee’s disc method for determining thermal conductivity of bad BTL 2 Understand
conductors. (13)
7. Derive an expression for the quantity of heat flow through a metal slab BTL 5 Evaluate
whose faces are kept at two different temperatures. Use this expression
to determine the thermal conductivity of a bad conductor.
(13)
8. Derive the expression for effective thermal conductivity through BTL 5 Evaluate
compound media in series and parallel. Also discuss the application of
it. (13)
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9. i) Write an essay about thermal insulation inside a room. (10) BTL 2 Understand
2
ii) The total area of a glass window pane is 0.8 m . Calculate how much
heat is conducted per hour through the glass window pane if thickness
of glass is 3 mm. The temperature of the inside surface is 25 °C and
outside surface is 4 °C. The thermal conductivity of glass is
1.1 Wm-1K-1. (3) BTL 3 Apply

10. Write in detail about thermal insulation. (13) BTL 2 Understand

11. What is heat exchanger? Explain in detail about heat exchangers. (13) BTL 4 Analyze
12. Define refrigeration. Describe the principle and working of refrigeration. BTL 4 Analyze
(13)
13. Write short note on
i) Solar water heater (7)
ii) Oven (6) BTL 2 Understand
14. i) How the solar power can be used in our domestic life point out the BTL 5 Evaluate
important methods? (5)
ii) A rod of 0.25 m long and 0.892x10-4 m2 area of cross section is
heated at one end through 393 K while the other end is kept at 323 K.
The quantity of heat which will flow in 15 minutes along the rod is
8.811x103 joule. Calculate the thermal conductivity of the rod. BTL 3 Apply
(4)
iii) Two metal bars A and B are 50 cm and 70 cm long respectively and
have thermal conductivities 385 Wm-1K-1 and 296 Wm-1K-1
respectively. They are joined together by welding. The outer end of A
is at 363 K and the outer end of B is at 303 K. Calculate the Apply
temperature at the welded joint assuming that their cross sections are BTL
equal. (4)

UNIT IV - QUANTUM PHYSICS

Black body radiation – Planck’s theory (derivation) – Compton effect: theory and experimental verification –
wave particle duality – electron diffraction – concept of wave function and its physical significance –
Schrödinger’s wave equation – time independent and time dependent equations – particle in a one-
dimensional rigid box – tunnelling (qualitative) - scanning tunnelling microscope.
PART – A
Q.No Questions BT Level Competence
1. What is meant by energy spectrum of a black body? What do you
BTL 1 Knowledge
infer from it?
2. What are the postulates of Planck’s quantum theory? BTL 1 Knowledge
3. Define Wien’s displacement law. BTL 1 Knowledge
4. State Rayleigh - Jeans law. What are its limitations? BTL 1 Knowledge
5. What is Compton wavelength? Give its value. BTL 1 Knowledge
6. State the expression for Compton shift. Why it is not observable in BTL 2 Understand
the visible region of electromagnetic spectrum?
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7. X -ray photon of wave length 0.3 Å is scattered through an angle 45°
BTL2 Understand
by a loosely bound electron. Find the wave length of the scattered
photon.
8. Write any two physical significance of wave function. BTL 5 Evaluate
9. How are matter-waves different from electromagnetic waves? BTL 4 Analyze
10. What is wave particle duality? BTL 2 Understand
11. Write down the expression for the wavelength of matter waves. BTL 2 Understand
12. List the applications of Schrodinger wave equation. BTL 3 Applying
13. A proton is moving with a speed of 2 x 108 m/s. Find the wavelength BTL 2 Understand
of the matter wave associated with it.
14. A cylinder filled with helium and heated up to 27 0C. If a beam of
helium atoms emerges out of the cylinder, then calculate the
de-Broglie wavelength associated with the helium atoms. Given that BTL 2 Understand
mass of one helium atom is 6.7 x 10-27 kg and k = 1.38x10-23 J/K.
15. For a free particle moving within a one dimensional potential box, BTL 3 Apply
the ground state energy cannot be zero. Why?
16. Calculate the energy required for an electron to jump from ground BTL 1 Knowledge
state to second excited state in a potential well of width “L”.
17. What are Eigen values and Eigen function? BTL 4 Analyze
18. What is the principle of scanning tunnelling microscope? BTL 5 Evaluate
19. Mention the major applications of quantum tunnelling. BTL 3 Applying
20. List out the limitations of scanning tunnelling microscope. BTL 4 Analyze
PART – B
1. Write the postulates of Planck’s quantum theory of radiation. Using
quantum theory derive an expression for the average energy emitted BTL 2 Understand
by a black body and arrive at Planck’s radiation law in terms of
frequency. (3 + 10)
2. i) Derive the expression for Planck’s quantum theory of radiation.
(10)
BTL 2 Understand
ii) Deduce Wien’s displacement law & Rayleigh-Jeans law from
Planck’s quantum theory of radiation. (3)
3. What is Compton Effect? Give the theory of Compton effect and
show that the Compton shift . (13) BTL 4 Analyze

4. (13)
Derive an expression for the change in wavelength suffered by an
X-ray Photon when it collides with an electron and describe the BTL 3 Analyze
experimental part with necessary diagrams. (13)
5. Explain Compton effect and its physical significance. Derive the
relation giving the change of wavelength the energy of recoil BTL 2 Understand
electron and recoil angle. (13)
6. Derive the expression for de-Broglie wavelength for matter waves.
Express the de-Broglie Wavelength in terms of energy and voltage. BTL 2 Understand
(13)
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7. i) Explain the physical significance of wave function. (7)
BTL 5 Evaluate
ii) What are matter waves? Write the properties of matter waves.(6)
8. Derive Schrodinger’s time independent wave equation. (13) BTL 4 Evaluate
9. Derive Schrodinger’s time dependent wave equation. (13) BTL 3 Apply
10. Derive Schrodinger’s wave equation for a particle in a one
dimensional box. Solve it to obtain Eigen function and show that BTL 2 Understand
Eigen values are discrete. (13)
11. Discuss the case of particle in a box on Schrodinger wave equation.
BTL 3 Apply
Apply this to electron in metal. (13)
12. Show that wave function for a particle confined in an infinite one
dimensional potential well of length ‘L’ is given. Hence discuss the BTL 3 Apply
energy levels and their discreteness. (13)
13. Explain the phenomenon of quantum tunnelling with schematic
diagram explain the construction and working of Scanning BTL 1 Knowledge
Tunnelling Microscope.
14. Discuss the construction, working and applications of Scanning
Tunnelling Microscope. Also mention its advantages and BTL 2 Knowledge
disadvantages. (13)

UNIT V - CRYSTAL PHYSICS

Single crystalline, polycrystalline and amorphous materials – single crystals: unit cell, crystal systems,
Bravais lattices, directions and planes in a crystal, Miller indices – inter-planar distances - coordination
number and packing factor for SC, BCC, FCC, HCP and diamond structures - crystal imperfections: point
defects, line defects – Burger vectors, stacking faults – role of imperfections in plastic deformation - growth
of single crystals: solution and melt growth techniques.
PART - A
Q.No Questions BT Level Competence
1. What are single crystalline materials? BTL1 Knowledge
2. Distinguish between crystalline and non-crystalline materials. BTL4 Analysing
3. What is meant by primitive and non-primitive cell? Give an example. BTL1 Knowledge
4. Define unit cell. BTL1 Knowledge
5. Based on the criteria find out the crystal structure for the following.
BTL4 Analysing
(i) a = b = c = 4.74Å and α =β = γ = 60◦
(ii) a = b = c = 4.74 Å and α =β = γ = 90◦
6. What are Bravais lattice? BTL1 Knowledge
7. What are lattice parameters for a unit cell? BTL1 Knowledge
8. Define space lattice. How it is useful to describe a crystal structure? BTL1 Knowledge
9. Draw the planes for Miller Indices (100), (110) and (111). BTL2 Understand
10. A crystal plane cut at 3a, 4b and 2c distances along the crystallographic BTL4 Analyse
axes. Find the Miller Indices of the plane.
11. Distinguish between inter planar spacing and inter atomic spacing. BTL3 Apply
12. Iron has BCC structure with atomic radius 0.123Å. Find the lattice BTL4 Analyse
constant.
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13. How carbon atoms are arranged in diamond structure? BTL3 Apply
14. Defects in crystals are not always harmful. Justify. BTL3 Apply
15. What is meant by crystal defect? BTL6 Creative
16. What are Schottky defects? BTL1 Knowledge
17. Define Burger vector. BTL1 Knowledge
18. What is the cause of plastic deformation? BTL1 Knowledge
19. Write any two applications of Czochralski and Bridgmann techniques. BTL1 Knowledge
20. What are Bravais lattice? BTL3 Applying
PART - B
1. Explain Seven Crystal System with neat diagram. (13) BTL 2 Understand
2. Explain the No. of atoms, atomic radius, Co-ordination number and BTL 2 Understand
packing factor for SC, BCC and FCC structures. (13)
3. i) Define the following terms a). Number of atoms per unit cell BTL 1 Knowledge
b). Atomic Radius c). Co-ordination number d). Atomic packing
factor. (8)
ii) Calculate the volume of an FCC unit cell in terms of atomic radius BTL 3 Apply
‘r’. (3)
iii) An element has HCP structure. If the radius of the atom is 1.605 Å.
Find the volume of the unit cell. (2) BTL 3 Apply
4. i) Describe BCC structure. Derive expression for the number
of atoms, co-ordination number, atomic radius and packing factor.
(10 ) BTL 2 Understand

ii) The density of copper is 8980 kg/m3 and unit cell dimension is
3.61 Å, atomic weight of Cu is 63.54. Determine its crystal
structure. Calculate the atomic radius and inter planar spacing of BTL 3 Apply
(110) plane. (3)
5. i) Describe FCC structure. Derive the details about number. of atoms,
co- ordination number, atomic radius and packing factor. (8)
BTL 2 Understand
ii) Metallic iron changes from BCC to FCC at 910 °C and
corresponding atomic radii vary from 1.258Å to 1.292Å. Calculate BTL 3 Apply
the percentage volume change during this structural change. (3)
iii) α- iron of atomic weight 55.85 solidifies into BCC structure and
has a density of 7860 kg/m3. Calculate the radius of an atom. (2) BTL 3 Apply
6. Explain HCP structure. Show that for an HCP structure c/a = √8 /√3 BTL 2 Understand
and hence calculate packing fraction for HCP structure. (3 + 10)
7. i) Show that atomic packing factor for FCC and HCP are same. (6) BTL 3 Apply
ii) What are Bravais lattices? List out the axial length and interfacial
angles of seven crystal systems. (5) BTL 1 Knowledge
iii) Show that for a simple cubic system
BTL 3 Apply
d100 : d110 : d111 = √6 : √3:√2. (2)
8. i) Derive the expression for the inter planar spacing or d-spacing for BTL 2 Understand
(hkl) planes of a cubic structure. (10)
ii) Determine lattice constant for FCC lead crystal of radius 1.746 Å.
Also find the spacing of a) (1 1 1), b) (2 0 0 ), c) (2 2 0). (3) BTL 3 Apply
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9. What is meant by crystal defects? Explain the various types of crystal BTL 2 Understand
defects with neat diagram. (2+11)
10. Explain about point defects and line defects with neat diagram. (13) BTL 2 Understand
11. Explain the role of imperfections in plastic deformation. (13) BTL 2 Understand
12. Explain the various solution growth techniques along with its merits BTL 2 Understand
and demerits. (13)
13. Explain diamond cubic structure and obtain its no.of atoms per unit BTL 4 Analyse
cell, atomic radius, co-ordination number and atomic packing factor.
(13)
14. Explain the two melt growth techniques.
i) Czochralski’s method BTL 2 Understand
ii) Bridgmann technique (6 + 7)