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O-LevelPhysicsNuclear Physics5054/22 · May/June 2016 · Q1115 Marks

Fig. 11.1 represents a nuclear fusion reaction. At very high temperatures, nuclei of the two isotopes ³H and ²H fuse together. Energy is produced and two new particles are formed, particle A and particle B.

  1. (a)Explain what is meant by isotopes of hydrogen.[2]
  2. (b)(i)Using Fig. 11.1, state (i) the number of neutrons in a nucleus of the isotope ³H,[1]
  3. (b)(ii)(ii) the name of particle A,[1]
  4. (b)(iii)(iii) the proton number of particle B,[1]
  5. (b)(iv)(iv) the nucleon number (mass number) of particle B.[1]
  6. (c)A very high temperature is needed to force nuclei together. Explain why.[2]
  7. (d)A star forms from a large cloud of gas and dust in space. Describe what happens as the star forms.[3]
  8. (e)(i)State what is meant by half-life.[2]
  9. (e)(ii)A sample contains 16000 atoms of ³H. Calculate the number of atoms of ³H present in the sample after 48 years.[2]

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Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2016). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

  1. [2] (nucleus/nuclide/atom) with same number of protons
  2. [1] 2
  3. [1] neutron
  4. [1] 2
  5. [1] 4
  6. [1] nuclei repel or like/positive charges repel
  7. [1] (needs) high kinetic energy/speed (to overcome repulsion)
  8. [1] (dust/gas) collapses/comes together/clusters/condenses
  9. [1] gravitational attraction or gravity mentioned
  10. [1] temperature rises or KE (dust/gas) increases
  11. [1] time for a quantity to halve
  12. [1] time for (radio)activity/count rate/number of atoms/number of nuclei to halve
  13. [1] any relevant halving seen, e.g. 16000/2
  14. [1] 1000

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About this question

Topic
Nuclear Physics, O-Level Physics (syllabus 5054). Structured question, 15 marks.
Source
O-Level Physics, May/June 2016 Paper 2 Variant 2, question 11.

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