EUROPEAN BACCALAUREATE 2022

PHYSICS

Suggested Solutions

Note: These suggested solutions are not meant to be exhaustive. There is no single
“right” answer. There may be other correct solutions besides what is shown in the
suggested solutions. A candidate may choose another correct solution besides those
suggested and justify his/her response accordingly. Correctors should allow for these
alternative correct solutions even if they differ from the approach given in the
suggested solutions.
The results from solutions created by using the TI-nspire calculator may differ slightly
from the results shown in the suggested solutions. Many fundamental constants
stored in the TI-nspire are given to several decimal places. Usually only three
significant figures are specified in the questions.

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 EUROPEAN BACCALAUREATE 2022 - Paper-specific Matrix

Element of
Competence Weight in % Evaluation/Marking Weight in marks
examination
Knowledge and
38.3 % 11.5
Comprehension
Application 35.5 % 10.5
Paper‐specific
Analysis and Marking Scheme
Fields 16.7 % 5.0
Evaluation
Written
10.0 % 3.0
Communication
100 % 30
Knowledge and
33.3 % 10.0
Comprehension
Application 35.0 % 10.5
Paper‐specific
Analysis and Marking Scheme
Waves 18.3 % 5.5
Evaluation
Written
13.3 % 4.0
Communication
100 % 30
Knowledge and
37.5 % 7,5
Comprehension
Application 30.0 % 6.0
Paper‐specific
Analysis and Marking Scheme
Atomic Physics 17.5 % 3.5
Evaluation
Written
15.0 % 3.0
Communication
100 % 20
Knowledge and
35.0 % 7.0
Comprehension
Application 32.5 % 6.5
Paper‐specific
Analysis and Marking Scheme
Nuclear Physics 22.5 % 4.5
Evaluation
Written
10.0 % 2.0
Communication
100 % 20

Total Exam 100

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 EUROPEAN BACCALAUREATE 2022 - Suggested Solutions

Solution to Question 1, Part A Fields

A: Knowledge and Comprehension; B: Application; C: Analysis and Evaluation; W: Written Communication A B C W 
a) i. v2 M m 0.5 2 0.5 3
Fcentr  Fg  m  G E2
r r
2 2
M  U   2π r  M
v G E   
2
 G E
r T   T  r
4π2 r 2 M 4π2 r 3
 2
G E T 
T r G ME

ii. 4π2 r 3 1 1
T 
G ME

 
3
4 π 2  2.96  107

6.67  1011  5.97  1024
 T  5.07  104 s  14.1h

b) As the motion of the satellite in its orbit is circular, it is subject to a constant 1 1 2

force (the gravitational force) at right angles to its motion, directed towards
the centre of the orbit. Hence no work is done, and the gravitational force
causes a change only in the direction of the satellite’s velocity but not in the
magnitude of the velocity which is speed.

c) i. Emech  (Ekin  Epot )surf  (Ekin  Epot ) 1 1 2

 (0  0)  0
1  M m
 mv 2    G 0
2  r 
2G M 2G M
 v2  v 
r r

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 EUROPEAN BACCALAUREATE 2022 - Suggested Solutions

Solution to Question 1, Part A Fields

ii. v  1 1
11
2  6.67  10  5.97  10 24

6.37  106
m km
 1.12  103  11.2
s s

iii. In part a) i, a formula for the orbital speed appears as an intermediate result 0.5 0.5 1
and can be compared to the formula for the escape velocity:
GM GM 2G M
2
v orbit   v orbit    v esc
r r r

d) i. 1 ME m 1 1 2
Emech  Ekin  Epot ; Ekin  m v 2; Epot  G
2 r

With Fcentr  Fg we get

m v2 M m M m
 G E2  m v 2  G E  Epot
r r r

Thus,
1 M m 1 M m M m G ME m
Emech  m v 2 G E  G E G E  
2 r 2 r r 2r

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 EUROPEAN BACCALAUREATE 2022 - Suggested Solutions

Solution to Question 1, Part A Fields

ii. Emech, orbit  Emech, E  ΔE 1 1.5 0.5 3

G ME m  G ME m  1 1 
 ΔE  Emech, orbit  Emech, E      GM m  
2r  rE   rE 2 r 
ΔE  6.67  1011  5.97  1024  700
 1 1 
  7 
 3.90  1010 J
 6.37  10 2  2.96  10 
6

Sum A: 4.5 6.5 2.5 1.5 15

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 EUROPEAN BACCALAUREATE 2022 - Suggested Solutions

Solution to Question 1, Part B Fields

A: Knowledge and Comprehension; B: Application; C: Analysis and Evaluation; W: Written Communication A B C W 
a) i. 1 3
to H capacitor 1
iii.
1
U droplet

b) i. U 1.82  103 1 1 2
Fel  q E  q  1.60  1019 
d 0.012
14
 2.43  10 N

ii. Fg  Fel  m g  Fel 2 2

Fel 2.43  10 14
m 
g 9.81
 2.48  10 15 kg

c) If the voltage changes, so does the electric force, which now can no longer 1.5 0.5 1 3
equal the gravitational force on this droplet. However, the weight of a different
droplet with a different mass may now be equal to the electric force.

d) i. U 1 1 2
Fgrav  m g  q  Fel . Hence, if m is reduced, the voltage must also be
d
reduced in order to balance the weight of the droplet, since all other
quantities remain unchanged.

ii.  1
3
1 0.5 2 0.5 3
m  V  r 3  mnew     mold   mold
2 8
For equilibrium, Fgrav = Fel, Fel must also be reduced, and hence the voltage is
1
U new  Uold
8

Sum B: 7 4 2.5 1.5 15

Total: 11.5 10.5 5 3 30

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 EUROPEAN BACCALAUREATE 2022 - Suggested Solutions

Solution to Question 2, Part A Waves

A: Knowledge and Comprehension; B: Application; C: Analysis and Evaluation; W: Written Communication A B C W 
a) i. In the case of longitudinal waves, the direction of propagation of the wave is 1.5 0.5 2
parallel to the displacement of the medium. In case of transverse waves, the
direction of propagation of the wave is perpendicular to the displacement of
the medium.

ii. A standing wave is formed by the interference of two waves of equal 1.5 1 0.5 3
amplitude and frequency travelling in opposite directions.
They often are produced when a wave is reflected, e. g. at the end of a tube.
The reflected wave has the same frequency and amplitude as the incident
wave, but moves in the opposite direction.

iii. In a tube of length L, closed at one end and open at the other end, stationary 0.5 1 2
waves are formed with a node at the closed end and an antinode at the open 0.5
end. In the diagram below, the arrows from above indicate the positions of
the nodes and the arrows from below indicate the positions of the antinodes.

iv. For a standing wave, /4 plus a multiple 1 1 2

of /2 must fit into the length L of the
tube:
n n n
L   n  1   2n  1 ,
4 2 4
4L
where n = 1, 2, 3, ...  n 
2n  1

v. v 2n 1 1.5 0.5 2
v  n fn  fn  v
n 4L
v 258
 f1    35.2 Hz
4 L 4  1.83

b) The distance between two consecutive antinodes is equal to /2. So,  = 2 d. 1 1

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 EUROPEAN BACCALAUREATE 2022 - Suggested Solutions

Solution to Question 2, Part A Waves

c) From the formula given in part a) iv., 2 1 3

the length of the tube is
4L 4L 4L fn
n   2n  1   
2 n 1 n c
2 L fn 1
n 
c 2
2  1.83  150 1
   2.63
258 2

n must be integer, so you have to

increase the frequency until you reach
n = 3, which is the minimum number of
antinodes.

Sum A: 6.5 4.5 2 2 15

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 EUROPEAN BACCALAUREATE 2022 - Suggested Solutions

Solution to Question 2, Part B Waves

A: Knowledge and Comprehension; B: Application; C: Analysis and Evaluation; W: Written Communication A B C W 
a) i. For constructive interference, the path difference 0.5 1 0.5 2
between the rays from the two slits to the screen
must be an integer multiple of the wavelength :
n n
sinn  d 
d sinn d n

n

ii. x1  0.71  1 0.5 0.5 2

tan1   1  tan1    14.38
D  2.77 
1  420  10 9 xn
d  n
sin14.35 sin14.35
D
 1.69  10 6 m  1.69µm

iii. The greatest angle with which a 1 0.5 0.5 2

maximum can be produced is 90°.
With the formula given in part a) i. we
get:
n d sin n
d  nmax 
sin n 
1.69  106  sin 90
  4.02
420  109
Thus, no maximum with n = 5 exists.

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 EUROPEAN BACCALAUREATE 2022 - Suggested Solutions

Solution to Question 2, Part B Waves

iv. n  1 0.5 0.5 2

Since sin n  , then sin1  . If d gets smaller, sin 1 and hence
d d
1 increases, for a constant .
x
Since tan 1  1 , x1 increases for a constant value of D when d gets smaller.
D
v. x1 1 0.5 0.5 2
Since tan 1  , if D is doubled, x1 must be doubled for a given angle 1 ,
D
where 1 depends only on  and d.

b) With the formula given in 1 1 1 3

part a), we get the following
angle for violet light:
n 2
d  sin 2 
sin n d
2  420  109
  0.497
1.69  106
  2  29.8

Because of its greater wavelength, the

diffraction of the green light is greater
than that of violet light.
n d sin n
d  
sin n n
1.69  10 6  sin  29.8  9.2 

2
7
 5.32  10 m = 532 nm

c) n d 1 1 2
sin n   n  sin n .
d 
For the greatest number of possible
maxima,
d
sin  =1 and n  .

 must be reduced to increase n, as d
is constant.

Sum B: 3.5 6 3.5 2 15

Total: 10 10.5 5.5 4 30

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 EUROPEAN BACCALAUREATE 2022 - Suggested Solutions

Solution to Question 3 Atomic Physics

A: Knowledge and Comprehension; B: Application; C: Analysis and Evaluation; W: Written Communication A B C W 
a) i. 1: collecting electrode (anode) 1 4
2: photocathode (cathode) 1
3: (variable) voltage source 1
4: ammeter 1

ii. When a photon hits the surface of a metal, an electron may be set free from 2 2 4
this metal. As the electron is bound to the metal, the photon must have
enough energy to overcome this binding energy, which depends on the
metal.
The energy of a photon is proportional to its frequency. Thus, the frequency
must be above a certain value, called the threshold frequency.

iii. Ekin: maximum kinetic energy of the electrons which have been set free; 1 3
h f: energy of the incident photon; 1
W0: work function, the minimum energy needed to free an electron. 1

iv. As the intensity of the light increases, the light contains more photons. 1 1 2
Hence, more electrons are set free and hence the photocurrent will increase.
Similarly, for a lower intensity the photocurrent will decrease.

b) If the energy of a photon was 0.5 1.5 2

equal to the work function,
the kinetic energy of these
electrons is zero:
Ekin  h f  W0  h f0  W0
W0 2.1
 f0  
h 6.63  10 34
 5.07  1014 Hz

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 EUROPEAN BACCALAUREATE 2022 - Suggested Solutions

Solution to Question 3 Atomic Physics

c) The energy of a single photon with this 2.5 2.5 5

frequency is
Eph  h f
 6.63  1034  1.7  1015
 1.13  10 18 J
The number of incident photons is
P
n
Eph
33.7  103 W
 18
 2.98  1016 s1
1.13  10 J
4.1
Thus, 2.98  1016   1.22  1015
100
electrons are liberated per second.

Sum: 7.5 6 3.5 3 20

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 EUROPEAN BACCALAUREATE 2022 - Suggested Solutions

Solution to Question 4 Nuclear Physics

A: Knowledge and Comprehension; B: Application; C: Analysis and Evaluation; W: Written Communication A B C W 
a) i. The atoms of each isotope of an element have the same number of protons 0.5 0.5 1
(i.e., the same atomic number) but have a different number of neutrons (i.e.,
a different mass number).

ii. ΔE  Δm  c 2 1.5 2 0.5 4

  mU235  mn  92 me    mCs141  55 me  mRb93  37 me  2 mn   u c 2
  235.043928  1.008665   140.920047  92.922039  2  1.008665  
931.5
 180 MeV

As the number of electrons

is the same on both sides,
they need not appear in the
equation, provided the
student gives a written
explanation of why they
omitted them.

b) One neutron is needed to split a U-235 nucleus, but two are set free by this 1 1 2
reaction. These two neutrons can cause fission of two more U-235 nuclei,
and so on. For a chain reaction to occur, at least one of these neutrons has
to cause another fission.
As neutrons might escape from the uranium mass before causing another
fission, a minimum quantity of uranium is needed, the so-called critical mass.
In order to control a chain reaction, the number of neutrons must be
controlled. This is done by the control rods, which absorb neutrons.

c) i. This is a nuclear fusion reaction. 1 1

ii. 2  3  A  1 A  4 1 1 2
1 1  Z  2

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 EUROPEAN BACCALAUREATE 2022 - Suggested Solutions

Solution to Question 4 Nuclear Physics

d) i. Mass of Potassium: 0.5 0.5 2 3

 400 g  6
   375  10
 100 g 
 0.0015kg
Number of Potassium atoms:
 0.0015 
 39.1 1.66  1027   2.31 10
22

 
Number of radioactive atoms:
N0  2.3109  1022  0.012%
 2.77  1018

ii. ln 2 1 1 2

T1/2
 ln 2 

 125  10   365  86500  
9
 
17 1
 1.76  10 s

iii. A 0   N0 0.5 0.5 1

 2.77  1018  1.76  1017
 48.8Bq

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 EUROPEAN BACCALAUREATE 2022 - Suggested Solutions

Solution to Question 4 Nuclear Physics

Alternative 1: 1.5 2 0.5 4

e) Using the TI-calculator, and knowing that the activity decreases
exponentially, the half-life can be found with exponential regression as
T1/2 = 25 min.

Alternative 2:
Draw a proper graph and
estimate T1/2, e. g.:
Marking should also
depend on the quality of the
graph.
Solution: T1/2  25min .

Alternative 3:
Take two pairs of values, e. g.  0 min, 1600Bq  et  60 min, 303Bq  :

A(t )  A0 e   Δt
 303  1600  e    60
 303 
   ln   60
 1600 
   0.0277
ln  2 
 T1/2   24.99 min  25min


or

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 EUROPEAN BACCALAUREATE 2022 - Suggested Solutions

Solution to Question 4 Nuclear Physics

Δt T1/ 2
 1
A(t )  A0  
2
Δt T1/ 2
 1
 303Bq  1600Bq   
2
60
T1/2 
 1600 
log2  
 303 
 24.99min  25min

Sum: 7 6.5 4.5 2 20

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