Q1.

The figure below shows a system that separates two minerals from the ore containing
them using an electric field.

The crushed particles of the two different minerals gain opposite charges due to friction as
they travel along the conveyor belt and through the hopper. When they leave the hopper
they fall 4.5 metres between two parallel plates that are separated by 0.35 m.

(a) Assume that a particle has zero velocity when it leaves the hopper and enters the
region between the plates.

Calculate the time taken for this particle to fall between the plates.

time taken = _____________s

(2)

(b) A potential difference (pd) of 65 kV is applied between the plates.

Show that when a particle of specific charge 1.2 × 10–6 C kg–1 is between the plates
its horizontal acceleration is about 0.2 m s–2.

(3)

(c) Calculate the total horizontal deflection of the particle that occurs when falling

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 between the plates.

horizontal deflection = _____________m

(1)

(d) Explain why the time to fall vertically between the plates is independent of the mass
of a particle.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(e) State and explain two reasons, why the horizontal acceleration of a particle is
different for each particle.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(4)
(Total 12 marks)

Q2.
(a) Describe how a beam of fast moving electrons is produced in the cathode ray tube of
an oscilloscope.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

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 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)

(b) The figure below shows the cathode ray tube of an oscilloscope. The details of how
the beam of electrons is produced are not shown.

The electron beam passes between two horizontal metal plates and goes on to
strike a fluorescent screen at the end of the tube. The plates are 0.040 m long and
are separated by a gap of 0.015 m. A potential difference of 270 V is maintained
between the plates.An individual electron takes 1.5 × 10–9 s to pass between the
plates.The distance between the right-hand edge of the plates and the fluorescent
screen is 0.20 m.

(i) Show that the vertical acceleration of an electron as it passes between the
horizontal metal plates is approximately 3.2 × 1015 ms–2.

(3)

(ii) Show that the vertical distance travelled by an electron as it passes between
the horizontal metal plates is approximately 3.6 mm.

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 (2)

(iii) Show that the vertical component of velocity achieved by an electron in the
beam by the time it reaches the end of the plates is approximately 4.7 × 106 m
s–1.

(2)

(iv) Calculate the vertical displacement, y, of the electron beam from the centre of
the screen. Give your answer in m.

vertical displacement ____________________ m

(3)
(Total 13 marks)

Q3.
(a) Figure 1 shows an electron at a point in a uniform electric field at an instant when it
is stationary.

Figure 1

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 (i) Draw an arrow on Figure 1 to show the direction of the electrostatic force that
acts on the stationary electron.
(1)

(ii) State and explain what, if anything, will happen to the magnitude of the
electrostatic force acting on the electron as it starts to move in this field.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(2)

(b) Figure 2a shows a stationary electron in a non-uniform electric field. Figure 2b

shows a stationary proton, placed in exactly the same position in the same electric
field as the electron in Figure 2a.

Figure 2a Figure 2b

(i) State and explain how the electrostatic force on the proton in Figure 2b
compares with that on the electron in Figure 2a.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(2)

(ii) Each of the particles starts to move from the positions shown in Figure 2a and
Figure 2b. State and explain how the magnitude of the initial acceleration of
the proton compares with that of the electron.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

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 ______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(2)

(iii) Describe and explain what will happen to the acceleration of each of these
particles as they continue to move in the electric field.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(2)

(c) The line spectrum of neon gas contains a prominent red line of wavelength 650 nm.

(i) Show that the energy required to excite neon atoms so that they emit light of
this wavelength is about 2 eV.

(3)

(ii) An illuminated shop sign includes a neon discharge tube, as shown in Figure
3.
A pd of 4500 V is applied across the electrodes, which are 180 mm apart.

Figure 3

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 Assuming that the electric field inside the tube is uniform, calculate the
minimum distance that a free electron would have to move from rest in order
to excite the red spectral line in part (c).

answer = ____________________ m
(3)
(Total 15 marks)

Q4.
Figure 1 shows a small polystyrene ball which is suspended between two vertical metal
plates, P1 and P2, 80 mm apart, that are initially uncharged. The ball carries a charge of –
0.17 μC.

Figure 1

(a) (i) A pd of 600 V is applied between P1 and P2 when the switch is closed.
Calculate the magnitude of the electric field strength between the plates,
assuming it is uniform.

answer = ______________________V m–1

(2)

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 (ii) Show that the magnitude of the electrostatic force that acts on the ball under
these conditions is 1.3 mN.

(1)

(b) Because of the electrostatic force acting on it, the ball is displaced from its original
position. It comes to rest when the suspended thread makes an angle θ with the
vertical, as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2

(i) On Figure 2, mark and label the forces that act on the ball when in this
position.
(2)

(ii) The mass of the ball is 4.8 × 10–4 kg. By considering the equilibrium of the ball,
determine the value of θ.

answer = ______________________ degrees

(3)
(Total 8 marks)

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Mark schemes

Q1.

(a) t= or 4.5 = × 9.81 × t 2 ✓

t = 0.96 s✓
2

(b) Field strength = 186000V m–1✓

Acceleration = Eq / m

or 186 000 × 1.2 × 10–6 ✓

0.22 m s–2 ✓
3

(c) 0.10(3)m (allow ecf from (i))✓

1

(d) Force on a particle = mg and

acceleration = F / m so always = g✓

Time to fall (given distance) depends (only) on the distance and acceleration✓

OR:

g = GM / r ✓
2

Time to fall = √2s / g

so no m in equations to determine time to fall✓

2

(e) Mass is not constant since particle mass will vary✓

Charge on a particle is not constant✓

Acceleration = Eq / m or (V / d) (q / m) or Vq / dm✓

E or V / d constant but charge and mass are ‘random’ variables so q / m will

vary (or unlikely to be the same)✓
4
[12]

Q2.
(a) thermionic emission / by heating

B1

cathode heated / heating done by electric current / overcoming work function

B1

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 Must mention anode for third mark

anode which is positive wrt cathode / accelerated by electric field between

anode and cathode

B1
3

(b) (i) one relevant equation seen: E = V/d / F = Ee / a = F/m

B1
Equation should be in symbols

B1
Substitution may be done in several stages

3.16 × 1015 (m s−2)

B1
Must be more than 2 sf
3

(ii) s = (ut)+ at2 or v = u + at and s = vavt OR s = vt used

B1
Appropriate symbol equation seen and used for 1st mark

3.56 × 10−3m

B1
Expect at least 3 sf but condone 3.6 for candidates who use
a = 3.2 × 1015
2

(iii) v = u + at / v = at v2 = u2 + 2as used

B1
May also use eV= ½mv 2

4.74 × 106 m s−1 to at least 3 sf

B1
Allow 4.8 (2 or more sf) – consistent with use of a = 3.2 ×
1015
2

(iv) t = 7.5 × 10−9 s seen or used

C1

May use ratios for 1st 2 marks: C1

3.53 × 10−2 (m) A1

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 3.53 × 10−2 (m) ecf for wrong t

A1

adds 3.56 × 10−3 (m) to their 3.53 × 10−2

B1

clipped with b(i) and b(ii)

Allow reasonable rounding
3
[13]

Q3.
(a) (i) horizontal arrow to the left
1

(ii) the electrostatic force is unchanged

2

because electric field strength is constant

(b) (i) forces are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction

(E is the same for both and) Q has same magnitude but opposite sign
2

(ii) acceleration of proton is (much) smaller (than acceleration of electron)

because mass of proton is (much) greater (than mass of electron)

2

(iii) acceleration of proton increases and acceleration of electron decreases

correct reference to changing strength of electric field (for either or both)

2

(c) (i) energy of photon

= 3.06 × 10–19 (J)

energy required = = 1.91 (eV)

3

(ii) electric field strength

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