REVISION 2

[UNIT 4 & 5] 1
1.Which of the following mainly does not contribute to background
radiation?
A Dead matter
B Living matter
C Mobile phones
D Rocks
2. The gravitational field strength at the surface of Mars is one third that at
the surface of the Earth. A mass-spring system with a frequency of 3.0 Hz
at the surface of the Earth would have a frequency at the surface of Mars
of
A 5.2 Hz
B 3.0 Hz
C 1.7 Hz
D 1.0 Hz
3.On a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram our Sun is located on the main
sequence. Which of the following statements is correct?
A All giant stars are larger and cooler than our Sun.
B All giant stars are larger and hotter than our Sun.
C All white dwarf stars are smaller and hotter than our Sun.
D All white dwarf stars are hotter and brighter than our Sun
4. Polonium has a half-life of 140 days. A sample of polonium is prepared
and monitored over a period of time. Which of the following statements is
correct?
A The activity of the polonium will be zero after 280 days. [1 mark]
B The activity of the polonium will be 25% of its initial value after 280
days.
C The activity of the polonium will be 12.5% of its initial value after 560
days.
D The activity of the polonium will never become zero.
5. As a particle accelerates in a linac, it passes through drift tubes of
increasing lengths.
This is so that
A the particle can be given more energy within each tube.
B the frequency of the accelerating voltage can be constant.
C the accelerating voltage can be as high as possible.
D the time spent in the tube by the particle is longer.
1. The diagram below shows part of a linear accelerator - a linac. Alternate
metal tubes are connected together and to opposite terminals of a highfrequency alternating potential difference of fixed frequency.

REVISION 2
[UNIT 4 & 5] 2

Describe how the protons are accelerated as they move along the linac
and explain why the tubes get longer towards the right. You may be
awarded a mark for the clarity of your answer. [5m]
2. a) Explain why the alpha particles emitted by smoke detectors are not a
health hazard to us in our homes. [1]
b) Describe fully what ionisation is and explain why alpha particles cause
much more ionisation than beta particles. [3]
3. During a game of football the ball, mass 0.42 kg, is kicked towards the
goal. It hits one of the posts and rebounds directly back into play. The
diagram shows the ball as it is just colliding with the post. At impact its
speed is 27 m s1.

a) Calculate the balls momentum at impact.

b) The balls speed at the moment it loses contact with the post is 20 m s 1
in the opposite direction. Calculate its momentum at this instant.
c) The ball remains in contact with the post for 0.22 s.
4. Determine the average force exerted on the ball due to the collision.
A proton has a mass of 1.67 1027 kg.
a) Calculate the magnitude of the potential difference needed to accelerate it from rest to a
speed of 2.77 105 ms1 in a vacuum.
5. Rutherford investigated the scattering of alpha particles by gold foil in
an evacuated container. The evidence from his investigations led to the
nuclear model of the atom. Why was it important for this investigation
that:
(i)
the alpha source was inside the container, [1]
(ii)
the alpha particles had the same initial kinetic energy, [1]
(iii)
the container was evacuated? [1]
6. Fission and fusion are both nuclear processes that release energy. About
20% of the UKs energy need is currently provided by the controlled fission
of uranium. Intensive research continues to harness the energy released
from the fusion of hydrogen.
(a)
Fission of uranium-235 takes place after the absorption of a thermal
neutron.
(i)
Assume such neutrons behave as an ideal gas at a temperature of
310 K.
Show that the square root of the mean square speed of the
neutrons is about 3000 m s1. Given, mass of neutron = 1.0087u
(ii) Calculate the energy released in a single fission. Hence determine the
rate of fission necessary to maintain a power output of 2.5 GW.

REVISION 2
[UNIT 4 & 5] 3

Mass / u
235.0439
U
137.9910
Cs
95.9343
Rb
(b) State the conditions for fusion and hence explain why it has proved
difficult to maintain a sustainable reaction in a practical fusion reactor.
235

138

96

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Q1
No.
12

C
B
C
B
B
Question
Describe how the protons are accelerated as they move
along the linac and explain why the tubes get longer
towards the right. You may be awarded a mark for the clarity
of your answer.
Answer
Quality of written communication (1)
Protons drift/move uniformly inside tubes (1)
Accelerate between the tubes/in the gaps (1)
Alternating p.d. reverses while p is in tube (1)
The tubes must get longer as p speeds up (1)
For time inside tube to be constant or to synchronise
movement with the pd (1)

Mark

Question
Explain why the alpha particles emitted by smoke detectors
are not a health hazard to us in our homes.

Mark

Q2
No.
13
a

Answer
Range is only a few cm in air (or equivalent)
No.
13b

Question
Describe fully what ionisation is and explain why alpha
particles cause much more ionixation than beta
particles.
Answer
electron removed from air particles

1
Mark

REVISION 2
[UNIT 4 & 5] 4
creates ions
Double positive charge

Q3
No.
16
a

No.
16
b

No.
16
ci

Question
During a game of football the ball, mass 0.42 kg, is kicked
towards the goal. It hits one of the posts and rebounds
directly back into play. The diagram shows the ball as it is
just colliding with the post. At impact its speed is 27 m s 1.
Calculate the balls momentum at impact.
Answer
Momentum at impact
p = mv seen or used (1) Answer [11 kg m s1] (1) 2
eg momentum = 0.42 kg 27 m s1 = 11.34 kg m s1
Question
The balls speed at the moment it loses contact with the
post is 20 m s1 in the opposite direction. Calculate its
momentum at this instant.
Answer
Momentum at release
Minus (1)
8.4 kg m s1 (1)
Question
The ball remains in contact with the post for 0.22 s.
Determine the average force exerted on the ball due to the
collision.
Answer

Mark

2
Mark

2
Mark

REVISION 2
[UNIT 4 & 5] 5
Q4
No.
15
a

Question
Calculate the magnitude of the potential difference needed
to accelerate it from rest to a speed of 2.77 10 5 ms1
in a vacuum.

Mark

Answer

Q5
No.
12
b
i

No.
12
b ii

No.
12
b iii

Calculation of potential difference

Use of mpv2 with v = 2.77 105 m s1 and mp = 1.67
1027 kg (1) M Campbell December 2009 Salesian College 60
Use of eV with e = 1.60 1019 C (1) [beware confusion of
v and V]
Answer = 400(.4) / 401 V (1) [If data used to 2 sf, 380V,
384V or 364V, allow 2/3]

Question
Rutherford investigated the scattering of alpha particles by
gold foil in an evacuated container. The evidence from his
investigations led to the nuclear model of the atom.
Why was it important for this investigation that:
(i)
the alpha source was inside the container,
Answer
Why alpha source inside container
Alpha would be absorbed by [accept would not get through]
container (material) (1)
Question
the alpha particles had the same initial kinetic energy,

Mark

Answer
Either To restrict observation to two variables / closeness of
approach and deflection or so that speed / velocity /
(kinetic) energy does not have an effect (on the
observation / deflection /results / contact time)
Question
the container was evacuated?
Answer
Either so that alphas do not get absorbed by / collide with /
get deflected by / stopped by / scattered by / get in the way
of / ionise / lose energy to atoms / molecules (of air) [Do not

2
Mark

Mark

REVISION 2
[UNIT 4 & 5] 6
accept particles of the air]
or so that all alphas reach the foil with the same (kinetic)
energy
Q6
No.
18
ai

Question
Fission of uranium-235 takes place after the absorption of a
thermal neutron.
Assume such neutrons behave as an ideal gas at a
temperature of 310 K.
Show that the square root of the mean square speed of the
neutrons is about 3000 m s1. Given, mass of neutron =
1.0087u
Answer

Mark

No.
18
a iii

Question
Calculate the energy released in a single fission. Hence
determine the rate of fission necessary to maintain a
power output of 2.5 GW.
Answer

Mark

No.
18
bi

Question
State the conditions for fusion and hence explain why it
has proved difficult to maintain a sustainable reaction in a
practical fusion reactor.
Answer

Mark

REVISION 2
[UNIT 4 & 5] 7