A dimensionless quantity is constructed in terms of electronic charge 𝑒 e, permittivity of free space 𝜀 0 ε 0 ​ , Planck’s constant ℎ h, and speed of light 𝑐 c. If the dimensionless quantity is written as 𝑒 𝛼 𝜀 0 𝛽 ℎ 𝛾 𝑐 𝛿 e α ε 0 β ​ h γ c δ and 𝑛 n is a non-zero integer, then ( 𝛼 , 𝛽 , 𝛾 , 𝛿 ) (α,β,γ,δ) is given by:

A dimensionless quantity is constructed in terms of electronic charge e, permittivity of free space \varepsilon_0, Planck’s constant h, and speed of light c. If the dimensionless quantity is written as e^\alpha \varepsilon_0^\beta h^\gamma c^\delta and n is a non-zero integer, then (\alpha, \beta, \gamma, \delta) is given by

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Problem:

A dimensionless quantity is constructed in terms of electronic charge e, permittivity of free space \varepsilon_0, Planck’s constant h, and speed of light c. If the dimensionless quantity is written as e^\alpha \varepsilon_0^\beta h^\gamma c^\delta and n is a non-zero integer, then (\alpha, \beta, \gamma, \delta) is given by:

(A) (2n, -n, -n, -n) (B) (n, -n, -2n, -n)

(C) (n, -n, -n, -2n) (D) (2n, -n, -2n, -2n)


Context:

A dimensionless quantity is expressed using the fundamental physical constants:

  • Electronic charge e
  • Permittivity of free space \varepsilon_0
  • Planck’s constant h
  • Speed of light c

The given expression is in the form:

    \[ e^{\alpha} \varepsilon_0^{\beta} h^{\gamma} c^{\delta} \]

This is said to be dimensionless, meaning its overall dimensional formula must be [M^0L^0T^0]. The task is to determine the correct combination (\alpha, \beta, \gamma, \delta) in terms of a non-zero integer n, based on the options provided.


Explanation:

To find the powers \alpha, \beta, \gamma, \delta, the dimensions of each constant are substituted and the resulting expression is equated to zero in each base dimension (Mass – M, Length – L, Time – T, Ampere – A) to solve the system of equations:

Dimensional Formulas:

  • [e] = [AT]
  • [\varepsilon_0] = [M^{-1}L^{-3}T^4A^2]
  • [h] = [ML^2T^{-1}]
  • [c] = [LT^{-1}]

Substitute the dimensional formulas into the expression:

    \[ [e]^\alpha [\varepsilon_0]^\beta [h]^\gamma [c]^\delta = [AT]^\alpha [M^{-1}L^{-3}T^4A^2]^\beta [ML^2T^{-1}]^\gamma [LT^{-1}]^\delta\]

Combine and simplify powers of each base dimension:

    \[= M^{-\beta + \gamma} L^{-3\beta + 2\gamma + \delta} T^{\alpha + 4\beta - \gamma - \delta} A^{\alpha + 2\beta}\]

Now equate exponents of M, L, T, A to zero for dimensionlessness:

  • -\beta + \gamma = 0
  • -3\beta + 2\gamma + \delta = 0
  • \alpha + 4\beta - \gamma - \delta = 0
  • \alpha + 2\beta = 0

Solution:

From

1. \alpha + 2\beta = 0

\alpha = -2\beta

2. -\beta + \gamma = 0

\gamma = \beta

3. -3\beta + 2\gamma + \delta = 0

-3\beta + 2\beta + \delta = 0 \Rightarrow -\beta + \delta = 0 \Rightarrow \delta = \beta

4. \alpha + 4\beta - \gamma - \delta = 0

Substitute known values:

-2\beta + 4\beta - \beta - \beta = 0

0 = 0 (satisfied)

Hence, all variables in terms of \beta:

    \[ \alpha = -2\beta, \quad \gamma = \beta, \quad \delta = \beta\]

Putting them in the form (\alpha, \beta, \gamma, \delta):

    \[ (-2\beta, \beta, \beta, \beta)\]

Let \beta = n, then:

    \[ (-2n, n, n, n)\]

This matches with Option (A): (2n, -n, -n, -n)

→ Hence, to match signs, multiply the above by -1:

    \[ (2n, -n, -n, -n)\]


Answer:

(A) (2n, -n, -n, -n)


Final Answer:

(A) (2n, -n, -n, -n)

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