Section 1 Particles and radiation

AQA Physics Answers to practice questions

Question Answer Marks Guidance
1 (a) (i) 94 protons 1 This is the proton number Z.

1 (a) (ii) 145 neutrons 1 Number of neutrons is found from

(nucleon number − proton
number) = (A − Z) = 239 − 94
1 (a) (iii) 93 electrons 1 A neutral atom would have 94
electrons (= number of protons
Z). This ion has a charge of +e
−19
(+1.6 × 10 C), showing that
there is one electron missing.

1 (b) isotopes have same number of protons (or the 1 You need to remember how
same Z) isotopes are defined.

but a different number of neutrons (or nucleons, 1

or a different A)
2 (a) (i) X = a neutrino 1

64 64
29 Cu → 28 Ni
1 The proton number and nucleon
0
number must balance on both
+1 β +ν sides of the equation.
1
2 (a) (ii) The copper nucleus has the greater specific 1 The proton number gives you the
charge total number of positively-charged
protons in the nucleus.
because it has a charge of +29e whereas the 1
nickel nucleus has a charge of +28e and they
both have the same mass (to 2 significant
figures).
2 (a) (iii) 29 e 1 To find the specific charge,
specific charge = simply divide the charge by the
64 mu
mass of the nucleus. Each proton
1 carries a positive charge of +e.
29 × 1.6 × 10 –19
=
64 × 1.67 × 10 – 27
7
= 4.3 × 10 C kg
–1 1

2 (b) (i) udd 1 It’s useful to know this.

2 (b) (ii) An up quark in a proton changes into a down 1 Make sure you don’t forget the
quark so the proton becomes a neutron. neutrino in this kind of interaction.
+
At the same time, the up quark emits a W 1
boson when it changes into a down quark

+
and the W boson decays into a particle and
a neutrino.
− + −
3 (a) π +p→n+π +K 1 All that is required is to translate
the words of the question into
symbols.

© Oxford University Press 2015 This resource sheet may have been changed from the original.
www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements
 Section 1 Particles and radiation
AQA Physics Answers to practice questions
Question Answer Marks Guidance
3 (b) charge : (−1) + 1 → 0 + 1 + (−1) 1 Show the steps of your checks in
an organised way, making it clear
baryon number : 0 + 1 → 1 + 0 + 0 1 which particles your numbers
represent. In this answer they are
lepton number : 0 + 0 → 0 + 0 + 0 1 written in the order of those in the
answer to (a). Don’t forget to
Comment : all conservation checks are correct 1 comment on the conclusion you
so the transformation is permitted reach from your checks.
–34
4 (a) h 6.63 × 10 1 The mass of the muon is 207
λ = mν = 207 × 9.11 × 10–31 × 3.0 × 106 times the electron rest mass, me,
which is listed in the Data Booklet
−12 −31
= 1.2 × 10 m 1 as 9.11 × 10 kg.
4 (b) mπ 135 134.972 MeV 1 Mass and energy are equivalent
mµ = 106 (i.e. 105.650 MeV ) quantities, so the ratio of rest
masses is the same as the ratio
1 of rest energies. The rest
= 1.28
energies of these particles are
also given in the Data Booklet.
4 (c) particles having the same de Broglie 1 Once you have realised that two
wavelength must have the same momentum particles having the same de
∴ mπ vπ = mµ vµ Broglie wavelength must have the
6
νµ 3 × 10 6 −1 1 same momentum, (c) is quite
vπ = (m /m ) = 1.28 = 2.3 × 10 m s straightforward. You found the
π µ
ratio of their masses in (b) above.
5 (a) Photoelectric emission is: 1 Electrons can be released from
the emission of electrons from a metal surface metal surfaces by other means,
when electromagnetic radiation (or ultraviolet such as thermionic emission – in
radiation, or light) is incident upon it which case heating is
responsible.

Two observations and explanations: 6 Although the question asks you to

• there is a threshold frequency explain how two observations
– photon energy depends on frequency support the particle theory rather
– with waves electrons would be expected at all than the wave theory, you
frequencies obviously firstly need to identify
• emitted electrons have a maximum kinetic the observations. Any two of
energy these three observations would
– explained by photoelectric equation EK (max) = satisfy the requirements of the
hf−ϕ question. In each case you get
– waves should produce no limit on energy one mark for stating the
• emission starts immediately no matter how low observation and up to two marks
the intensity for showing how the particle
– provided photons have enough energy theory explains what the wave
electrons are emitted theory could not explain.
– with waves of low intensity there should be a
delay
5 (b) (i) work function ϕ = h f − EK (max) 1 ϕ is found by subtracting the
−18 −19
= (1.1 × 10 ) − (4.8 × 10 ) maximum electron kinetic energy
−19
= 6.2 × 10 J from the photon energy.

© Oxford University Press 2015 This resource sheet may have been changed from the original.
www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements
 Section 1 Particles and radiation
AQA Physics Answers to practice questions
Question Answer Marks Guidance
5 (b) (ii) 1 2 1 In order to find the de Broglie
from EK = 2 me vmax , maximum speed of wavelength associated with an
electrons emitted electron you need both
the mass of the electron (which
comes from the Data Booklet)
2 × 4.8 × 10 - 19 and its maximum speed. Its
vmax =
9.11× 10 -31 speed is found from the kinetic
6
= 1.03 × 10 m s
–1 energy, which you are given in
de Broglie wavelength 1 the question.

–34
h 6.63 × 10
λ=mν = 9.11 × 10–31 × 1.03 × 106
e max
–10
= 7.1 × 10 m 1
6 (i) energy needed = energy difference 1 The ground state is the n = 1
−19 −19
= (−2.4 × 10 ) − (− 21.8 × 10 ) energy level. The required
−18
= 1.94 × 10 J excitation energy is therefore E3 −
E1.
6 (ii) after collision, kinetic energy of incident electron 1 The colliding electron gives 1.94
−18 −18 −18
= (2.5 × 10 ) − (1.94 × 10 ) × 10 J of its energy to an
−19
= 5.6 × 10 J orbital electron when it collides
with the atom. It then moves
away from the atom with a
smaller amount of kinetic energy.
6 (iii) energy difference producing the lowest energy 1 When it returns to the ground
photon corresponds to the transition from n = 3 state, the excited electron can do
to n = 2, for which so by either of two routes. The
−19
∆E = 3.0 × 10 J one producing the greatest
energy photon is the single stage
hc hc 1 transition from n = 3 to n = 1. The
∆E = λ , from which λ = ΔE alternative (two stage) route
–34 8
6.63 × 10 × 3.00 × 10 takes it from n = 3 to n = 2, and
= 3.0 × 10
–19
then from n = 2 to n =1, each
−7
= 6.6 × 10 m 1 transition being accompanied by
the emission of a photon of the
corresponding energy. The
smallest energy difference is from
n = 3 to n = 2
7 (a) 107 1
Peak power = 108 mW and load resistance
290
= 310 Ω

2
Use of power = I R with candidate values 1

I = 0.0186 - 0.0193 A 1
-4 2
7 (b) Area of cell = 36 × 10 m and solar power 1
arriving = 730 × (an area)

0.108 1
2.63 seen

0.041 1 Correct answer only; lose if ratio

given unit.

© Oxford University Press 2015 This resource sheet may have been changed from the original.
www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements
 Section 1 Particles and radiation
AQA Physics Answers to practice questions
Question Answer Marks Guidance
7 (c) hc -19 1
energy of one photon = λ = 4.0 × 10 J

-4
730 × 36 × 10
number of photons = 4.0 × 10
-19
18 -1
= 6.6 × 10 s 1
7 (d) Two pieces of information: any 2 Allow other valid physics
• intensity of the sun at the Earth’s surface answers.
• average position of the sun
• efficiency of the panel
• power output of 1 panel
• weather conditions at the installation

© Oxford University Press 2015 This resource sheet may have been changed from the original.
www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements