Questions on Particle Physics

1. The following strong interaction has been observed.

K– + p → n + X

The K– is a strange meson of quark composition u s .

The u quark has a charge of +2/3.

The d quark has a charge of –1/3.

Deduce the charge of the strange quark.

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Use the appropriate conservation law to decide whether particle X is positive, negative or
neutral.

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Is particle X a baryon or a meson? Show how you obtained your answer.

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State the quark composition of X. Justify your answer.

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(Total 8 marks)

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4. The theory of relativity established that all forms of energy possess mass and, conversely, that
material particles are a form of energy. If enough energy is concentrated, new particles of
matter will appear. Thus, the violent collision of two protons, for example, can produce more
protons. Whenever matter is created this way in the laboratory it is always accompanied by an
equivalent quantity of antimatter. Each lepton and quark possesses an antiparticle in which all
the physical properties except mass are reversed. If an antiparticle encounters its mirror particle
they annihilate each other, usually in the form of gamma radiation.

[Adapted from Paul Davies: The particles and forces of nature, in Revised NAS Physics, Longman 1986.]

(a) The collision between two protons is described as being a violent collision. Explain why
the collision must be a violent one in order to produce more protons.

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(b) Whenever matter is created “it is always accompanied by an equivalent quantity of

antimatter”.

What conservation laws does this statement imply?

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(c) An electron encounters a positron. The rest mass of an electron and that of a positron is
0.000 55u.

Describe the outcome of the encounter.

Support your description with relevant calculations
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 Questions on Momentum
1. A model truck A of mass 1.2 kg is travelling due west with a speed of 0.90 m s–1. A second
truck B of mass 4.0 kg is travelling due east towards A with a speed of 0.35 m s–1.

Calculate the magnitude of the total momentum of the trucks.

……….…………………………………………………………………………………………….

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Total momentum = ..........................................

(2)

The trucks collide and stick together. Determine their velocity after the collision.

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Velocity = ........................................................................................................................................
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(Total 5 marks)

2.

Palaeontologists are able to deduce much about the behaviour of dinosaurs from the study of
fossilised footprints.

The tracks below show the path of a Tyrannosaurus Rex as it attacks a stationary Triceratops.

Tyrannosaurus Rex Stationary

Triceratops

10 m

The time between footprints is 0.62 s. Show that the maximum speed of the Tyrannosaurus Rex
is about 10 m s–1.

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(2)

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 Tyrannosaurus Rex is believed to have attacked its prey by charging and locking its jaws on the
prey. Tyrannosaurus Rex would be at its maximum speed when it hit the stationary prey.

This Tyrannosaurus Rex has a mass of 7000 kg. Calculate its momentum just before it hits the
Triceratops.

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Momentum =…………………………………………………
(2)

Triceratops has a mass of 5000 kg. Calculate their combined speed immediately after the
collision.

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Combined speed =…………………………………………………

(3)

The skull of Tyrannosaurus Rex is heavily reinforced to withstand the force produced in such a
collision.

Calculate the force exerted on the Tyrannosaurus Rex if the time taken to reach their combined
speed after the collision is 0.30 s.

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Force =…………………………………………………
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(Total 10 marks)

3. The diagram shows an experiment with two trolleys.

0.95kg A B 1.40 kg

υ 1.20 m s –1

A B

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14. The diagram shows a device called a Residual Current Circuit Breaker (RCCB). It is designed to
protect users of appliances connected to the mains a.c. power supply, e.g. an electric
lawnmower.

Relay contact 1
Live

and core Coil 1

Relay coil

Iron core
Third
Lawnmower
coil

Coil 2
Neutral

Explain why, in normal operation, the resultant flux in the iron core due to coils 1 and 2 is zero.

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If there is a difference in the currents flowing in the live and neutral wires, for example caused
by a person coming into contact with a bare wire, the RCCB breaks the circuit. Explain how.

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(5)
(Total 7 marks)

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15. The diagram shows an electric toothbrush. An electric toothbrush recharges its batteries despite
there being no metal contacts between the toothbrush and the base.

State a reason for avoiding metal contacts between the toothbrush and the base.

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(1)

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 The base, which is connected to an a.c. supply, contains a coil around a metal bar (coil X). The
toothbrush contains a second coil (coil Y). When you put the toothbrush on to the base, coil Y
goes around the bar and coil X without the two coils making contact.

Explain how this arrangement is able to charge the battery in the toothbrush.

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(6)
(Total 7 marks)

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