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A-LevelPhysicsElectric fields9702/41 · May/June 2021 · Q68 Marks

An isolated metal sphere of radius r is charged so that the electric field strength at its surface is E₀. On [Figure 6.1], sketch the variation of the electric field strength E with distance x from the centre of the sphere. Your sketch should extend from x = 0 to x = 3r.

  1. (a)An isolated metal sphere of radius r is charged so that the electric field strength at its surface is E₀. On [Figure 6.1], sketch the variation of the electric field strength E with distance x from the centre of the sphere. Your sketch should extend from x = 0 to x = 3r.[3]
  2. (b)The de Broglie wavelength of a particle is λ₀ when its momentum is p₀. On [Figure 6.2], sketch the variation with momentum p of the de Broglie wavelength λ of the particle for values of momentum from p₀/2 to p₀.[2]
  3. (c)A radioactive isotope decays with a half-life of 15 s to form a stable product. A fresh sample of the radioactive isotope at time t = 0 contains N₀ nuclei and no nuclei of the stable product. On [Figure 6.3], sketch the variation with t of the number n of nuclei of the stable product for time t = 0 to time t = 45 s.[3]

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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. [1] (a) from x = 0 to x = r: E = 0
  2. [1] from x = r to x = 3r: curve with negative gradient of decreasing magnitude passing through (r, E₀)
  3. [1] line passing through (2r, E₀/4) and (3r, E₀/9)
  4. [1] (b) from p = p₀/2 to p = p₀: curve with negative gradient of decreasing magnitude passing through (p₀, λ₀)
  5. [1] line passing through (1/2 p₀, 2λ₀)
  6. [1] (c) from t = 0 to t = 45 s: curve with positive gradient of decreasing magnitude starting at (0, 0)
  7. [1] line passing through (15, 1/2 N₀)
  8. [1] line passing through (30, 0.75 N₀) and (45, 0.88 N₀)

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About this question

Topic
Electric fields, A-Level Physics (syllabus 9702). Structured question, 8 marks.
Source
A-Level Physics, May/June 2021 Paper 4 Variant 1, question 6.

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