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General Certificate of Education

January 2003
Advanced Level Examination

PHYSICS (SPECIFICATION A) PHA8/W

Unit 8 Nuclear Instability: Turning Points in Physics Option

Monday 27 January 2003 Morning Session

In addition to this paper you will require: For Examiner’s Use

l a calculator; Number Mark Number Mark

l a pencil and a ruler. 1

3
Time allowed: 1 hour 15 minutes
4

5
Instructions
l Use blue or black ink or ball-point pen.
l Fill in the boxes at the top of this page.
l Answer all questions in the spaces provided. All working must be shown.
l Do all rough work in this book. Cross through any work you do not want
marked.

Information
l The maximum mark for this paper is 40.
l Mark allocations are shown in brackets.
Total
l The paper carries 10% of the total marks for Physics Advanced. (Column 1)
l A Data Sheet is provided on pages 3 and 4. You may wish to detach this Total
perforated sheet at the start of the examination. (Column 2)

l You are expected to use a calculator where appropriate. TOTAL

l In questions requiring description and explanation you will be assessed on Examiner’s Initials
your ability to use an appropriate form and style of writing, to organise
relevant information clearly and coherently, and to use specialist vocabulary
where appropriate. The degree of legibility of your handwriting and the level
of accuracy of your spelling, punctuation and grammar will also be taken into
account.

Copyright © 2003 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

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Data Sheet

l A perforated Data Sheet is provided as pages 3 and 4 of this question

paper.

l This sheet may be useful for answering some of the questions in the
examination.

l You may wish to detach this sheet before you begin work.

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SECTION A NUCLEAR INSTABILITY

Answer all parts of the question.

22
1 The radioactive isotope of sodium 11Na has a half life of 2.6 years. A particular sample of this isotope
has an initial activity of 5.5 × 105 Bq (disintegrations per second).

(a) Explain what is meant by the random nature of radioactive decay.

You may be awarded marks for the quality of written communication provided in your answer.

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(2 marks)

(b) Use the axes to sketch a graph of the activity of the sample of sodium over a period of 6 years.

activity/105 Bq
7

00 1 2 3 4 5 6 time/year

(2 marks)

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(c) Calculate
22
(i) the decay constant, in s–1, of 11 Na,
1 year = 3.15 × 107s

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22
(ii) the number of atoms of 11 Na in the sample initially,

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(iii) the time taken, in s, for the activity of the sample to fall from 1.0 × 105 Bq to
0.75 × 105 Bq.

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(6 marks)

10

TURN OVER FOR THE NEXT QUESTION

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SECTION B: TURNING POINTS

Answer all questions

2 Light from a point source was passed through two closely spaced parallel slits, as shown in the diagram.
A pattern of alternate bright and dark fringes was observed on the screen.

double slits

lens

light source

single slit

screen

(a) Use Huygens’ wave theory of light to explain the formation of these fringes by the double slits.
You may be awarded marks for the quality of written communication provided in your answer.

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(4 marks)

(b) (i) Explain what Newton’s theory of light would predict for the same experimental
arrangement.

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(ii) Give one reason why Huygens’ wave theory of light did not replace Newton’s theory of
light when the fringe pattern due to the double slits was first observed.

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(3 marks)

3 The diagram shows a narrow beam of electrons directed at right angles into a uniform electric field
between two oppositely-charged parallel metal plates at a fixed potential difference.

electron beam O

(a) The electrons enter the field at O and leave it at P. Sketch the path of the beam from O to P and
beyond P. (2 marks)

(b) A uniform magnetic field is applied to the beam perpendicular to the electric field and to the
direction of the beam. The magnetic field reduces the deflection of the beam from its initial
direction.

(i) Explain why the magnetic field has this effect on the beam.

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(ii) The magnetic flux density is adjusted until the beam passes through the two fields without
deflection. Show that the speed v of the electrons when this occurs is given by

E
v=
B

where E is the electric field strength and B is the magnetic flux density.

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(5 marks)

(c) In an experiment to measure the specific charge of the electron, electrons were accelerated from
rest through a potential difference of 2900 V to a speed of 3.2 × 107 m s–1. Use this information
to calculate the specific charge of the electron.

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(3 marks)

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4 The diagram below shows a Transmission Electron Microscope. Electrons from the electron gun pass
through a thin sample and then through two magnetic lenses A and B on to a fluorescent screen. An
enlarged image of the sample is formed on the screen.

electron gun

electron beam

condenser lens

P
thin sample being viewed

magnetic lens A

magnetic lens B

image on the screen Q

fluorescent screen

(a) (i) Sketch the path of an electron that reaches point Q on the screen after passing through the
sample at point P and through the two magnetic lenses A and B.

(ii) State the function of magnetic lens A and the function of magnetic lens B.

magnetic lens A ....................................................................................................................

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magnetic lens B ....................................................................................................................

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(4 marks)

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(b) Explain why greater image detail is seen when the anode voltage is increased.

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(3 marks)

7
5 A particle passes through a detector and 152 ns later hits a target 45.0 m away from the detector.

45.0 m

particle path
detector target

(i) Calculate the speed of the particle between the detector and the target.

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(ii) Calculate the transit time of the particle from the detector to the target, in the frame of
reference of the particle.

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(4 marks)

4
QUALITY OF WRITTEN COMMUNICATION (2 marks)

2
END OF QUESTIONS
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