F.E.

SEMESTER I 1

SETSQUARE ACADEMY

Degree Engineering
(Mumbai University)
F.E. Semester - I

Previous Year Paper Solutions

(May 2013 - May 2016)

Applied Physics I
Common for all Branches
 SETSQUARE ACADEMY 2

CHAPTER 4 : SUPERCONDUCTIVITY

(1) Define superconductivity?

[M-16][1],[M-15][2],[M-14][2],[M-13][1]
Solution :
Superconductivity can be defined as the property of some materials
due to which their electrical resistance drops to zero below a certain
temperature called as critical or transition temperature Tc.
Such materials are called superconductors e.g.
(i) Metals : Nb, Mo, Zn, Hg, Tungsten (W) etc.
(ii) Alloys : Nb3Ge, CuS etc.
(iii) Doped Semiconductors.
(iv) Ceramics: Glass, Porcelain, China Clay etc.

(2) Explain critical magnetic field and critical temperature of a

superconductor. [M-16][1],[M-13][2]
Solution :
Critical or Transition Temperature (TC).
It can be defined as the temperature at which some materials (called
super conductors) turn into superconducting state i.e. their resistance
abruptly drops to zero, as shown in the following fig. It is different
for different superconductors as mentioned below in the brackets.
Nb (9.64K), W (0.015 K), Hg (4.2 K), Nb3Ge (23.2 K) and so on
Normal or
Resistance R()

non -supercanducting state

TC = Critical Temp.
o
Temp.( k)
O TC
Superconducting State
 F.E. SEMESTER I 3

Critical Magnetic Field (HC) :

It can be defined as the value of the magnetic field required to turn
the superconductors from their superconducting state to a normal
state. It is the minimum value of the magnetic field in which when a
superconductor is placed, it looses the superconductivity. An
application of magnetic field reduces the critical temperature TC.
Variation of HC with the temperature T is parabolic and can be
  T 2 
expressed as HC = HO 1   T   . It is shown in Fig below
  C  
H (A/m)

HO
Parabola
HC1

HC2 Normal State. i.e.

Non- superconducting state
Super
conducting
state

T(K)
Tc1 Tc2 TC

(3) A superconductor has a critical temperature 3.7°K at zero

magnetic field. At 0°K the critical magnetic field is 0.0306 Tesla.
What is the critical magnetic field at temperature 2.0°K?[M-15][3]
Solution :
Given : TC1 HC1 T H0 
Required : HC at T 
  T 2 
Formula : H C  H 0 1   T  
  C  

  2 2 
H C  0.0306 1    
  3.7  
HC= 0.0297 Ans
 SETSQUARE ACADEMY 4

(4) Differentiate Type-I and Type-II superconductor.

[M-16][5],[D-15][5],[D-14][5],[D-13][5],[M-14][3],[M-13][5]
Solution :
Type I Superconduct Type II Superconductor
(1)  

O HC H O Hc1 Hc2 H
– –M

 HC  O
Super Hc1 Hc Hc2 H
Normal
conducting state Super Mixed or Normal
state conducting
state
vortex state state

(2) It has only 1 value of the They have 2 values of critical

critical magnetic field HC magnetic fields : Hc1 and Hc2.
(3) Resistivity abruptly increases Resistivity gradualy increases from
from zero to a high value at Hc zero (at Hc1)to a high value(at Hc2)
(4) It loses magnetization abruptly. It loses magnetization gradually
(5) It has 2 states: It has 3 states:
(i) Superconductivity betn O & Hc (i) Superconductivity betn O & Hc1
(ii) Normal beyond Hc. (ii) Mixed or votex betn Hc1 & Hc2
(iii) Normal beyond Hc2
(6) Hc is very low = 0.1 wb/m2 Hc2 is very high = 20 wb/m2
(7) It has limited application due to It has many application due to high
low Hc Hc
(8) It exhibits complete Meissner It does not exhibit complete
effect. Meissner effect.
(9) They show perfect They do not show perfect
diamagnetism. diamagnetism
(10)It can be explained with It cannot be explained with BCS
BCS theory. theory.
(11) Examples: Al, Hg, Zn, Sn etc. Examples: Nb3sn, Nb3sl, Nb3Al etc
 F.E. SEMESTER I 5

(5) What is the vortex state of a superconductor? [M-14][3]

Solution :
The term vortex or mixed state refers to Type II superconductors.
Shown below is the magnetization characteristics for a Type II
superconductors.
-M

H
Hc1 Hc Hc2
Super Mixed or Normal state
conducting vortex state
state

Between Hc1 and Hc2 the specimen is magnetically in the mixed state
but electrically it is in the superconducting state. Hence this region is
known as mixed or vortex state. In this state, the specimen has both
superconducting and normal regions posses zero resistance and
partial penetrating flux.
Type II Superconductors e.g. Nb3Sn, Nb3Si,Nb3Al, Va-Ga etc.have
the vortex state.
 SETSQUARE ACADEMY 6

(6) Show that in the superconducting state the material is perfectly

diamagnetic. [M-15][3]
OR
Why is superconductor termed as 'Perfect Diamagnet.' [D-14][3]
Solution :
Diamagnetic nature of a superconductor:

Normal Superconducting
T>TC T<TC

(i) As shown in fig (a), a superconductor is held in a magnetic field at

T >Tc The field penetrates the body. This is the normal state.
(ii) When the superconductor is cooled below Tc, it expels the field .
This is called Meissner effect.
(iii) In the normal state i.e.when T >Tc. The magnetic induction (B) inside
the specimen is given by
B=  0(H+M)
Where, H= external field and M = magnetisation produced within
the specimen
(iv) In the superconducting state i.e. when T< Tc
B=0
  0 (H + M)=0
 M=  H
M
 Susceptibility  = =  1 this represents perfect diamagnetism
H
 Superconductor is termed as 'Perfect Diamagnet.'
 F.E. SEMESTER I 7

(7) What is MAGLEV? [D-13][3]

OR
How can the 'Maglev' train have very high speed? [D-15][3]
Solution :
MAGLEV Trains :
They are based on Meissner effect MAGLEV is the short form of
Magnetically Levitated Vehicles
Figure below represents the basic principle of a MAGLEV train

Wheel Wheel
carriage

Track

Alumunium guide way Semiconductor magnet

Construction and Working:

The train has a superconducting magnet built into its base. There is
an aluminium guide way over which the train will “run” while floating
by magnetic levitation, which is obtained by enormous repulsion
between two highly powerful magnetic fields by superconducting
magnet and aluminium guide way. When the train is lifted up, wheels
have no use then. The track is made up of large number of segments
and the current flaws as per the position and speed requirements.
The train runs simply by floating without friction and can have
very high speed of about 400 km/hr.
Advantages:
1) Friction is avoided and the corresponding high temperature is reduced
considerably. Also reduces wear and tear.
2) Very high speeds upto 400 km/hr are obtained
3) High economy, fast transportation and reduced maintenance.
Application : Monorail
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