Physics Unit 4 Written Answers

 In a cyclotron, high energy protons are directed towards a stationary target. In the Large Hadron
Collider, beams of high energy protons circulating an opposite direction cross, so that they collide. For
the same total initial energy, colliding proton beams allow the creation of particles of greater mass.
Explain why, using principles of conservation of momentum.

 With a stationary target, there is initial momentum whereas with colliding beam, the total initial
momentum = 0.
 So for LHC, the final momentum has to be 0, hence no Ek of particles after collision.
 Therefore all of the energy goes to creation of particles for LHC according to conservation of
mass-energy.

 Assumption made when applying principle of conservation of momentum to collisions.

 No external force acting on the system.

 Because if external force act, there will be acceleration which will cause the final momentum to
be different from otherwise.

 In cyclotron, protons accelerated to a speed of 1.5∗107 m s−1 . Time taken to reach this speed? B =
1.67T, P.D = 13kV.

1 −1 2
∗1.67∗10 (−27 )∗( 1.5∗10 ms )
7
 Max Energy gained ⇒ ½ m v 2 =
2
 So Max Energy gained = 1.88∗10−13 J.

 Energy for 1 pass ⇒ EK = VQ = 2.08∗10−15 J

 No of pass = max energy/energy for 1 pass = 90.4
 T = 2 pi m/ BQ = 4.1 * 10^(-6) s
 So 1 cycle = 2 pass, 1 cycle = 90.4/2 cycle * 4.1 * 10^(-6) s = 1.85 * 10^(-6) s.

 T = 2*pi*m/ BQ,
 Explain the significance of the expression to the operation of a cyclotron.

 Time spent in Dees is independent of radius and speed.

 So particles take same amount of time to complete one rotation.
 Hence a fixed frequency can be used for the alternating p.d since the field across the gap is in
the correct direction to increase the speed of particles as they cross the dee each time.

 Explain why high energy particles are required to investigate the structure of nucleons.

 High energy particles have high momentum.

 High momentum so de Broglie wavelength is small.
 Studying nucleons require wavelength to be the size of nucleons.

 Explain how an electron beam is produced.

 Electrons are emitted from the heated filament (Thermionic emission), then accelerated by an
electric field. In that way, the electrons move in the form of a beam.

 Suggest why the electron beam continues along a path of decreasing intensity and decreasing
diameter.

 Decreasing diameter due to Electrons colliding with helium atoms, so they are losing energy, so
speed decreasing, hence radius decreasing.
 Some electrons are absorbed by Helium atoms, so Intensity decreases.

 Electron, proton, muon, meson, neutron. Describe how these particles fit into the standard model.

 Protons and neutrons are Baryons i.e it is made up of 3 quarks.

 Meson are made of a quark-antiquark pair.
 Hadrons are not fundamental particles and further categorized into Baryons and mesons.
 Leptons are fundamental particles, and electron and muon are leptons.
 Muon is 2nd generation particle, and protons, neutrons and electrons are first generation particles.
 When the first tube was made, the max freq for the supply was about 7MHz. Suggest why it is an
advantage to use a much high frequency than this.

 T = 1/F, so high F, means smaller T.

 So time spent in drift tube is shorter
 So it is possible to reach high speed with a shorter time.

 State why the alpha source and gold foil were contained in a vacuum.

 So that the air particles do not collide with the Alpha particles and stop them from reaching the
gold foil.

 Atom is mostly empty space. Explain this statement.

 The nucleus is much smaller than the atom. Hence atom is mostly empty space.

 Discuss the extent the results of the alpha particle scattering experiment justifies replacing the plum
pudding model with a nuclear model of the atom.

 When alpha particles were directed towards the gold foil, it was observed that,
 Most of the alpha particles were undefllected, and few were deflected through a small angle.
This could be proved by either of the model since in nuclear model, atom is mostly empty space, and
in Plum pudding model, mass is too evenly spread.
 A very small proportion was observed to be deflected through an angle greater than 90º. This
does not fit the Plum pudding model since high concentration of charge is required to provide this
large force of electrostatic repulsion, and high concentration of mass is required so the alpha particle
is deflected, not the gold nucleus.

 In terms of movement of electron, explain what happens to the capacitor as it becomes fully charged.

 E moves from one plate to another

 As capacitor charges rate of flow of e decreases.
 When fully charged, equal and opposite charge on both plates.
 Function of a capacitor other than storing charge.

 Capacitors can store energy.

 They store positive and negative charge separately, hence the overall charge on the capacitor is
zero.
 It can maintain constant output voltage.

 Explain why the charged ball experiences a horizontal force of constant magnitude while its between
the plates.

 As F=EQ, electric field between the plates is uniform, hence magnitude of force is constant.

 Advantages of Banked tracks.

 Higher speed can be used.

 Smaller tracks can be used.
 Less likely to skid
 Maximum centripetal force is larger.