Q191 / 200 · MHT CET - Medical 2026 (21 April Shift 2) · Physics
In hydrogen spectrum the ratio of wavelengths of the last line of Lyman series and the last line of Balmer series is
- A$1$
- B$0.5$
- Correct answerC$0.25$
- D$0.2$
Solution
The wavelength of a spectral line in the hydrogen spectrum is given by Rydberg's formula:
$\dfrac{1}{\lambda} = R \left( \dfrac{1}{n_1^2} - \dfrac{1}{n_2^2} \right)$
For the last line of the Lyman series, the transition is from $n_2 = \infty$ to $n_1 = 1$.
$\dfrac{1}{\lambda_L} = R \left( \dfrac{1}{1^2} - \dfrac{1}{\infty^2} \right) = R$
$\lambda_L = \dfrac{1}{R}$
For the last line of the Balmer series, the transition is from $n_2 = \infty$ to $n_1 = 2$.
$\dfrac{1}{\lambda_B} = R \left( \dfrac{1}{2^2} - \dfrac{1}{\infty^2} \right) = \dfrac{R}{4}$
$\lambda_B = \dfrac{4}{R}$
The ratio of the wavelengths is:
$\dfrac{\lambda_L}{\lambda_B} = \dfrac{\dfrac{1}{R}}{\dfrac{4}{R}} = \dfrac{1}{4} = 0.25$
Answer: $0.25$
$\dfrac{1}{\lambda} = R \left( \dfrac{1}{n_1^2} - \dfrac{1}{n_2^2} \right)$
For the last line of the Lyman series, the transition is from $n_2 = \infty$ to $n_1 = 1$.
$\dfrac{1}{\lambda_L} = R \left( \dfrac{1}{1^2} - \dfrac{1}{\infty^2} \right) = R$
$\lambda_L = \dfrac{1}{R}$
For the last line of the Balmer series, the transition is from $n_2 = \infty$ to $n_1 = 2$.
$\dfrac{1}{\lambda_B} = R \left( \dfrac{1}{2^2} - \dfrac{1}{\infty^2} \right) = \dfrac{R}{4}$
$\lambda_B = \dfrac{4}{R}$
The ratio of the wavelengths is:
$\dfrac{\lambda_L}{\lambda_B} = \dfrac{\dfrac{1}{R}}{\dfrac{4}{R}} = \dfrac{1}{4} = 0.25$
Answer: $0.25$
Hence, the correct answer is option: 'C'.