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A-LevelPhysicsParticle physics9702/21 · May/June 2021 · Q610 Marks

State the name of another lepton that is produced in the decay.

  1. (a)(i)State the name of another lepton that is produced in the decay.[1]
  2. (a)(ii)State the name of the interaction (force) that gives rise to this decay.[1]
  3. (a)(iii)State which of the three particles (proton, neutron or β+ particle) has the largest ratio of charge to mass.[1]
  4. (a)(iv)Use the quark model to show that the charge on the proton is +e, where e is the elementary charge.[2]
  5. (a)(v)The quark composition of the proton is changed during the decay. Describe the change to the quark composition.[1]
  6. (b)(i)Determine the ratio electric force acting on nucleus X electric force acting on nucleus Y[2]
  7. (b)(ii)Determine the ratio acceleration of nucleus X due to the field acceleration of nucleus Y due to the field[1]
  8. (b)(iii)Nucleus X is at rest in the uniform electric field at time t = 0. The field causes nucleus X to accelerate so that it moves through the field. On Fig. 6.1, sketch the variation with time t of the acceleration a of nucleus X due to the field. [Figure 6.1][1]

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Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2021). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

  1. [B1] (electron) neutrino
  2. [B1] weak (nuclear force/interaction)
  3. [B1] β⁺ (particle)
  4. [B1] (quark structure is) up up down or uud
  5. [B1] (2/3)e + (2/3)e – (1/3)e = (+)e
  6. [B1] up up down changes to up down down or uud → udd or up changes to down or u → d
  7. [C1] F = Eq
  8. [A1] ratio = 6/8
  9. [A1] = 0.75
  10. [A1] ratio = 0.75 × (16/12)
  11. [A1] = 1.0
  12. [B1] horizontal straight line at a non-zero value of a

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About this question

Topic
Particle physics, A-Level Physics (syllabus 9702). Structured question, 10 marks.
Source
A-Level Physics, May/June 2021 Paper 2 Variant 1, question 6.

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