Physics

Topic Test 3

Question 1

[4 marks]

On the diagram below, draw the pattern of at least three wave fronts after they have passed
through this opening.

Question 2

[4 marks]

High-energy particle physicists have discovered a new subatomic particle that is produced as a by-product of extremely
energetic collisions between other particles in their particle
accelerator. The new sub-atomic particle moves at 99% of
the speed of light when produced; it has a mass of 4.70 x
10-25 kg and decays with an average lifetime of 22 s. Would
these new sub-atomic particles have the same mass and
average lifetime if they could be produced at rest in the
laboratory? Briefly explain your answer.

Physics

Topic Test 3

Question 3

[4 marks]

Sub-atomic particles called muons are produced in the upper atmosphere (about 10km
above Earths surface) by collisions between cosmic rays and air molecules. The muons
produced are moving at over 98% of the speed of light. In experiments using particle
accelerators slow moving muons have been produced and found to have average half-life of
2.2 s.
(a)

Estimate how far muons produced in the upper atmosphere might be expected to
travel during an average half-life of 2.2 s.
[2 marks]

(b)

Significant numbers of muons produced in the upper atmosphere are detected at the
Earths surface. Briefly explain how this could occur.
[2 marks]

Physics

Topic Test 3

Question 4

(5 marks)

a) What is the wavelength of a X-ray photons of energy

2.6 10 4 eV .
[2 marks]

b) At what energy do electrons have a de Broglie wavelength equal to that of

2.6 10 4 eV

X-rays?
[3 marks]

Physics

Topic Test 3

Question 5

[4 marks]

Helium was first discovered because of dark lines observed in the continuous spectrum of
light from the Sun. The lines were caused by a few specific frequencies of light in the
spectrum being present at very much lower intensity than the rest. Scientists deduced that
this was due to an unknown element in the Suns atmosphere. Explain how helium in the
Suns atmosphere caused this set of dark lines

Question 6

[3 marks]

Vogon star ship travels towards Earth at v = c/4. The Vogon captain, with a poetic flourish,
fires a sonnet (the name of a particularly dangerous Vogon armament) at Earth with speed
of c/2, with respect to the star ship. With what relative speed does the sonnet travel towards
Earth?

Physics

Topic Test 3

Question 7

[4 marks]

Consider the following transmutation:

++ e
p n+ e
By using the particle conservation law, determine the possibility of the above reaction to
occur.

Question 8

[4 marks]

The strong nuclear force is the force that holds the protons and neutrons in the nucleus
together. Based on the fact that atomic nuclei can be stable, briefly explain how you can
conclude that the strong force must be even stronger than the electromagnetic force, at least
over very short distances.

Physics

Topic Test 3

Question 9

[5 marks]

The diagram below shows blackbody radiation of two different stars

a) Underline the correct answer. Which star will appear to be blue [ star A , Star D ]
[1 marks]
b) Which star has the greatest temperature. Explain the reasoning.
[2 marks]

c) Which star is larger? Explain your reasoning.

[2 marks]

Physics

Topic Test 3

Question 10

[7 marks]

The standard model of particle physics proposes that heavy sub-atomic particles (hadrons),
such as the proton or neutron, are actually composite particles made of different
combinations of more fundamental particles known as quarks. There are 6 quarks whose
properties are listed below.
Baryon
Number
(B)

Strangeness
(S)

Charmness
(c)

Bottomness
(b)

Topness
(t)

+2
3 e

1
3

1
3 e

1
3

Strange

1
3 e

1
3

-1

Charme
d

+2
3 e

1
3

+1

Bottom

1
3 e

1
3

-1

Top

+2
3 e

1
3

+1

NAME

SYMBOL

Up

Down

Charge
(Q)

The proton is a baryon and has the composition uud, with charge Q = +1, baryon number B
= +1 and S = c = b = t = 0.

The pion (+) is a meson and has the composition u d , with charge Q = +1, baryon
number B = 0 and S = c = b = t = 0.
(a)

Describe the difference in between a baryon and a meson.

[4 marks]

Physics

(b)

Topic Test 3

State the composition of quarks for the following hadrons:

[3 marks]

(i)

the neutron, with charge, Q = 0, baryon number, B = +1, and S = c = b = t = 0

(ii)

the charmed Xi (+c) baryon, with charge, Q = +1, baryon number, B = +1,
S = -1, c = +1 and b = t = 0

(iii)

the Kaon (K+) meson, with charge, Q = +1, baryon number, B = 0, S = +1 and
c=b=t=0

Physics

Topic Test 3

Question 11
In a photoelectric experiment, a frequency of

[8 marks]

2.4 10

15

Hz is used on magnesium with

work function of 3.7 eV.

(a) What is energy transferred by each photon?
[2 marks]

(b) Calculate the maximum kinetic energy of the ejected electrons.

[2 marks]

Physics

Topic Test 3

(c) The maximum speed of the electrons.

[2 marks]

(d) The stopping potential for the electrons.

[2 marks]

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Physics

Topic Test 3

Question 12

[13 marks]

The energy levels for the valence electron of a hypothetical element are shown below.

A beam of 14.0 eV photons is used to bombard atoms of this element, where all the atoms
were initially in their ground state.
(a)

What is the highest energy level that an atom of this element could be excited to
when bombarded by this beam?
[1 mark]

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Physics

Topic Test 3

(b)

On the energy level diagram above, show all the possible electron transitions when
excited atoms return to the ground state after bombardment by this photon beam.
[2 marks]

(c)

List the energies of all the possible photons that may be produced when excited
atoms return to the ground state after the excitation process.
[2 marks]

(d)

Calculate the frequency and wavelength of the photon emitted when an electron in
this atom makes a transition from the third energy level to the ground state.
[4 marks]

(e)

What type of electromagnetic radiation is emitted by this transition from the third
energy level to the ground state?
[1 mark]

(f)

When invisible ultraviolet light of energy 13.12eV is incident on a sample of this

element, it glows a bright blue-purple colour. Explain how this phenomenon occurs.
[3 marks]

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Physics

Topic Test 3

Question 13

[10 marks]

NGC 2768 is a galaxy group that can be observed from the Hubble Space telescope. The
line absorption spectrum of light passing through a metallic vapour in this galaxy shows one
line with a wavelength of 742.540 nm. The same line in the spectrum measured on Earth is
740.400 nm. [Ho = 24 10-18 s-1]

rest c

= shifted - rest
and v = recessional velocity (m s -1)

where

a. Calculate the Doppler shift, z, for this galaxy.

[2 marks]

b. Calculate the speed that the galaxy is moving relative to the Earth.
[2 marks]

c. Using Hubbles law to calculate the approximate distance, in metres, the galaxy is from
the Earth.
[2 marks]

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Physics

Topic Test 3

d. Determine how many years it takes for light from galaxy NGC 3350 to reach Earth.
[2 marks]

e. Use the value for Hubbles constant given to calculate a value for the age of the universe
in billion years.
[2 marks]

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