DP Physics (last assessment 2024)

Topic 12: Nuclear and Quantum Physics [33 marks]

11

1. [Maximum mark: 1] 
What is a consequence of the uncertainty principle?

A. The absorption spectrum of hydrogen atoms is discrete.

B. Electrons in low energy states have short lifetimes.

C. Electrons cannot exist within nuclei.

D. Photons do not have momentum. [1]

2. [Maximum mark: 1]
In a photoelectric effect experiment, a beam of light is incident on a
metallic surface W in a vacuum.

The graph shows how the current I varies with the potential
difference V when three different beams X, Y, and Z are incident on W
at different times.
 

I. X and Y have the same frequency.

II. Y and Z have different intensity.
III. Y and Z have the same frequency.

Which statements are correct?

[1]
A. I and II only

B. I and III only

C. II and III only

D. I, II and III

3. [Maximum mark: 1]
The graphs show the variation with time of the activity and the
number of remaining nuclei for a sample of a radioactive nuclide.
 

[1]

What is the decay constant of the nuclide?

A. 0.7 s
−1

B. 1s
−1

C. 1

0.7
s
−1

D. 1.5 s
−1

4. [Maximum mark: 1]
What was a reason to postulate the existence of neutrinos?

A. Nuclear energy levels had a continuous spectrum.

B. The photon emission spectrum only contained specific

wavelengths.

C. Some particles were indistinguishable from their antiparticle.

D. The energy of emitted beta particles had a continuous spectrum. [1]

5. [Maximum mark: 1]
 A particle of energy E is incident upon a barrier and has a certain

probability of quantum tunnelling through the barrier. Assuming E
remains constant, which combination of changes in particle mass and
barrier length will increase the probability of the particle
tunnelling through the barrier?

[1]

6. [Maximum mark: 1]
Element X has a nucleon number A and a nuclear density ρ .
X X

Element Y has a nucleon number of 2A . What is an estimate of the

X

nuclear density of element Y?

A. 1

2
ρX

B. ρX

C. 2ρ X

D. 8ρ X [1]

7. [Maximum mark: 1]
What is true for the Bohr model for the hydrogen atom?

A. Angular momentum of electrons is quantized.

B. Electrons are described by wave functions.

C. Electrons never exist in fixed orbitals.

D. Electrons will continuously emit radiation. [1]

8. [Maximum mark: 1]
 An electron of non-relativistic speed v interacts with an atom. All the

energy of the electron is transferred to an emitted photon of
frequency f . An electron of speed 2v now interacts with the same
atom and all its energy is transmitted to a second photon. What is the
frequency of the second photon?

A.
f

B.
f

C. 2f

D. 4f [1]

9. [Maximum mark: 7]
In an electric circuit used to investigate the photoelectric effect, the voltage is

varied until the reading in the ammeter is zero. The stopping voltage that

produces this reading is 1.40 V.

(a) Describe the photoelectric effect. [2]

 (b) Show that the maximum velocity of the photoelectrons is

700 km s .
−1
[2]

(c) The photoelectrons are emitted from a sodium surface.

Sodium has a work function of 2.3 eV.

Calculate the wavelength of the radiation incident on the

sodium. State an appropriate unit for your answer. [3]

10. [Maximum mark: 13]

Rhodium-106 ( 106
45
Rh ) decays into palladium-106 ( 106
46
Pd ) by beta minus (β–)

decay. The diagram shows some of the nuclear energy levels of rhodium-106

and palladium-106. The arrow represents the β– decay.

(a) Bohr modified the Rutherford model by introducing the

condition mvr = n . Outline the reason for this modification.
h

2π
[3]

(b) Show that the speed v of an electron in the hydrogen atom is

related to the radius r of the orbit by the expression

2
ke
v = √
me r

where k is the Coulomb constant. [1]

(c) Using the answer in (b) and (c)(i), deduce that the radius r of
the electron’s orbit in the ground state of hydrogen is given by
the following expression.

2
h
r =
2
4π km e e
2 [2]

(d) Calculate the electron’s orbital radius in (c)(ii). [1]

 (e) Explain what may be deduced about the energy of the

electron in the β– decay. [3]

(f ) Suggest why the β– decay is followed by the emission of a

gamma ray photon. [1]

(g) Calculate the wavelength of the gamma ray photon in (d)(ii). [2]

11. [Maximum mark: 5]

This question is about radioactive decay.

Meteorites contain a small proportion of radioactive aluminium-26 ( 26

13
Al) in
the rock.

The amount of Al is constant while the meteorite is in space due to

26
13

bombardment with cosmic rays.

After reaching Earth, the number of radioactive decays per unit time in a

meteorite sample begins to diminish with time. The half-life of aluminium-26 is

7.2 × 10
5
years.

(a) Aluminium-26 decays into an isotope of magnesium (Mg) by

β
+
decay.
 26 X +
Al → Y Mg + β + Z

13

Identify X, Y and Z in this nuclear decay process.

X:

Y:
[2]
Z:

(b) Explain why the beta particles emitted from the aluminium-26
have a continuous range of energies. [2]

(c) State what is meant by half-life. [1]

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