JEE Advance - Physics (2010 - Paper 2 Offline - No. 15)

The key feature of Bohr's theory of spectrum of hydrogen atom is the quantization of angular momentum when an electron is revolving around a proton. We will extend this to a general rotational motion to find quantized rotational energy of a diatomic molecule assuming it to be rigid. The rule to be applied is Bohr's quantization condition.
The key feature of Bohr's theory of spectrum of hydrogen atom is the quantization of angular momentum when an electron is revolving around a proton. We will extend this to a general rotational motion to find quantized rotational energy of a diatomic molecule assuming it to be rigid. The rule to be applied is Bohr's quantization condition.
The key feature of Bohr's theory of spectrum of hydrogen atom is the quantization of angular momentum when an electron is revolving around a proton. We will extend this to a general rotational motion to find quantized rotational energy of a diatomic molecule assuming it to be rigid. The rule to be applied is Bohr's quantization condition.
A diatomic molecule has moment of inertia I. By Bohr's quantization condition, its rotational energy in the nth level (n = 0 is not allowed) is
$${1 \over {{n^2}}}\left( {{{{h^2}} \over {8{\pi ^2}I}}} \right)$$
$${1 \over n}\left( {{{{h^2}} \over {8{\pi ^2}I}}} \right)$$
$$n\left( {{{{h^2}} \over {8{\pi ^2}I}}} \right)$$
$${n^2}\left( {{{{h^2}} \over {8{\pi ^2}I}}} \right)$$

Explanation

To find the quantized rotational energy of a diatomic molecule, we can use Bohr's quantization condition for angular momentum. Bohr's quantization condition states that the angular momentum $ L $ of an electron in a hydrogen atom is quantized and given by:

$$ L = n \hbar $$

where $ n $ is a positive integer (known as the quantum number) and $ \hbar $ is the reduced Planck's constant, given by $ \hbar = {\hbar \over {2\pi}} $.

For a diatomic molecule, we extend this concept to its rotational motion. A rigid diatomic molecule can be approximated as a rigid rotor with a moment of inertia $ I $. The angular momentum $ L $ for the molecule in the nth level is given by:

$$ L = n \hbar $$

where $ n $ is the quantum number (note that $ n = 0 $ is not allowed).

The rotational kinetic energy for a rotating body with moment of inertia $ I $ is given by:

$$ E = {1 \over 2} I \omega^2 $$

where $ \omega $ is the angular velocity. The angular momentum $ L $ is related to the angular velocity $ \omega $ by:

$$ L = I \omega $$

Solving for $ \omega $, we get:

$$ \omega = {L \over I} $$

Substituting this back into the expression for energy, we get:

$$ E = {1 \over 2} I \left( {L \over I} \right)^2 = {L^2 \over 2I} $$

Using Bohr's quantization condition $ L = n \hbar $, the energy expression becomes:

$$ E = {{(n \hbar)^2} \over {2I}} $$

Substituting $ \hbar = {\hbar \over {2\pi}} $, we obtain:

$$ E = {n^2 \over {2I}} \left( {{\hbar^2} \over {4\pi^2}} \right) = n^2 \left( {{\hbar^2} \over {8\pi^2 I}} \right) $$

Therefore, the quantized rotational energy of the diatomic molecule in the nth level is:

$$ E_n = n^2 \left( {{\hbar^2} \over {8\pi^2 I}} \right) $$

So, the correct option is:

Option D

$$ n^2 \left( {{{h^2} \over {8\pi^2 I}}} \right) $$

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