A dense collection of equal number of electrons and positive ions is called neutral plasma. Certain solids containing fixed positive ions surrounded by free electrons can be treated as neutral plasma. Let 'N' be the number density of free electrons, each of mass 'm'. When the electrons are subjected to an electric field, they are displaced relatively away from the heavy positive ions. If the electric field becomes zero, the electrons begin to oscillate about the positive ions with a natural angular frequency '$${\omega _p}$$' which is called the plasma frequency. To sustain the oscillations, a time varying electric field needs to be applied that has an angular frequency $$\omega $$, where a part of the energy is absorbed and a part of it is reflected. As $$\omega $$ approaches $${\omega _p}$$ all the free electrons are set to resonance together and all the energy is reflected. This is the explanation of high reflectivity of metals.

Taking the electronic charge as 'e' and the permittivity as $$'{\varepsilon _0}'$$. Use dimensional analysis to determine the correct expression for $${\omega _p}$$.

A dense collection of equal number of electrons and positive ions is called neutral plasma. Certain solids containing fixed positive ions surrounded by free electrons can be treated as neutral plasma. Let 'N' be the number density of free electrons, each of mass 'm'. When the electrons are subjected to an electric field, they are displaced relatively away from the heavy positive ions. If the electric field becomes zero, the electrons begin to oscillate about the positive ions with a natural angular frequency '$${\omega _p}$$' which is called the plasma frequency. To sustain the oscillations, a time varying electric field needs to be applied that has an angular frequency $$\omega $$, where a part of the energy is absorbed and a part of it is reflected. As $$\omega $$ approaches $${\omega _p}$$ all the free electrons are set to resonance together and all the energy is reflected. This is the explanation of high reflectivity of metals.

Estimate the wavelength at which plasma reflection will occur for a metal having the density of electrons N $$ \approx $$ 4 $$ \times $$ 10²⁷ m^-3. Taking $${{\varepsilon _0}}$$ = 10^{- 11} and m $$ \approx $$ 10^{- 30}, where these quantities are in proper SI units.

The density of a solid ball is to be determined in an experiment. The diameter of the ball is measured with a screw gauge, whose pitch is 0.5 mm and there are 50 divisions on the circular scale. The reading on the main scale is 2.5 mm and that on the circular scale is 20 divisions. If the measured mass of the ball has a relative error of 2 %, the relative percentage error in the density is

A vernier calipers has 1 mm marks on the main scale. It has 20 equal divisions on the Vernier scale which match with 16 main scale divisions. For this Vernier calipers, the least count is