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Physics5 Model Answers
Physics5 Model Answers
Using ideas of momentum why pressure increases?
‐Average kinetic energy of molecules is greater OR molecules move faster
‐So, collision rate with walls of container is greater
‐There is a greater rate of change of momentum
‐Therefore, a greater force on the container walls
Why the internal energy of an ideal gas can be taken as a total kinetic energy of the molecules?
‐Internal energy is the sum of kinetic energy and potential energy
‐Molecules in an ideal gas have zero potential energy
Using principle of conservation of energy, explain why the amplitude of an oscillation will decrease to zero?
‐Although total energy remains constant
‐Energy is dissipated
‐As work is done against frictional forces
What is meant Simple Harmonic Motion?
‐Acceleration/Force is proportional to displacement from equilibrium position
‐And always acts towards the equilibrium position
What is Damping?
‐Damping is the dissipation of energy from an oscillation
‐Hence, there is a decrease in the amplitude
Resonance?
‐When the driving frequency of a system is close to its natural frequency
‐Maximum energy transfers occurs
‐Hence the amplitude of the osculation is maximum
Why all geostationary satellites are in orbit above earths equator?
‐The satellite must rotate with the Earth
‐The satellite must be in a geosynchronous orbit
Difference and similarities between electric and gravitational fields?
‐Gravitational fields are regions in which a mass experiences a force due to its mass
‐Electric fields are regions in which a charge experiences a force due to its charge
‐Both types of field have an infinite range
‐In each type of field the force varies as an inverse square
‐The force between masses is always attractive whereas the force between charges can be attractive or repulsive
‐The force between (unit) charges at a given separation is much stronger than the force between (unit) masses at the
same separation
‐Electric fields can cancel or reinforce but gravitational fields always reinforce one another
What is spontaneous nature?
‐Radioactive decay of a source cannot be influenced by any external factors such as temperature of pressure
What is the random nature?
‐We cannot say when or which nuclei will decay next
What is meant by Half Life?
‐The average time taken for the activity of a sample to halve.
What is meant by nuclear fusion?
‐When two low mass nuclei come close and join together to form a new nucleus with larger mass.
Why Fusion in stars releases huge amount of energy?
‐In fusion process there is a decrease in mass called mass deficit
‐According to the equation (E=mc^2), this releases energy.
‐As large number of fusions are taking place in a star huge amount of energy is released.
‐Even small mass deficit will release large amount of energy as the c value is squared.
What is meant by binding energy of a nucleus?
‐The amount of energy required to split a nucleus into its component nucleons
Explain why nuclear fusion of only light nuclear releases energy
‐For energy to be released binding energy per nucleon has to increase.
‐Binding energy per nucleon only increases for light nuclei.
‐Binding energy per nucleon only increases if the nuclei is formed has A<56
What are the conditions of fusion?
‐High temperatures are required to overcome the electrostatic repulsion force between two positively charged
nuclei
‐so that they come close enough and join together.
‐Very high density is required so that there is enough collision rate to sustain a fusion reaction
Why is difficult to maintain conditions for nuclear fusion?
‐A very/extremely high temperature plasma is required
‐Plasma must not touch reactor walls, so strong magnetic fields are required
‐If plasma touches the walls of the reactor its temperature falls and fusion stops
What is meant by nuclear fission and why energy is released during fission of nucleus such as uranium?
‐Nuclear fission is the splitting of a large nucleus into smaller nuclei
‐The mass of the (fission) fragments is less than the mass of the original nucleus
‐E = mc2, the binding energy per nucleon is greater in the fragments than in the original nucleus
Massive stars can only produce elements up to iron (Fe) in their cores by fusion. Using the Binding Energy graph
against nucleon number graph, Explain why?
‐Idea that 56Fe is the peak of the graph
‐If nuclei were to be formed with A > 56, the B.E./nucleon would decrease
‐This would require a net input of energy and so does not occur
Why fusion is an advantage over fission?
‐fission reactors produce more radioactive waste.
‐Fuel for fission is a limited resource, whereas fuel for fusion is virtually unlimited.
‐For a given amount of fuel, fusion releases more energy
Why do nuclei recoil during a decay?
‐Momentum is conserved
‐Initial momentum is zero
‐nuclei travel on opposite so momentum is zero
Why most energy in a decay is transferred to alpha particles?
‐Although the alpha has a smaller mass it has a bigger velocity/speed
‐And velocity/speed is squared in the energy expression
Trigonometric Parallax?
tan(p) = 1AU/d
Therefore, distance to star can be
found using d=1AU/tan(p)
What are standard candles?
‐Astrophysical Objects of known luminosity
How can astronomies use standard candles to find distances to stars?
‐As Luminosity is known
‐Measure the flux of the star
‐Use inverse square law to calculate the distance
Doppler's effect and how it is used?
‐Doppler Shift is the change in wavelength due to relative motion between the observer and the observer source
‐The wavelength of a line in the spectrum of the light emitted by a galaxy is measured and compared with that
emitted in the lab.
‐Using Δλ/ λ=v/c the relative velocity of the Galaxy can be found
‐If the wavelength is increases the Galaxy is receding and there is red shift and vice versa
How is the universe expanding?
‐When observed, light from distant galaxies is red shifted
‐The shift increases as the distance of the Galaxy from earth increases
‐As all galaxies are moving away from each other It is concluded that the universe is expanding
Why sun moves out of the main sequence?
‐The sun runs out of hydrogen and starts fusing Helium into other heavier elements
‐The outward pressure is greater than the gravitational pull hence the sun expands to a red giant star.
White Dwarfs?
‐White dwarf stars are the core remnant of a red giant star
‐here is no fusion occurring in the white dwarf
‐They have a relatively small surface area so they are not very luminous
‐They are very hot, and appear white because they emit all visible wavelengths
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