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Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 2]
Exam
Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 2]
Subject
Physics
Chapter
Photoelectric Effect and Wave–Particle Duality

Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 2] · Physics · Photoelectric Effect and Wave–Particle Duality

A parallel beam of monochromatic light having a wavelength of 663...

A parallel beam of monochromatic light having a wavelength of 663 nm663 \text{ nm} is incident on a totally reflecting plane mirror. The angle of incidence is 60^{}^{{}^{\circ}}, and 1.0×10191.0 \times 10^{19} photons strike the mirror each second. Determine the force exerted by the light beam on the mirror.

Options

  1. A1.73×10−8 N1.73 \times 10^{-8} \text{ N}
  2. B1.0×10−8 N1.0 \times 10^{-8} \text{ N}
  3. C2.0×10−8 N2.0 \times 10^{-8} \text{ N}
  4. D5.0×10−9 N5.0 \times 10^{-9} \text{ N}

Correct answer

B. 1.0×10−8 N1.0 \times 10^{-8} \text{ N}

Step-by-step solution

The momentum of a single photon is given by p=hλp = \dfrac{h}{\lambda}.

When a photon strikes a totally reflecting mirror at an angle of incidence θ\theta, the component of its momentum perpendicular to the mirror is pcos⁡θp \cos \theta. Upon reflection, this perpendicular component reverses its direction, while the parallel component remains unchanged.

The change in momentum of each photon is:
Δp=2pcos⁡θ=2hλcos⁡θ\Delta p = 2p \cos \theta = \dfrac{2h}{\lambda} \cos \theta

The force exerted on the mirror is the total change in momentum per second, which is the product of the number of photons striking per second (nn) and the change in momentum of each photon:
F=nΔp=2nhλcos⁡θF = n \Delta p = \dfrac{2nh}{\lambda} \cos \theta

Substituting the given values (n=1.0×1019 s−1n = 1.0 \times 10^{19} \text{ s}^{-1}, h=6.63×10−34 J sh = 6.63 \times 10^{-34} \text{ J s}, λ=663×10−9 m\lambda = 663 \times 10^{-9} \text{ m}, \theta = 60^{}^{{}^{\circ}}):
F = \dfrac{2 \times 1.0 \times 10^{19} \times 6.63 \times 10^{-34}}{663 \times 10^{-9}} \times \cos 60^{}^{{}^{\circ}}

F=2×1019×10−27×12F = 2 \times 10^{19} \times 10^{-27} \times \dfrac{1}{2}

F=1.0×10−8 NF = 1.0 \times 10^{-8} \text{ N}
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