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PHY3 CJune 2006

1) This document contains questions from a physics exam on nuclear and particle physics. It includes questions about the energy spectrum of beta particles, equations for proton and positron decay, properties of atomic nuclei, classification of fundamental particles like protons and electrons, and antihydrogen atoms. 2) Questions cover topics like labeling a graph of beta particle energy spectrum which provided evidence for the existence of antineutrinos, writing equations for proton and positron decay and why they can only occur through the weak interaction, calculating properties of atomic nuclei like mass and radius, and distinguishing properties of particles like protons, electrons, and their anti-particles. 3) The document tests understanding of fundamental concepts in nuclear and particle physics through calculation and short

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56 views1 page

PHY3 CJune 2006

1) This document contains questions from a physics exam on nuclear and particle physics. It includes questions about the energy spectrum of beta particles, equations for proton and positron decay, properties of atomic nuclei, classification of fundamental particles like protons and electrons, and antihydrogen atoms. 2) Questions cover topics like labeling a graph of beta particle energy spectrum which provided evidence for the existence of antineutrinos, writing equations for proton and positron decay and why they can only occur through the weak interaction, calculating properties of atomic nuclei like mass and radius, and distinguishing properties of particles like protons, electrons, and their anti-particles. 3) The document tests understanding of fundamental concepts in nuclear and particle physics through calculation and short

Uploaded by

api-3726022
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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PHY3 JUNE 2006 - TOPIC C - NUCLEAR & PARTICLE PHYSICS 30 minutes 1

3. (a) During an experiment into the energy spectrum of β- particles, the following graph was
produced.

(i) To a copy of this graph, add suitable labels, with units where appropriate, to each axis. [3]
(ii) State the significance of the figure 0.78. Explain how the results of this experiment led to the
prediction of the existence of an antineutrino. You may be awarded a mark for the clarity of your
answer. [4]

(b) The equation for p decay can be written as:

(i) For each particle, either give its quark composition or state that it is a fundamental particle. [2]
(ii) Write a similar equation for β+ decay. [2]
(iii) Explain fully why these reactions can only be mediated by the weak interaction. [3]
(iv) Name the exchange particle for each one of these decays. [2]

(c) (i) The density of a nucleus of strontium Sr is 2.29 x 1017 kg m-3. Calculate the mass of a nucleus
of radius 5.34 x 10-15m. [3]
(ii) Show that the nucleon number of this isotope is 88. (u = 1.66 x 10-27 kg) [2]
(iii) Hence calculate the radius ro of a single nucleon. [3]

(d) A hydrogen atom consists of one proton and one electron. For each particle choose all the words
that could be used to make a correct statement.
A proton is a {baryon / meson / lepton / hadron}
An electron is a {baryon / meson / lepton / hadron} [2]

(e) In 1995 scientists at CERN created atoms of antihydrogen.


(i) Name the particles that make up antihydrogen. [1]
(ii) Describe these particles in terms of charge and quark structure where relevant. [2]
(iii) State the charge of an atom of antihydrogen. [1]
(iv) Explain why it is not possible to store atoms of antihydrogen. [2]

Total 32 marks

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