TIMED QUESTIONS TASK 2

MAXIMUM MARKS: 30
DURATION: 40 MINUTES

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Q1. 
A student obtains the following diffraction pattern on a wall by shining a red laser beam through a single narrow
slit.
The corresponding graph of intensity against position is shown below.

(a)  Explain how the diffraction pattern is created.

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(b)  Explain how the pattern would differ if green laser light were used instead of red laser light.
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(c)  A student replaces the single slit with a diffraction grating and obtains the pattern shown in the photograph.

The photograph shows the zero order maximum and the first and second orders on either side.
The student takes measurements to determine the grating spacing.

The student measures x, the distance between the zero order maximum and the first order maximum, and y,
the distance between the slit and the screen.
x = 23 cm
y = 1.5 m
Number of lines per millimetre = 300
Calculate the wavelength of light from the laser.
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Wavelength = ...........................................................

 
(Total for question = 9 marks)

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Q2.
 
The diagram shows four energy levels for an electron in a particular atom.
Energy / 10−19J

(a) State what is meant by an energy level.

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(b) List the two different transitions that would result in emitted radiation of the same frequency.
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(c) A gas consisting of these atoms can emit a line spectrum.
Explain how this happens.
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(d) One of these atoms in its ground state absorbs 3.6 × 10−19 J of energy from a collision with an electron.
Calculate the smallest frequency of radiation that the atom may subsequently emit.
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Smallest frequency = ........................................................................
(e) Calculate how much energy in eV would be required to ionise the atom in its ground state.
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Energy = ........................................................................
(Total for question = 11 marks)

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Q3. 
In the late 1880s it was discovered that a negatively-charged zinc plate loses its charge when exposed to
ultraviolet radiation.
Explain why this happens, but only with ultraviolet radiation and not white light. You are expected to complete a
calculation to support your answer.
work function of zinc = 6.9 × 10−19 J
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(Total for question = 6 marks)

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Q4.
 Archaeologists use resistivity surveying of soil to search for the remains of buildings and settlements under the
ground.
A basic arrangement that can be used to determine the resistivity of a region of soil is shown.

Probes are placed at positions A and D so that the length AD of soil forms part of the circuit.
The ammeter measures the current through the soil.
A second pair of probes connected to a voltmeter is placed at positions B and C.
This measures the potential difference between positions B and C in the soil.
The table gives the resistivity of some different materials.

The probes connected to the voltmeter are kept at a constant separation of 0.75 m and are moved along the
soil between positions A and D.
The current is constant at 9.5 mA. The voltmeter reading varies between 1.8 V and 8.0 V.
It can be assumed that the sample of soil under investigation has a cross-sectional area of 0.65 m2.
Deduce two possible materials that could be present in the soil between positions A and D.
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(Total for question = 4 marks)
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