All GRE Subject Test: Physics Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #31 : Gre Subject Test: Physics
What wavelength will result in the most accurate measurement of the momentum of an electron?
Gamma-ray
Infrared
Radio
Red light
X-ray
Radio
The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle states that:
Since the uncertainty in the position is inversely proportional to the uncertainty in the momentum, we need to pick the longest wavelength. Of the options listed, radio has the longest wavelength.
Example Question #32 : Gre Subject Test: Physics
If a ground state particle is in a one-dimension square well, where is the probability of finding the particle equal to zero?
the way in the box.
At the boundary.
the way in the box.
None of these
In the middle.
At the boundary.
This is a fundamental concept question. For a ground state particle, the only place where the probability is equal to zero is at the boundary because the particle cannot be found there. He has to be in the box (not unlike a cat).
Example Question #33 : Gre Subject Test: Physics
What is the energy of the photon emitted when a Hydrogen atom makes a transition from the to the atomic energy level?
, where refers to the final and initial energy levels, respectively.
However, since the question asked what is the energy of the photon, it is the absolute value of the energy calculated above because of conservation of energy. The photon carries away the energy lost by the atom.
Example Question #34 : Gre Subject Test: Physics
What color will be emitted in the to transition in the Hydrogen Balmer series?
Green
Red
Violet
Blue
Yellow
Violet
.
Here, is the wavelength, is the Rydberg constant, for the Balmer series, and refers to the upper atomic level (this is in this case). Now, we just need to plug everything in, and solve for wavelength.
By inverting, This is in the violet regime of the visible spectrum.
Example Question #1 : Newtonian Mechanics
What relation must be true between the minimum potential energy and the total energy of the satellite for the shape of its orbit to be circular?
For a gravitation potential, the total energy is:
, where
When the energy equals the minimum potential energy, the satellite has just enough energy to maintain a circular orbit around the planet. When the potential energy is larger than the total energy, the satellite spirals in toward the planet. When the total energy is greater than zero, the satellite is deflected out into space.
Example Question #1 : Electromagnetics, Waves, And Optics
A particle traveling through glass (index of refraction 1.33) emits Cherenkov radiation. Which of the following is a possible speed of the particle?
Cherenkov radiation is emitted by a particle traveling faster than the phase velocity of light in that medium. Because , the phase velocity of light in the glass is:
This is the minimum velocity of a particle to be emitting Cherenkov radiation in glass. This eliminates all answers except and . The latter is impossible because it is greater than the speed of light in a vacuum, therefore the answer is .
Example Question #2 : Electromagnetics, Waves, And Optics
A monochromatic beam of light travels through a material with a phase velocity of . What is the refractive index of the material?
The phase velocity of light through a medium with refractive index is given by:
Solving this for and substituting our given value of :
Example Question #1 : Interference
A double slit experiment is set up with the following parameters: two slits are a separated by a distance . A beam of light with wavelength shines through the two slits, and is projected onto a screen a distance from the slits. What is the distance on the screen between the central band and the next band on either side? (This distance is marked '' on the figure).
The condition for constructive interference with double slit diffraction is given by:
Where is 0, 1, 2, ...
Solving for the angle and using the small angle approximation, we get;
The distance in the diagram can be related to the other quantities by simple geometry:
Again, with the help of the small angle approximation. Setting the two thetas equal to each other and solving for , we get:
For the central band, , so the position is also zero. The next band, , yields a distance of:
Example Question #3 : Electromagnetics, Waves, And Optics
Two waves with frequencies: are combined. What is the frequency of the resulting beat?
The beat from two combined sound waves is:
Example Question #1 : Diffraction
A beam of light, with wavelength , is normally incident on a transmission diffraction grating. With respect to the incident beam, the first order diffraction maximum occurs at an angle of . What is the number of slits per centimeter on the grating?
The equation describing maxima of a diffraction grating is:
Where d is the separation of slits, which can also be expressed as:
Substituting d into the first equation and making the small angle approximation, one can solve for (lines per length):
Note that the angle had to be converted from degrees to radians. Finally, the question asks for lines per centimeter, not meter, so the answer becomes .
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