Quantrex Quantrex AcademyJEE · NEET · NDA PYQs with solutions Open app
NEET
Exam
NEET
Subject
Physics
Chapter
Atomic Physics

NEET · Physics · Atomic Physics

Positronium is a bound state of an electron and a positron (a...

Positronium is a bound state of an electron and a positron (a particle with the same mass as an electron but positive charge). If the ground state energy and the first Bohr radius of a normal hydrogen atom are −13.6 eV-13.6 \text{ eV} and a0a_0 respectively, what will be the ground state energy and the first Bohr radius of positronium? (Assume the proton mass in hydrogen is infinitely large compared to the electron mass).

Options

  1. A−27.2 eV,a02-27.2 \text{ eV}, \dfrac{a_0}{2}
  2. B−6.8 eV,2a0-6.8 \text{ eV}, 2a_0
  3. C−13.6 eV,a0-13.6 \text{ eV}, a_0
  4. D−6.8 eV,a02-6.8 \text{ eV}, \dfrac{a_0}{2}

Correct answer

B. −6.8 eV,2a0-6.8 \text{ eV}, 2a_0

Step-by-step solution

In a two-body system where the nucleus is not infinitely massive, the effective mass of the orbiting particle is replaced by the reduced mass μ\mu of the system.

For positronium, both particles have mass mem_e. The reduced mass is:
μ=me⋅meme+me=me2\mu = \dfrac{m_e \cdot m_e}{m_e + m_e} = \dfrac{m_e}{2}

The energy of a Bohr orbit is directly proportional to the reduced mass (E∝μE \propto \mu). Therefore, the ground state energy of positronium is:
E=EH×(μme)=−13.6 eV×12=−6.8 eVE = E_H \times \left(\dfrac{\mu}{m_e}\right) = -13.6 \text{ eV} \times \dfrac{1}{2} = -6.8 \text{ eV}

The radius of a Bohr orbit is inversely proportional to the reduced mass (r∝1μr \propto \dfrac{1}{\mu}). Therefore, the first Bohr radius of positronium is:
r=rH×(meμ)=a0×2=2a0r = r_H \times \left(\dfrac{m_e}{\mu}\right) = a_0 \times 2 = 2a_0.

Answer: −6.8 eV,2a0-6.8 \text{ eV}, 2a_0
Practice Atomic Physics on Quantrex Academy →

More from Atomic Physics

The energy levels of certain atom are represented in the following figure. During the… MHT CET Medical 2026The ratio of ionization energy of a hydrogen atom in fifth excited state to second… MHT CET Medical 2026The wavelength of radiation emitted is ' λ ' when an electron jumps from second to first… MHT CET Medical 2026The angular momentum of an electron in Bohr's hydrogen atom having energy -0.544 eV is (h… MHT CET Medical 2026An electron of mass ' m_e ' and charge ' e ' revolving around the nucleus in n^ th orbit… MHT CET Medical 2026The ratio of angular frequency (ω ) of an electron to the total energy ( E) of an… MHT CET Medical 2026The ratio between the areas of Bohr's first three orbits of the hydrogen atom are MHT CET Medical 2026A hydrogen atom in its ground state is irradiated by light of wavelength 1026\ Å . The… MHT CET Medical 2026 Full Atomic Physics list All NEET PYQs