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Physics Question 16 – NEET-UG 2024

If c is the velocity of light in free space, the correct statements about photon among the following are : A. The energy of a photon is E=hν. B. The velocity of a photon is c. C. The momentum of a photon, p=hνc. D. In a photon-electron collision, both total energy and total momentum are conserved. E. Photon possesses positive charge. Choose the correct answer from the options given below :

Recall the basic characteristics of a photon, including its energy, momentum, velocity, and charge.

Step 1: Evaluate Statements A, B, and E (Basic Photon Properties)✦ Active

Statement A: The energy of a photon is given by Planck's equation, E=hν, where h is Planck's constant and ν is the frequency. This statement is correct.

Statement B: Photons are massless particles that always travel at the speed of light c in a vacuum. This statement is correct.

Statement E: Photons are electrically neutral particles and do not possess any charge. Therefore, this statement is incorrect.

Step 2: Evaluate Statements C and D (Photon Momentum and Collisions)○ Expand

Statement C: For a massless particle like a photon, the energy-momentum relation is E=pc. Substituting E=hν, we get hν=pc, which implies the momentum p=hνc. This statement is correct.

Statement D: In any collision, including a photon-electron collision (e.g., Compton scattering), the total energy and total momentum of the system are always conserved. This is a fundamental principle of physics and is correct.

💡 Teacher's Secret Hint

Remember that conservation laws apply to the entire system, not necessarily individual particles, though for photons, their properties are well-defined.

Step 3: Identify the Correct Option○ Expand

Based on the evaluation, statements A, B, C, and D are correct, while statement E is incorrect. Therefore, the correct combination of statements is A, B, C, and D.

Comparing this with the given options, option (1) 'A, B, C and D only' matches our findings.

💡 Teacher's Secret Hint

Always evaluate each statement independently before combining them to avoid errors.

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