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Answers
Chapter 1
Problem set 1A
1
3
4

a 588 N
a 9.8 N
2.45 N kg1

GME
____
N kg1

6
7

rE2

a 1.62 N kg
346 000 km

b
b

1

97 N
9000 km

1.62 m s

4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

1000 N
a 575 kg
b Mass refers to the amount of
matter, which is the same
wherever the mass is.
174 N
1.6 m s2
a 8.9 N kg1
b 710 N
8.8 N kg1
3050 km
a 1.23  1010 J
b 11 100 m s1
1.6  1012 J
9.4  108 J
an increase
68 000 km (assuming all energy
converted into potential energy)
31 000 km (taking orbital kinetic
energy into account)

Chapter 2
Problem set 2A
1
2
3
4
5
6

7
8
9

a 7.7 m s1
b 0.79 s
65 m s1
38 m s1
a 20 cm
b 0.41 s
a 4.9t2
b 5t
a 4.0 m
b 19.6 m downwards
c 0.10 s
d 0.049 m downwards
a 0.39 s
b 0.26 m s1
a 1.01 s
b 3.0 m
a 44 m
b 45 m
c 33 m s1 at an angle of 63 to the
horizontal

27 PHYSICS STAGE 6 HSC SB Answer.indd 359

0.90 s
3.6 m
4.0 m s1
8.8 m s1
23 J
9.7 m s1
i 0.90 s
1.4 m

12
13
14
15

ii

0.90 s

Problem set 2B
i 6.0 m s1
ii 10.4 m s1
5.5 m
2.1 s
13 m
2
48 m s1
27.5 m s1
48 m s1
1.9 m s1 downwards
48 m s1 at an angle of 2
downwards from the
horizontal
3 a 3.1 km
b 50 s
c 12.5 km
d i 247 m s1
ii 247 m s1 downwards
e 350 m s1 at an angle of 45
downwards from the
horizontal
4 a 13.4 s
b 219 m high
5 a 450 m away horizontally at a
height of 413 m
b 2.0 km away
c 580 m
6 a 2.0 s
b 35.3 m
c 5.1 m high
7 a 140 m s1
b 39 m s1
c 145 m s1 at an angle of 16
upwards from the horizontal
d 78 m
8 a 42 m s1
b 24 m s1
c 238 m
9 7.9 m
10 a Horizontal: 2.0 m
Vertical: 2.24 m
b 1.4 s, 5.7 m
11 40 m
1

a
b
c
d
a
b
c
d
e

420 m
32 m s1
1.7 m s2
a i 31 m
b 8.57 s
c 360 m

ii

181 m

Review questions
2

2

Review questions
1
2

11 a
b
c
d
e
f
12 a
b

5
6

7
8

10
11

13

14

15

Galileo observed that the time for

objects to fall under the influence
of gravity was independent of
mass.
a the horizontal component
b the vertical component
c remain the same
a 0.46 m
b 0.6 s
a 0.55 s
b 5.5 m
c 11 m s1
a 4.4 s
b 55 m
a 5.05 s
b 50.5 m
c 50.5 m s1 at an angle of 79
downwards from the
horizontal
a 41 m
b 2.9 s
c 11.6 m
7.7 s
a 20 m s1
b 2.0 s
c 4.0 s
d _12
a 0.39 s
b 8.2 m
c 21.3 m s1 at an angle of
10 downwards from the
horizontal
a 270 m s1
b 225 m s1
c 1.3 km
d 1.1 km
e 1.3 km away at a height of
1.1 km
a 0.25 s
b 0.7 or 43 minutes

Chapter 3
Review questions
2

1.1  104 m s1

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Nelson Physics

360

Stage 6 HSC

3
5

6
7
11
12
13
14
15
16
19

21
22
23

1.9  104 m s1

g-force is the apparent force due to
acceleration, expressed as a
multiple of the acceleration at the
earths surface, g.
3g
1.75 g
4500 N, 9.0 m s2
3.0 h
a 1.4 g, 3.5 m s2
b 5.4 g, 43.5 m s2.
7740 m s1 and 6530 m s1. The
second is about one sixth slower.
25 000 km (to two significant
figures)
7.8 h
The drag from the very thin upper
atmosphere will cause them to lose
altitude.
2.0___
 1013
27
 T 2  5.2T
1
_
of a revolution
8

a 3.7 N kg1
27 cm
8.5 N kg1
1.1  1018 N
4700 km
1.3  1012 J
7.8  108 J
a __F4
b 9F
c F
d 16F
15 520 km

6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

1
2

3
4
5

6
7
8
9

a 637 N
b 104 N
Both would contain the same
amount (70 kg) of matter and
hence the same mass.
a 2.4  1011 N
b 3.6  1022 N
10.3 m
a __F2
b

F
__

4F

F
__

e F
2.0  1020 N
1.2  102 or 0.012
a 98
b
1.1 N kg1

10 000 km

11 a

270 N kg1

270 m s2

Review questions
1
2

3
4
5

984 N
a 906 kg
b Mass refers to the amount of
matter, which is the same
wherever the mass is.
1.8  105 N
7.5  102 kg
Since F  ma, N kg1 is
(kg m s2) kg1  m s2

27 PHYSICS STAGE 6 HSC SB Answer.indd 360

6
7
8

9
10
11
12
13

Problem set 5A
1

4
5
6
7
9
10
11
12
13
14

Inertial frames of reference are not

accelerating. Newtons first law
holds in all inertial frames of
reference.
The speed of light in a vacuum is
never slower than 3.0  108 m s1.
In different media, it may be
slower.
13 m s1
4.4 hours
At right angles to the direction of
motion of the car.
They were seeking to detect the
presence of the aether.
They had to conclude that there
was no aether.
15.8 s
20 h 40 min
14.2 s
0.866c or 2.6  108 m s1
3.0  108 m s1

Problem set 5B

GMm
10 ____
2
rm

296 N

Chapter 5

Chapter 4
Problem set 4A

shorter
0.866c or 2.6  108 m s1
most likely not simultaneous
Some of the matter has been
converted to energy.
8 8.2  1014 J
9 1.8  109 J
10 The spaceship would appear
shorter and more massive.
1
2
6
7

Review questions
1
2
3
5

7.8  1014 m
30 m s1 north
They would most likely not appear
simultaneous.
Their result showed that there was
no aether and could lead to a
better understanding of the nature

14
15
16

17
18
19
20

21

22
23
24
25
26
27

28
29
30

31

of light and electromagnetic

radiation.
450 m
11 light years
a 3.0  108 m s1
b 3.0  108 m s1
c 66 s
d 6.25 s
1.3 years
6.4 s
3.1  104 s
35 years
If clocks are running slower,
lengths will need to be shorter so
that the observed beam of light
takes the same time to reach the
distance, so its velocity will be
constant.
It would be about 2 m wider.
yes
a i 1.82  1027 kg
ii 2.09  1027 kg
iii 2.78  1027 kg
iv 3.83  1027 kg
v 5.35  1027 kg
vi 2.64  1026 kg
0.9165c or 2.75  108 m s1
no
0.71 m or 71 cm
a 2.5  1030 kg
b 2.3  1013 J
c 1.5  1013 J
a 2.332  1030 kg
b 2.8  108 m s1
c 5.3  108 m s1
2.94  108 m s1
1.64  1013 J
109 times the rest energy
a 4.14  1012 J
b 6.2  1015 J
a 0.75c
b 56 m
Kinetic energy depends on mass,
and there is no limit to relativistic
mass.
3.0%
16 years
a yes
b They will both be about 5 years
younger than Ignatius.
a 2.4  108 m s1
b 8 light years

Chapter 6
Problem set 6A
1

W south, X west, Y north,

Z east

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Answers

a
b
c
d
e
f
a
b
c
d
a

a
b

The magnetic field will

increase in strength.
ii no effect
iii The magnetic field will
increase in strength.
into the page
into the page
to the left
to the right
out of the page
into the page
to the left
upwards
into the page
out of the page
i The compass would turn to
the east.
ii The compass would turn to
the west.
i The compass would turn to
the west.
ii The compass would turn to
the east.
i The magnetic field will
increase in strength.
ii No effect
iii The magnetic field will
increase in strength.
iv The magnetic field will
increase in strength.
A is a north pole and B is a
south pole.
If the wire wasnt insulated, the
current would flow through the
soft iron core.
Any material which can easily
become magnetized, like soft
iron.
By increasing the current in the
wire, or increasing the number
of turns of the wire around the
soft iron core.
i

Problem set 6B
1

2
3

directly above it, with the north

pole pointing down
b to the left
0.09 N
a out of the page
b out of the page
c to the left
d downwards
e to the left
f upwards
g upwards
h out of the page

a There is no magnetic force.

b out of the page
c There is no magnetic force.
5 1.6  102 N
6 5.0  102 T
7 1.5 A
8 0.48 N downwards
9 a 2.5  108 N into the page
b 1.2 N out of the page
c 0.03 N out of the page
10 6.7  105 N, repelling eachother
11 3 A
12 0.34 A (Since I1  I2)
4

Problem set 6C
1
2
3
4

6
7

Review questions
1

27 PHYSICS STAGE 6 HSC SB Answer.indd 361

in the direction BCDA

too small
too large
After the coil had moved 180 the
current would effectively be
reversed and the coil would rotate
in the other direction.
The commutator is to cause the
current to reverse every 180 so the
torque is always in the same
direction.
To provide a constant magnetic
field going through the coil.
a ii downwards
b i 0.18 N
ii 0 N
c Increase the current, the
number of turns, the magnetic
field strength or the area of the
coil.
d 7.2  103 Nm
a anticlockwise
b 0.0576 N or 5.76  102 N
c 0.0023 N m
a i 1.9 N downwards
ii 1.2 N into the coil
b 0.19 N m

2
3
4
5
6
7

The magnetic field will

decrease in strength.
ii no effect
iii The magnetic field will
decrease in strength.
0.18 N
3.0  102 N
0N
2.8  102 T
1.4 A
a 5.8  105 N
b The wires will attract each
other.
b

361

a 3.8  103 N out of the page

b 0N
9 a i 2.16  102 N down ii 0 N
b 0.34 m or 34 cm
14 3.77 N m
15 0.16 m or 16 cm
16 They need a strong magnet on
each side, and a commutator or
some device which ensures that
the current is reversed every
time the cylinder rotates
180 degrees.
8

Chapter 7
Problem set 7A
1
2
3
4

a 9.0  103 Wb
b 0 Wb
0.24 T
3.0  105 Wb
a 8.5  104 Wb
b 7.3  104 Wb
c 5.5  104 Wb

Problem set 7B
i Blv V
ii 0 V
iii 2Blv
iv 0 V
b i Blv V
ii 0 V
3 Upwards
4 a From P to Q, or clockwise when
viewed from the top
b The force would be towards the
back of the field. It would not
affect the current.
5 a While the loop is entering the
magnetic field, CBAD. While the
loop is in the magnetic field, no
current. While the loop is leaving
the magnetic field, ABCD
b i The same, but with a
stronger current.
ii The same, but in each case
the current would be in the
opposite direction.
iii There would be no current.
iv There would be no current.
v The same, but with a
stronger current.
6 0.50 m or 50 cm
7 a 0.108 V
b 0.0135 A
c From A to B (downwards)
d 5.8  104 N to the right
e 0N
8 a 3.6  104 V
b Q
9 0.25 V
10 0.25 V
2

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362

Stage 6 HSC

11 a 1.5  103 T s1

b 2.25  106 Wb
12 0.004 V
13 a 7.2  102 Wb
b 0.11 V
14 20 V
15 0.125 V

Chapter 8
Review questions

Problem set 7C
1
2

3
4

BAcos
______
V

b
a
c
e
g
i
a
a
c
e

i, iii, iv and v.
Y to X
X to Y
Y to X
Y to X
N
A
Y to X
Y to X
N

2t

b
d
f
h

N
X to Y
X to Y
N

b
b
d

0V
Y to X
X to Y

Review questions
1

2
3
4

6
7
8

After it has been rotated 180, the

relative direction of the flux
through the coil is reversed, and so
the emf and current will be
reversed also, leading to
alternating current.
3 A generator is just a motor in
reverse. They both have the same
basic features.
4 An AC generator produces current
which constantly changes
direction. A DC generator is an AC
generator with one direction either
eliminated or reversed, so the
current only flows in one direction.
5 The structure of both is the same.
7 a (b)
8 a The reading would increase to
a maximum, then decrease to
zero, then increase to a second
maximum and decrease to zero
again.
c The magnitude of the current
would increase.
9 540 V
10 212
11 Power loss  VI  I 2R since V  IR.
Thus if the same power is
transmitted at a higher voltage,
less current will flow (P  VI) and
less energy will be lost.
12 The wires are attached with long
insulators made of a nonconducting material, like glass or
ceramic material.
1

The emf is doubled.

The emf is halved.
The emf is doubled.
The emf is unchanged.
The emf would be increased by
a factor of 9.
0.20 V
5.1  102 V
a Anything which would change
the magnetic flux through the
wire loop, i.e. move the wire in
or out of a magnetic field,
rotate the wire loop, change the
area of the loop in a magnetic
field, put the loop in a changing
magnetic field.
b i 1.4  103 V ii 7.9  104 V
c i Anticlockwise to produce an
opposing magnetic field
(out of the page).
ii clockwise
d clockwise
a The reading would increase to
a maximum, then decrease to
zero, then increase to a second
maximum and decrease to zero
again.
c It would increase.
a 1.75  102 Wb
b 0 Wb
0.125 V
As the motor rotates faster, the
moving coil creates an opposing
emf which causes a higher
resistance in the circuit.
a
b
c
d
e

27 PHYSICS STAGE 6 HSC SB Answer.indd 362

Chapter 9
Review questions
1

Voltage and current are both

transformed (changed) but power
is not, so energy is not
transformed, except that some is
converted to heat by induced eddy
currents.
A transformer works by emf being
induced in a secondary coil by the
changing magnetic field of the
primary coil. If the current in the
primary coil is constant DC, the
magnetic field would be constant
and no emf would be induced in
the secondary coil.

3
4
5
6
7

48 V
24 000 V
a A step-up transformer
b 2:5
7.3 A
The soft iron easily becomes
magnetised and adds its
magnetism to that produced by
the primary coil, increasing the
effect of changing magnetic flux.

Chapter 10
Problem set 10A
1
2
3
4
5

2.7  1012 N
9.4  106 m s1
3.1  1016 N
24
2.8  1014 T in an easterly
direction

Problem set 10B

1
2
3
4
5
6

3.0  106 N C1

1.9  105 N
3.8  104 N C1
a 3.1  104 N C1
b 5.5  1015 m s2
a 1.6  103 V m1
b 2.6  1016 N
940 V

Review questions
a wave or particle
b particle
c particle
d waves
3 There were too many gas
molecules in the tube. These were
becoming ionized by the cathode
rays and moved to counteract the
applied electric field. When the
vacuum was improved, the rays
were deflected.
4 a To the left
b downwards
c Into the page
5 3.6  1015 N down the page
6 F  qvB sin 55
7 q  7.2  104 C
9 4.8  103 V m1 or 4800 V m1
10 1.6  102 V
11 a 8  1016 N out of the page
b 0.16 T upwards
14 The horizontal plates deflect the
beam horizontally at a constant
rate, and the vertical plates deflect
the beam up and down, with a
1

6/20/09 5:54:52 PM

Answers

signal varying like standard AC

current.

Chapter 11
Problem set 11A
1
2

3
4
5
6

b i Yes
ii No
White light would contain
radiation of higher frequencies
than red light. This means the
photons would contain more
energy and would be more likely to
excite electrons in the molecules of
the photographic material, causing
chemical change and hence
damage.
a 6.7  1014 Hz
b 4.4  1019 J, 2.8 eV
0.025 nm
c, a, b, d
a Electrons would be emitted at a
greater rate.
b No electrons would be emitted.
c Electrons would be emitted,
still at the same rate.
a 9.9  1028 J (6.2  109 eV)
b 9.9  1015 J (6.2  104 eV). The
gamma ray photons contain
1013 or ten trillion times more
energy.

Review questions
3

A black body is an idealized object

that absorbs all electromagnetic
radiation and hence appears black
when cold. A black body does emit
radiation, which is called black
body radiation and is dependent
on its temperature and not on the
type of radiation falling on it.
a The current is dependent on
the amount of electrons ejected
by the radiation. Once
sufficient voltage to collect all
the emitted electrons is
applied, increasing the
potential difference will not
result in any more electrons
being emitted.
b C
a Since E  hf, Plancks constant
will be the gradient of the
graph.
b 5.8  1019 J or 3.6 eV
c The gradient of the graph
would be unchanged. The
minimum amount of energy

27 PHYSICS STAGE 6 HSC SB Answer.indd 363

required would depend on the

metal used.
8 a 4.739  1014 Hz
b 3.1  1019 J or 2.0 eV
9 a 4.2  1019 J
b 2.6 eV
10 27.6 nm
12 a The leaf will fall.
b The leaf will stay up.
c The leaf will stay up.

Chapter 12
Review questions
Electrons in metals only partially
fill their valence band and very
easily move to the conduction
band. As a result only a small
amount of energy is required to get
them moving to make an electric
current.
4 The conductivity of a
semiconductor can be improved
by doping, i.e. adding another
element into the crystal lattice,
which either produces free
electrons, or holes into which
electrons can move.
7 a A semiconductor is a material
that carries a current less easily
than a conductor, but better
than an insulator.
b An intrinsic semiconductor is
made up of a pure element, e.g.
pure silicon.
c An extrinsic semiconductor has
had a small amount of an
impurity added to improve
conductivity.
d Doping is the process of adding
a small amount of an impurity
to a semiconductor to improve
conductivity.
12 Silicon is much more plentiful
than germanium and performs
better at higher temperatures.
1

10

11

12

Chapter 13
Review questions
3

Resistance is caused by interaction

of electrons with the atoms in the
crystalline structure of the metals.
Impurities in the metal cause the
crystalline structure to become
more disordered, increasing these

13

363

interactions and thus increasing

resistance.
Increasing the temperature of a
metal increases the vibration of its
atoms, increasing the chance of
electrons interacting with them,
and hence increasing resistance.
a A superconductor is a
conductor with no resistance.
b The critical temperature for the
conductor is the maximum
temperature it can remain a
superconductor.
c The Meissner effect is the
exclusion of a magnetic field by
a superconductor.
Superconductors have zero
resistance to current, allowing
current to flow with no energy loss.
A permanent magnet will levitate
above a superconductor. Type I
(metallic) superconductors are
extremely cold and type II ones are
very brittle.
a The rate at which signals travel
through computers is slowed
down by resistance to current.
If superconductors could be
used, computers could become
incredibly fast.
b Transmission of electricity
without resistance means there
would be no power loss in the
distribution system. Also, safer
voltages could be used (not in
text).
The main limitations are the
difficulty of maintaining the
extremely cold temperatures for
type I superconductors, and the
extreme brittleness of the type II
superconductors. Also there is a
limit to the amount of current
which can be passed through
type II superconductors.
Type I superconductors are metals
and are only so at extremely low
temperatures. Type II
superconductors are metallic
compounds and ceramic-like
materials called perovskites. They
are superconductors at much
higher temperatures but are very
expensive to make and are
extremely brittle.
BCS theory explains how an
electron attracts the ionic lattice,

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364

Stage 6 HSC

causing a slight positively charged

area around it attracting another
electron and causing the pair to
travel unimpeded through the
metallic lattice. (See section 13.6
on page 175.)

Chapter 14
Problem set 14A
1

6
7

The Piezoelectric effect is the

ability of some materials to
generate an electric potential
when a mechanical stress is
applied.
a 1.54  106 rayls
b 396 rayls
c 1.65  106 rayls
a 9.52  102 kg m3
b 1.07  103 kg m3
c 1.91  103 kg m3
The higher this ratio (i.e. the closer
to 1), the easier it is to identify the
boundaries between different
tissues in the body.
a 0.99906 or 99.9%
b No, the formula would yield the
same answer.
a 0.99896
b 0.000641
Very little as the intensity ratio
would be close to zero.

Problem set 14B

1

A-scans produce a series of spikes

relating to the depth of a boundary.
They are of limited value. B-scans
produce dots, the intensity of
which varies in proportion to
signal strength. They can produce
a picture of a slice of the human
body.
In ultrasound scanning, the
Doppler effect refers to the change
in frequency when a sound wave is
reflected from a moving object.
The Doppler effect is used to
create an image of the heart using
two-dimensional slices. It can also
measure the speed of blood flow,
and hence such things as whether
an artery is blocked, heart defects,
etc.
The main advantage is that
internal organs can be examined
without using surgery (i.e. noninvasive). Ultrasound can also treat

27 PHYSICS STAGE 6 HSC SB Answer.indd 364

some types of tumours, break up

kidney stones and generate
localized heat to treat some sports
injuries.
A sector scan is a series of B-scans
creating a two dimensional wedge
shaped image.

Review questions
1

6
7

8
9
10

11

12

14
15

Ultrasound is sound with a higher

frequency than audible sound. The
frequency of audible sound ranges
from 50 Hz to 20 kHz. Ultrasound
has frequencies above 20 kHz.
The Piezoelectric effect is the
ability of some materials to
generate an electric potential
when a mechanical stress is
applied.
When an electric potential
difference is applied to a
piezoelectric material, it expands.
When AC is applied, it expands
and contracts to produce a sound
which has the same frequency as
the AC current.
As well as producing sound waves
when an AC current is applied,
incoming sound waves distort
piezoelectric materials slightly and
cause them to produce a small but
measurable emf.
Acoustic impedance is a measure
of how easily sound waves pass
through a material.
The higher the density, the higher
the acoustic impedence.
a 1.61  106 rayls
b 1.65  106 rayls
c 1.71  106 rayls
1450 m s1
1104 kg m3
The higher this ratio (i.e. the closer
to 1), the easier it is to identify the
boundaries between different
tissues in the body.
a 0.0108
b [Z2 Z1]2 will be the same as
[Z1 Z2]2 in the formula.
a 0.99975 or 99.975%
b 0.00189 or 0.189%
c 0.00788 or 0.788%
A-scans are mainly used to image
fluid-filled structures.
A sector scan is a series of B-scans
creating a two dimensional wedge
shaped image.

16 The phase scan takes in what part

of the waves cycle the wave is at a
particular point in space and time.
This enables a clearer image to be
obtained.
17 The Doppler effect is the change of
frequency due to a wave
emanating from a moving object.
In ultrasonics it is used to measure
the speed of moving parts of the
body, mainly blood.
18 An electrocardiogram (ECG) is an
ultrasound of the heart. It uses
traditional scanning techniques to
view the structure of the heart, and
the Doppler effect to measure
blood flow.
19 The bone in the heel of the foot is
tested using ultrasound.

Chapter 15
Review questions
2

10

13

14

15

16

17

Only a small proportion of the

kinetic energy of the electrons is
converted to X-ray radiation. Most
is converted to heat which must be
dissipated.
X-rays pass through soft tissue but
are stopped by bone, i.e. in X-ray
radiation, soft tissue is transparent,
but bone is opaque.
The body is passed through the
scanning equipment, and X-rays
are used to observe slices of the
body which are put together to
make a three dimensional
image.
Cat scans can distinguish between
tissues of similar relative densities
much better than ultrasound.
The endoscope uses fibre optic
cable which uses total internal
reflection to ensure very little of
the light is lost.
A coherent bundle has all its fibres
in the same relative position so
that images are not distorted.
All the light carrying part has to do
is illuminate the area being
viewed. Any qualities of the light
are irrelevant.
Endoscopes can contain small
instruments which can apply
suction to remove part of the
tissue.
A clear image must be seen.

6/20/09 5:54:58 PM

Answers

18 The endoscope is a long tube

which is inserted either through
the bodys natural cavities, or
through a small incision. The end
can be manipulated to the
required part of the body.
19 An endoscope is used to look at
interior cavities, joints or organs in
any place it can reach after being
inserted either through one of the
bodys natural cavities or through a
small incision.

Chapter 16
Review questions
A radioisotope is an isotope of an
element which is radioactive. An
isotope contains the same number
of protons in the nucleus but a
different number of neutrons.
3 The mass number if an isotope is
the total number of protons and
neutrons in the nucleus.
4 a Alpha particles are helium
nuclei emitted from a
radioactive nucleus.
b Beta particles are electrons
emitted from a radioactive
nucleus.
c Gamma particles are high
frequency electromagnetic
radiation.
5 Radioactive isotopes have the
same chemical properties as the
element, and are absorbed into the
body in the same way. They can
then be observed by the radiation
they emit.
6 A radiopharmaceutical is any
radioactive material which can be
used in medicine, either as a
diagnostic tool or for treatment.
7 Half life is the time taken for half of
the mass to decay. In the next half
life period of time, half of what is
left will decay, and so on.
8 Alpha and beta particles both have
an electric charge, and a moving
electric charge will be deflected by
a magnetic field. Gamma rays have
no charge, and so are not
deflected.
10 Radioactivity is harmful to human
cells, so it is important that
radiation drops to a safe level as
soon as possible.
1

27 PHYSICS STAGE 6 HSC SB Answer.indd 365

11 Radioactive isotopes have the

same chemical properties as the
element, and are metabolised into
the body in the same way.
12 Hot spots are parts of the body
where an excessive amount of the
element has concentrated. Cold
spots show a lack of uptake of the
element.
15 A positron is identical to an
electron, except that instead of a
negative charge, it carries a
positive charge.
19 e  e 2

Review questions
1

2
3

Chapter 17
Problem set 17A
1

Spin is a fundamental property

of subatomic particles. They are
not little spheres spinning, but
the concept is useful because
the particles have angular
momentum.
A neurologist threats disorders
of the brain and the nervous
system.
If you wrap the fingers of your
right hand in the direction of the
spin, your thumb will point in the
direction of the resulting magnetic
field.
If a nucleus has an even number of
nucleons, they will pair so that
every up spin will be balanced by
a down spin, and the resultant
spin will be zero.
There will always be one unpaired
nucleon, so the atom will have a
magnetic field, which means the
nucleus will be influenced by
another magnetic field.
Hydrogen is found throughout the
body, in water, sugars, fats,
proteins etc. Hydrogen is also the
most sensitive isotope to nmr, after
the radioisotope 31H.
Paramagnetic substances are
influenced in a small way by
magnetic fields. They do not
remain magnetized after the field
has ceased to be applied.
Type I superconducting
electromagnets are used, as there
is no build up of heat due to
electrical resistance.

365

8
9

13
15

19
20

Spin is a fundamental property of

subatomic particles. They are not
little spheres spinning, but the
concept is useful because the
particles have angular momentum.
Precession is the wobble of a
subatomic particle.
There is no harmful radiation used
in MRI.
Relaxation refers to nuclei
returning to a low energy state,
releasing a weak radio wave
in the process.
The Larmor frequency is the
frequency of precession, and is
the RF required for the precessing
nuclei to flip 180 to a higher
energy state.
The spin will be any whole
number, including zero.
The relaxation times depend on
the concentration of hydrogen
nuclei in the area. This would be
different for water and a protein
chain.
Cancer
The intense magnetic field causes
the nuclei in the tissue being
examined to align with this
magnetic field. The Larmor
radiation can then be applied.
Their up spin changes to a down
spin. See figure 17.4 on page 216.
It uses no harmful radiation and
can provide very clear images of
organs and soft tissue. It can
measure the concentrations of the
different compounds in the body.

Chapter 18
Problem set 18A
1

2
3

Astrophysics is that branch of

astronomy that deals with
understanding the origin,
evolution and death of various
stellar objects in terms of the laws
of physics governing them.
Galileo, about 1609.
The craters on the moon, the four
largest moons of Jupiter, the rings
of Saturn and the phases of Venus,
among other things.
His telescope wasnt powerful
enough to resolve them clearly.

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The main advantage is that it

avoids the distortions and
absorptions due to the Earths
atmosphere.
6 Gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet
light, the visible spectrum, infrared
light, microwave radiation and
radio waves, varying from short
wave, medium wave and long
wave.
8 Mainly the visible, infrared and
radio wavelengths. Other
wavelengths are absorbed by the
atmosphere.
10 The size of its aperture (the bigger
the better) and the quality of its
mirrors or lenses.
5

14 Adaptive optics actually changes

the shape of the mirror in real time
to compensate for the distortions
of the atmosphere.
15 Interferometer uses the
interference of waves to produce
higher resolution images. This can
be justified in terms of the
improvement in quality of the data
obtained.

Chapter 19

4
5

8
9

Student answers will vary but

should focus on his astronomical
observations, the conclusions he
reached, and the impact on the
world in his day.
The phases of Venus convinced
him it was travelling around the
sun.
They are absorbed by the
atmosphere.
A refracting telescope uses a lens
to refract or bend light. A reflecting
telescope uses a mirror to reflect
and focus the light.
It is difficult to build large lenses or
mirrors that do not distort. The
materials cannot contain their
shape accurately enough above a
certain size.
The main ones are the size of its
aperture (the bigger the better),
the quality of its mirrors or lenses
and the wavelength of the
radiation being used (the shorter
the better.)
The area of the lens or mirror
gathering the light.
Sensitivity is proportional to the
square of the radius of the
aperture.

1
10 ____
3600

11 The atmosphere distorts the image

and absorbs electromagnetic
radiation.
12 Seeing refers to the movement of
air disturbing the path of light. It
is what causes the twinkling of
stars.

27 PHYSICS STAGE 6 HSC SB Answer.indd 366

Problem set 19C

3
4
5
6

Problem set 19A

1

Review questions
1

a
b
c
d
e
f
a
b
c
a
b

c
5

a
b
c
d

130 parsecs
29 parsecs
3.50 parsecs
11.25 parsecs
12.94 parsecs
20.2 parsecs
1.5 parsecs
260 ly
1.5813  104 ly
The distance between the Earth
and the sun
The distance at which the
radius of the Earths orbit
subtends one minute of arc.
The distance light would travel
in a year.
0.034 arcsec
0.00430 arcsec
0.38 arcsec
0.741 arcsec

Problem set 19B

1

A spectrum is produced by
breaking up light using a prism or
diffraction grating.
Any glowing hot matter will
produce a continuous spectrum.
The hot interiors of stars and
galaxies are examples of this.
a The dominant frequency
indicates the temperature of
the star.
b The bands of the absorption
spectrum correspond to
specific elements and can give
information about the
composition of the star.
c Stellar translational velocity
can be determined by
measuring the Doppler shift in
the light received from the star.
d Rotational velocity is found by
comparing the Doppler shift of

the stars edge with that of its

centre.
The stars density can be
determined by measuring the
breadth of the spectral lines in
the absorption spectrum.

8
9
10
12

13
14

6.31 times
Rigel is about 5 times brighter than
Adhara.
a 1.31
b 3.73
The absolute magnitude is the
magnitude the star would have if it
was 10 parsecs away. The apparent
magnitude of a star is the
magnitude the star has when
viewed from the Earth.
If m  M, then the apparent
magnitude is equal to the absolute
magnitude, which means the star
must be 10 parsecs away.
171 parsecs
0.75
a 11.25 parsecs b 0.22
The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram
only gives a very approximate
measure of absolute magnitude.
The colour index is a measure of
how hot a star is, using its colour.
a Yellow
b G5
c 50006000 K

Review questions
1

Luminosity is the total amount of

radiant energy a star is emitting, or
its true brightness. Brightness is
how much radiation reaches the
Earth, or how bright it appears
from the surface of the Earth.
a The careful measurement of
stellar distances relative to one
another.
b The parallax measurement of a
star using the Earths orbital
radius as a baseline.
c 1 AU is the distance from the
earth to the Sun.
d A parsec is the distance from
earth where the radius of the
Earths orbit would subtend an
angle of one second (one three
thousand six hundredth of a
degree.)
e An arcsecond is an angle of one
second (i.e. one three thousand
six hundredth of a degree).

6/20/09 5:55:03 PM

Answers

a 145 parsecs
b 17.78 parsecs
c 157 parsecs
4 a 0.0132 arcsec
b 0.0132 arcsec
c 0.0287 arcsec
5 When the star is more than about
100 pc away, the parallax angle is
too small to measure.
6 A spectroscope is a device for
making a spectrum.
7 a Spectroscopy is analysing the
spectrum of light produced by
an object to deduce the
makeup of the object.
b A spectrum is the range of light
frequencies emitted by an
object, spread out when the
light is refracted.
c An emission spectrum consists
of a series of bright bands
produced by light emitted as
electrons in the atoms of the
object return to lower energy
levels.
d An absorption spectrum is a
normal rainbow spectrum
with a series of dark bands
caused by the absorption of
those frequencies by
intervening atoms.
e A continuous spectrum is a
normal rainbow spectrum
without any breaks.
10 An emission spectrum is produced
by light emitted as electrons in the
atoms of the object return to lower
energy levels. These are produced
by the corona of a star when
viewed directly.
11 Continuous produced by the hot
centres of stars and galaxies.
Emission produced by the
corona of stars when viewed
directly.
Absorption produced by the
atmosphere or corona of a star
when it is blocking the hot
core.
13 O blue 30 00050 000 K
B blue-white 10 00030 000 K
A white with bluish tinge
750010 000 K
F yellow-white 60007500 K
G yellow 50006000 K
K orange 35005000 K
M red 25003500 K
3

27 PHYSICS STAGE 6 HSC SB Answer.indd 367

14 Translational velocity is a measure

of the speed and direction that the
star as a whole is moving.
Rotational velocity is the difference
in velocity of the edges of the star
due to its rotation.
15 a Photometry is the
measurement of the brightness
of a source of light.
b Luminosity refers to the total
amount of radiant energy that
a star is emitting.
c Brightness is a measure of the
intensity of radiation from the
star that is reaching the Earth.
d Apparent magnitude is a
measure of the brightness of a
stellar object as seen from
Earth.
e Absolute magnitude is a
measure of the brightness of a
stellar object as seen from a
distance of 10 parsecs from the
star.
f Colour index is a comparison of
relative brightness of different
frequencies of light, used to
measure the temperature of the
stellar object.
16 As there is three magnitudes
difference, the magnitude 3
star will be 2.512  2.512 
2.512  15.85 or about 16 times
brighter than the magnitude 6 star.
17 a 5.7, star 
b 5.2, star X
c 0.022, star M
d 0.18, star 
18 a The star would be 10 parsecs
away.
b The star would be more than
10 parsecs away.
c The star would be less than
10 parsecs away.
19 Pogsons ratio is the ratio of
brightness of two stars whose
difference in magnitude is 1.
Pogsons ratio  2.512
20 118 parsecs
21 a 7.7 parsecs
b 1.2 parsecs
c 155 parsecs
d 27.4 parsecs
22 a 0.03
b 0.76
c 0.56
d 0.86

367

2.5
2.66
3.16
2.02
14.93 pc, 1.09
12.27 pc, 0.70
9.2 parsecs
110 pc
Note: Two figures of accuracy is
no more than is possible.
c 430 parsecs
d 12 parsecs
29 The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram
only gives a very approximate
measure of absolute magnitude.
30 The human eye is most sensitive to
the yellow-green part of the
spectrum, whereas photographic
film is most sensitive to the blue
end of the spectrum, and so each
is biased in a different way.
32 a White, A6, about 8500 K
b Red, M7, about 2500 K
c Yellow-white, F4, about 6500 K
23 a
b
c
d
24 a
b
28 a
b

Chapter 20
Problem set 20A
1

A binary star system is two

stars bound together by gravity,
orbiting around their common
centre of mass.
An optical double star is a set of
two stars that appear to be
close together when viewed
from earth, but are not bound
together and may not even be
close to each other.
A visual binary is a binary star
system which can be detected
through observation.
A spectroscopic binary system
is a binary star system which
can be detected by observing
the Doppler shift in their
spectral lines.
An eclipsing binary is a binary
star system where one star
passes in front of the other,
forming an eclipse marked by
regular decreases in brightness.
An astrometric binary is a
binary star system where one
stars position changes due to
the gravitational attraction of
an unseen companion.

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3
4

5
6
7

2.8  1034 kg
a 8.4  1029 kg
b 2.2  1034 kg
c 4.1  1034 kg
a 8.7  1027 kg
b 7.2  1027 kg, 1.5  1027 kg
a 7.0  1031 kg
b 4.2  1031 kg, 2.8  1027 kg
The stars trace out an elliptical
orbit about a common centre of
mass. They also trace out an ellipse
relative to each other.
The more luminous main
sequence stars are also more
massive. There is a clear
relationship, so the luminosity of a
main sequence star can be used to
estimate its mass.

Problem set 20B

1

a
b

A variable is anything which

can have different values. In
this case we mean stars whose
brightness changes over time.
An extrinsic variable star
changes brightness due to
factors external to the star. The
star itself is not changing in
brightness.
An intrinsic variable star
changes brightness due to
factors internal to the star. The
star itself is changing in
brightness.
A periodic variable is one
whose change occurs in regular
periods.
A non-periodic variable is one
whose change occurs in
irregular periods.
A pulsating variable star has
periodic changes in brightness
due to a periodic expansion
and contraction of its surface
layers.
5.2  103 parsecs
1.1  103 parsecs

10

11

12

14

15

16

Review questions
1

A binary star system is two stars

bound together by gravity, orbiting
around their common centre of
mass.
Binaries have helped us learn
about the masses of star systems
and to reliably estimate
distances.

27 PHYSICS STAGE 6 HSC SB Answer.indd 368

17

18

An optical double star is a set of

two stars that appear to be close
together when viewed from earth,
but are not bound together by
gravity like binary stars.
As telescopes become larger and
more powerful, more visual binaries
will be detected, and measurements
will become more accurate.
a 4.7  1030 kg
b 2.2  1029 kg
c 7.8  1030 kg
d 5.1  1031 kg
a 6.0  1030 kg, 2.4  1030 kg,
3.6  1030 kg
b 5.2  1030 kg, 1.0  1030 kg,
4.2  1030 kg
c 1.34  1035 kg, 3.4  1034 kg,
1.0  1035 kg
d 2.1  1034 kg (2.08),
1.4(2)  1034 kg, 6.6  1033 kg
The distance apart of
spectroscopic binaries is usually
very small, so very few would be
able to be resolved by a telescope.
When side on, the differences in
the velocities of the stars would
show up by a Doppler shift. This
would not happen if they were
perpendicular to us.
The relationship is that as stars
become more massive, they also
burn brighter and become more
luminous.
There may be external reasons, for
example an eclipsing binary.
Internal reasons include pulsating
variables (radius contracting and
expanding), eruptive and explosive
variables (solar flares, novae and
supernovae.)
An intrinsic variable relates to the
state of the star itself some
process in the star makes its
brightness vary. An external
variable has something outside the
star making its brightness vary.
The relationship between period
and luminosity enables their
distance to be calculated.
a 3000 parsecs
b 60 parsecs
c 800 parsecs
A periodic variable repeats its
changes over the same time
interval each time. A non-periodic
variable does not have a regular
cycle of changes.

Chapter 21
Problem set 21A
1

The interstellar medium is

the region in space between
stars.
b Star formation is the process
whereby dense parts of gas
clouds collapse into a ball of
plasma to form a star.
c This is the dense region in the
interstellar medium from
which stars form.
d Nebulae are interstellar clouds
of dust and gas.
e A protostar is star which is a
stable mass, without any
nuclear reactions occurring.
f A main sequence star is fusing
hydrogen into helium in its
core.
g Hydrogen burning is not
combustion as we know it but
hydrogen fusing into helium in
a nuclear reaction.
h Gravitational collapse refers to
a decrease in the size of a body
due to gravitational attraction
compacting its materials.
The interstellar medium is sparsely
filled with gas molecules, atoms
and ions, grains of dust, cosmic
rays and magnetic fields.
The cloud tends to break up into
smaller denser regions, each of
which collapses to form their own
star system.
As the clouds collapse the gases
heat up which works against the
gravitational collapse. When this
reaches equilibrium, a protostar is
formed.
A star does not become a fully
fledged main sequence star until
the nuclear reaction has started
and it is fusing hydrogen into
helium.
Protons (hydrogen nuclei)
combine to form helium and in the
process release energy and two
positrons.
a

Problem set 21B

1

Red giants are extremely large

red stars where the outer gases
have expanded to a radius
usually larger than 1 AU.

6/20/09 5:55:08 PM

Answers

A supergiant is an extremely
large red giant.
c When the shell outside the core
gets hot enough, its hydrogen
starts fusing into helium.
d Nuclear fusion is the process
where atomic nuclei combine
in an atomic reaction to form
larger nuclei.
e A helium flash refers to the
explosive start to helium
burning in smaller stars the
size of the Sun.
f The triple alpha process refers
to the fusion of three helium
nuclei to form a carbon
nucleus in and atomic
reaction.
Red giants are characterized by an
outer large thin shell of hydrogen
burning to helium with an inner
core of helium (which may begin
fusing into carbon and oxygen.)
There is still hydrogen in the outer
shell and if it is heated enough by
the core the fusion process will
start there.
In the core, helium is fusing to
form carbon, and carbon will
combine with helium to form
oxygen. The shell will be fusing
hydrogen into helium.
On the top of the H-R diagram, in
the right hand half (asymptotic
giant branch).

Problem set 21C

1

Star death will occur when no

more nuclear reactions can
occur, and the star will reach its
final (dead) state, where it will
no longer emit any energy.
A planetary nebula is a glowing
shell of gas and plasma emitted
by a dying red giant star.
A white dwarf is a low mass
high density very faint star
where no nuclear reactions are
occurring. It is slowly releasing
the energy trapped in the core.
A neutron star is the extremely
dense core of a star consisting
of degenerate neutrons.
A remnant star refers to what is
left after the star has lost its
outer layers during its red giant
phase.

27 PHYSICS STAGE 6 HSC SB Answer.indd 369

A singularity is a concentrated
single point of mass.
g Pulsars are highly magnetized
neutron stars that emit a beam
of radio waves as they spin on
their axes. As the beam can
only be seen when it is
pointing to the Earth, it
appears to come in pulses.
Planetary nebulae return gases to
the interstellar medium.
The Chandrasekhar limit is the
maximum size that a white dwarf
can form.
During their phase as a red giant,
the thin outer layers get blown
away by pulsations and strong
stellar winds.
Degenerate electron pressure
refers to the pressure of high speed
electrons in compressed
(degenerate) matter which
prevents a white dwarf from
collapsing under gravity.
Iron and heavier elements require
energy for fusion to occur. As a
result, although they can occur in
stellar objects under certain
circumstances they cannot power
a star.
f

2
3

Review questions
1

The interstellar medium is sparsely

filled with gas molecules, atoms
and ions, grains of dust, cosmic
rays and magnetic fields.
A dark nebula is a gas cloud that
blocks out light and so appears
dark.
A shock wave from a nearby
supernova or combining with
another cloud as they move
through space.
A cluster of stars usually form from
the same cloud which breaks up
into smaller, denser regions that
each collapse to form their own
star system.
A protostar is the beginning of a
star where the core is in
equilibrium but nuclear reaction
has not yet started.
Hydrostatic equilibrium is
achieved when the outward
pressure of the hydrogen is
balanced by the inward
gravitational force.

369

10 More massive stars burn much

more rapidly than stars of less
mass, so the length of time on the
main sequence is inversely
proportional to both mass and
luminosity.
14 Carbon is a catalyst. It assists the
reaction to take place without
ending up any different at the end
of the reaction.
15 The denser helium stays in the
core.
17 Red giants are characterized by an
outer large thin shell of hydrogen
burning to helium with an inner
core of helium.
18 A supergiant is a very large red
giant formed from a more massive
star.
20 This will occur in the red giant
phase, in the core when it gets hot
enough.
21 This would occur while heavier
elements are fusing, and the star is
moving along the asymptotic giant
branch of the H-R diagram.
23 Each layer except for the iron
would be burning.
24 This could happen it was not able
to get hot enough for the next
stage of burning, or if the core was
iron (and/or heavier elements)
which do not provide energy by
fusion.
26 Above this limit, the star will
become either a neutron star or a
black hole, depending on its mass.
27 Low mass, high density, very faint,
no nuclear reactions.
29 Degenerate matter is highly
condensed compressed matter,
about one million times as dense
as water.
30 When the core contracts so that
the protons and electrons fuse to
become neutrons, the star becomes
a sea of neutrons and is called a
neutron star.
31 When a neutron star forms, the
material outside the core which
had been collapsing with the core
suddenly slams into an immovable
object, forming a massive
shockwave which becomes a
supernova.
32 A black hole is a concentrated
single point of mass where gravity

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is so strong that not even light can

escape. They are totally black,
extremely dense, and emit no
radiation.
34 Pulsars only emit their strong
radiation as a narrow beam, and as
they rotate the radiation flashes
past the earth in much the same
way as a beam from a lighthouse
flashes by.
35 Because all stars in a cluster are
the same age, astronomers can
learn how different stars age.
36 The position of the turn off point
from the main sequence can tell us
the age of each cluster.

Chapter 23

Chapter 22

Problem set 23A

1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Review questions
1

Problem set 22A

1

Rutherford concluded that atoms

must have a massive central core
which was positively charged.
The positive alpha particles were
repelled, indicating their charge
was positive.

Review questions
2

Rutherford fired alpha particles

from a hole in a block of lead at a
thin metal foil. He found that most
went through but a few were
strongly deflected, even reflected.
Bohr was able to correctly predict
all the energy levels for hydrogen
using the formula

8
9

De Broglie hypothesized that

moving electrons could behave
like waves and orbits could only
exist where there were a whole
number of wavelengths.
Both matter and electromagnetic
radiation could behave as particles
and also as a wave.
Diffraction is the spreading out of
a wave as it goes through a gap or
past an obstacle.
When possible wave forms were
calculated for the hydrogen atom
using de Broglies formulae, they
were found to match observed
energies very closely.
1.1  1024 kg m s1
1.2  106 m s1

Chapter 24
Problem set 24A
1

13.6
En  ____
n2

a 9.9  1019 J or 6.2 eV

b 5.7  1019 J or 3.6 eV
c 5.0  1020 J or 0.31 eV
7 a 434 nm, 6.91  1014 Hz
b 486 nm, 6.17  1014 Hz
c 1875 nm, 1.60  1014 Hz
8 a 94 nm
b 2.12  1018 J
9 2.09  1018 J
10 Levels 1 and 4
11 b 10
c the 5th to the 1st level
d 1.9  1025 J
12 There are many different energy
levels for that electron, and many
more ways it can move between
any two of these energy levels.
Each of these produces a different
spectral line.

4.9  1011 m
7.2  1034 m
1.1  1035 m
1.14  1027 kg m s1
3.3  1024 kg m s1
8.8  1037 m
2.9  104 m s1

a
b

27 PHYSICS STAGE 6 HSC SB Answer.indd 370

c
d
e
f
2

1 proton, 2 neutrons and

1 electron
6 protons, 8 neutrons and
6 electrons
8 protons, 8 neutrons and
8 electrons
12 protons, 12 neutrons and
12 electrons
90 protons, 144 neutrons and
90 electrons
92 protons, 143 neutrons and
92 electrons
An isotope is an atom with the
same number of protons (the
same element) but a different
number of neutrons.
A nucleon is one of the large
particles in the nucleus, i.e. a
proton or a neutron.
The atomic number is the
number of protons in the
nucleus.

The atomic mass is the number

of nucleons in the nucleus, i.e.
the total number of protons
and neutrons.
They have the same atomic
number but different mass
numbers.
a 39
b 232
90Th
19K
They both have the same number
of protons but the second has one
more neutron.
a 17
b 35
c 18
66
30Zn
a i 11
ii 12
b Sodium (Na)
d

4
5

7
8

Problem set 24B

1
2
3

A neutron can split into a proton

and an electron.
Nitrogen-14, or 147N.
a It loses two protons and two
neutrons.
b A neutron splits into a proton
and ejects an electron.
a 42He
b  or or 10e or e
c 10e or e
d
e

5
6
b
7
8

14
6C

or p or 11H
or n

147N  10e
an alpha particle

216
212
4
84Po 82Pb  2He
218
214
a 84Po   82Pb
238
4
b 238
92U
 90Th  2He
1
1
a 1H or 1p.

b
9

1
1p
1
0n

a
b

Y is an antineutrino and Z an
electron. (or vice versa.)
3 and 1
9 and 4

Review questions
1

3
4

A nucleon is one of the main

components of the nucleus, i.e.
protons and neutrons.
a i 10
ii 88
iii 29
b i 10
ii 138
iii 34
a The mass number is the
number of nucleons in the
nucleus, i.e. the total number
of protons and neutrons.
b The atomic number is the
number of protons in the
nucleus.
c An isotope is an atom with the

6/20/09 5:55:14 PM

Answers

7
8
9

same number of protons but a

different number of neutrons.
d Transmutation refers to one
element changing into another
by a nuclear reaction.
a alpha radiation, beta radiation
and gamma radiation
b gamma radiation
c beta radiation
d alpha radiation
e beta radiation
A neutron can split into a proton
and an electron.
Thorium-234, or 234
90Th.
a 42He
b or or 10e or e
c
d

e
10 a
b

0
1e or e
1
1
1p or p or 1H
1
0n or n

40
20Ca
0
1e or

an alpha particle
4
234
90Th  2He
i It decreases by 4.
ii It does not change.
b i It decreases by 2.
ii It increases by 1.
13 It has no effect.

11 a
b
12 a

14 a
b

238
92U

222
86Rn
238
92U

16
17

18

20

21
22

Calcium-40 or
40
40
19K 20Ca
40
20Ca  .

15 a
b

 218
84Po

 238
93Np

27 PHYSICS STAGE 6 HSC SB Answer.indd 371

40
19K

4
2He

Y is a positron (10e or e) and

Z is a neutrino ().
a 3 and 1
b 9 and 4
Fermi used 50 tonnes of uranium
to successfully produce the first
nuclear reactor.
The neutrino was needed to
balance the equations for
conservation of energy and
momentum in beta decay.
a The energy can only come from
the conversion of mass to
energy.
b 3.5  1030 kg
c 3.2  1013 J
2.8  1011 J, 170 MeV
9.2  1013 J, 5.7 MeV

Chapter 25
Review questions
1

The function of the moderator

is to slow down the neutrons to
a speed where they can cause
fission.
The control rods absorb
neutrons and hence slow down
the nuclear fission. By pushing
them in and out, the rate of
reaction can be controlled.

371

The fuel rods contain the

nuclear fuel, normally enriched
uranium, i.e. with a higher
proportion of U-235.
d The coolant absorbs the heat
generated by the reactor,
keeping the temperature to a
reasonable level and taking the
heat where it can be used.
6 Because neutrons have no charge,
they are not repelled by the
positive nucleus or diverted by any
electric or magnetic field. They
thus penetrate the atomic particles
very easily.
9 a A baryon is a hadron that is
made up of three quarks.
b A proton is made up of two up
quarks and one down quark. A
neutron is made up of one up
quark and two down quarks.
10 a A lepton is a fundamental
particle which cannot be
broken down into smaller
particles. A hadron is a particle
made up of quarks.
b A meson is made up of a
quarkanti-quark pair, whereas
a baryon is made up of three
quarks.
c

6/20/09 5:55:16 PM