8 Particle physics Answers to Exam practice questions

Pages 145–147 Exam practice questions

1 Answer D [Total 1 mark]

2 Answer B [Total 1 mark]
3 Answer D [Total 1 mark]
4 Answer C [Total 1 mark]
5 Answer B [Total 1 mark]
6 Answer D [Total 1 mark]
7 Answer D [Total 1 mark]
8 Answer A [Total 1 mark]
9 Answer C [Total 1 mark]
10 Kinetic energy of tennis ball is
2 −3 2
E = ½mʋ =½(57.5 × 10 kg)(220 000 m/3600 s) [1]
= 107 J [1]
Quantum energy is
ℎ𝑐 ℎ𝑐
E = hf = ⇒λ= [1]
𝜆 𝐸
�6.63 × 10−34 J s� × �3.00 × 108 m s−1 �
∴ λ= [1]
107 J
−27
= 1.85 × 10 m [1]
This is so small as to make any quantum effect shown by the tennis ball negligible. [1]
[Total 6 marks]

2 �30 × 109 eV� × �1.6 × 10−19 J eV−1 �

11 a) A mass of 30 GeV/c ≡ [2]
(3.0 × 108 m s−1 )2
−26
= 5.3 × 10 kg [1]
b) In terms of the mass of the electron this is
5.3 × 10−26 kg
= 59 000 [2]
9.1 × 10−31 kg

This means the Stanford accelerator speeds up electrons until they have an energy that is
59 000 times their rest mass energy. [Total 5 marks]
2
12 Using E = mc the total energy producing the γ-rays
−27 8 −1 2
= 2 × (1.67 × 10 kg)(3.00 × 10 m s ) [1]
−10
= 3.00 × 10 J [1]
The energy of each photon is
ℎ𝑐 ℎ𝑐
½E = ½hf = ⇒λ= [1]
2𝜆 2𝐸
�6.63 × 10−34 J s� × �3.00 × 108 m s−1 �
λ= [1]
(2 × 3.00 × 10−10 ) J
−16 −16
= 3.3 × 10 m ≈ 3 × 10 m [1]

© Tim Akrill and Graham George 2015

8 Particle physics Answers to Exam practice questions

Assumption: that the proton and antiproton are at rest when they interact. [1]
[Total 6 marks]
2
13 The unit of 2hc/mʋ is
J s × m s−1 Js
= [2]
kg × (m s−1 )2 kg × m s−1
−2
Substituting that J ≡ N m and N ≡ kg m s gives us [2]
Nms kg m s−2 m s
= =m [1]
kg × m s−1 kg × m s−1
2
The unit of 2hc/mʋ is therefore the metre. [Total 5 marks]
14 The graph plots m/m 0 against ʋ in multiples of c
From the equation:
1
For ʋ = 0.50 c ⇒ m/m 0 = 2
[1]
�1 – �0.5 𝑐�
𝑐

1
= = 1.15, which agrees with the value read from the graph. [1]
√0.75

Similarly,
1
for ʋ = 0.75 c ⇒ m/m 0 = = 1.51 [1]
√0.438
1
for ʋ = 0.875 c ⇒ m/m 0 = = 2.1 [1]
√0.234
In each case, the values plotted agree with these calculations. [1]
[Total 5 marks]
− 0 −
15 For the decay K → π + π
u� s→ dd� + du� [2]
In terms of charge this is
(−e) → 0 + (−e)
Which in terms of quarks is
[(−⅔) + (−⅓)]→ [(−⅓) + (+⅓)] + [(−⅓) + (−⅔)] [3]
[Total 5 marks]
16 a) Applying the left hand rule, the magnetic field is upwards, out of the paper. [1]
+
b) The π meson’s path decreases in radius because the meson is losing energy and thus its
momentum is getting smaller. [2]
As p = BQr (see Section 7.4) then p ∝ r. [1]
[Total 4 marks]
Tip: In answering questions such as this, you should look at how many marks are being awarded for
the answer. Here, for only 2 marks, it would not be necessary to quote the formula in answering
b) or to show that p ∝ r, but as the question asks you to ‘explain’ and there are 3 marks, both
would be needed.

© Tim Akrill and Graham George 2015

8 Particle physics Answers to Exam practice questions

Stretch and challenge

− − 0 +
17 The reaction here is: K + p → Ω + K + K
In terms of quarks this can be written as
su� + uud → sss + ds̅ + us̅ [2]
The d quark ‘survives’ as does the s quark and one of the u quarks.
A uu� has disappeared from the left and four quarks have appeared on the right – two each of s
and s̅ . Perhaps the energy for their appearance came from the disappearance of the uu� .
Charge is conserved as the left side is −e + e and the right side is −e + 0 + e. [2]
Baryon number is conserved as each side contains one (three quark) baryon. [2]
Strangeness number is conserved with +1 on the left and +3 − 2 on the right. [2]
[Total 8 marks]
Tip: If you are asked to ‘explain’ you need to both state (‘charge is conserved’) and then explain
why (as the left side is −e + e and the right side is −e + 0 + e) to get both marks.

18 Your answer should follow a logical argument and should include the following points:
• According to de Broglie, an electron can show wavelike properties.
• In order for a stationary or standing wave pattern to form a circle, the circle can only contain
an even number of wavelengths.
• Figure 8.15 shows 6 half wavelengths.
• Different energy levels might correspond to 2, 4, 6, … half wavelengths in the standing wave
pattern.
• This could be why hydrogen shows a number of discrete (or quantized) energy levels.
[Total 5 marks]
19 a) i) Particles dss and uds are baryons having charges −e and 0, respectively [3]
Particle u� s is a meson of charge −e. [2]
ii) The magnetic field is into the page. [1]
b) i) Particle P is the proton because it is curving in the opposite direction to the negative
meson in part (a). [2]
The other particle has a negative charge (as it curves in the opposite direction to the
proton). [1]
ii) Both P and Q have curved paths in the magnetic field, but as p = Ber, the particle showing
a path with the greater radius r has the greater momentum.
Therefore P has the greater momentum. [2]

c) When the xi particle decayed:

• charge was conserved (−e) on the left, (0) + (−e) on the right [2]

© Tim Akrill and Graham George 2015

8 Particle physics Answers to Exam practice questions

• the strangeness number was conserved (−2 on both sides) [2]

• some kinetic energy became mass (u and u� created). [2]
[Total 17 marks]
20 You will find that the Wikipedia page has more than enough about ‘The twin paradox’.

© Tim Akrill and Graham George 2015