1 Matter and radiation

AQA Physics Answers to practice questions

Question Answer Marks Guidance
1 (a) antiproton; antiparticle; –1 (or –e) 3 There are six spaces to fill; the
neutrino; particle; 0 answers are shown here in bold
neutron; particle; 0 type.
positron; antiparticle; +1(or +e) All 6 correct: 3 marks
4 or 5 correct: 2 marks
2 or 3 correct: 1 mark
1 (b) (i) they carry opposite charges (+e and –e) 1 The magnetic field therefore
forces them in opposite
directions.
1 (b) (ii) they lose kinetic energy gradually as they travel 1 ‘The slower it went, the more it
along their paths would bend’ (passage). Slower
charged particles are deflected
more easily by a magnetic field.

1 (b) (iii) Relevant points include: 3 ‘… he discovered a beta particle

• the speed is greater where the track is less that slowed down but bent in the
curved opposite direction to all the other
• the straighter track must therefore be before beta trails …’ (passage).
the particle met the plate
• the direction of the curve shows that the
charge is positive
• the track must therefore be due to a positron
2 (a) 90 protons 1 Proton number Z = 90

139 neutrons and 90 electrons 1 Number of neutrons = 229 – 90

Number of electrons = Z
2 (b) X = 90 1 This is still thorium, and here X is
used to represent the proton
number.

Y = any value between 212 and 252 1 In a different isotope, the

nucleon number cannot be 229.

Z = 90 1 The number of electrons is

unchanged.
3 (a) 18 protons 1 Proton number Z = 18

19 neutrons 1 Number of neutrons = 37 – 18

3 (b) charge = +2 or +2e 1 2 electrons have been removed,
so the ion’s charge is positive.
–19 –19
Q = 2 × 1.6 × 10 = 3.2 × 10 C 1
3 (c) (i) neutron 1 Q
Q = 0 for a neutron, so m is also
zero
3 (c) (ii) electron 1 The electron’s small mass gives it
Q
the largest m .
3 (d) Marks are for correct nuclear
-31
16 × 9.11 × 10 2 mass, and for correct substitution
(%) = 37 × 1.67 × 10-27 × 100 of values in rest of the equation.

Remember to multiply by 100 to

-2
= 2.4 × 10 % 1 get a percentage.

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 1 Matter and radiation
AQA Physics Answers to practice questions
Question Answer Marks Guidance
4 (a) number of protons = number of electrons (e.g. 1 Neutral atoms have an equal
13) number of protons and electrons.

number of neutrons = (28 – number of protons) 1 There could have been 14

(e.g. 15) protons and 14 neutrons!
4 (b) (i) nuclei have same number of protons 1 This answer follows directly from
the definition of isotopes.
4 (b) (ii) but a different number of neutrons, or nucleons 1
-19
4 (b) (iii) Q 92 × 1.60 × 10 1 The mark is for correct
m = 236 × 1.67 × 10
-27
substitution of charge and mass
values and a correct calculation.
7 -1
= 3.7 × 10 C kg
4 (b) (iv) 95 1 The number of protons and
neutrons (given by the mass
numbers for the nuclei) on each
side is the same.
5 (a) X = 225 1 Nucleon numbers must balance
in the decay, and α is a helium
nucleus with A = 4.

Y = 88 1 Proton numbers must also

balance, and Z = 2 for the α
particle.
5 (b) 225 1 The answer is a ratio of two
ratio ( = 4 ) = 56 masses and has no unit.
6 (a) (i) a helium nucleus (or a doubly-ionised helium 1 (i) tests your factual knowledge.
atom) An α particle consists of 2 protons
and 2 neutrons, giving these
Properties: 2 charge and mass values.
• charge +2e
• mass ≈ 4 units
6 (a) (ii) 215
→ 211 2 1 mark for writing 211
85 At 83 Bi + α 83 Bi as the
product nucleus and the second
mark for the completed reaction
equation.
6 (b) (i) Relevant points include: 3 Electrons do not reside in the
−
• a neutron changes into a proton nucleus; the β particle is formed
• the proton remains in the nucleus at the instant of decay. The
• a high energy electron (β− particle) is emitted antineutrino is necessary to
from the nucleus explain the range of energies of
−
• an antineutrino is also emitted the β particles that are emitted.
• the nucleus becomes more stable
6 (b) (ii) 99
→ 99
− 2 1 mark for inserting the missing
42 Mo 43 Tc + β + ν
values of 99 and 43, and 1 mark
for including the antineutrino.
−
In β decay A stays the same but
Z increases by 1 (since a neutron
changes into a proton).
+
7 (a) (i) The β particle is a positron, with
-31
9.11 × 10 kg 1 the same rest mass as an
electron.

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 1 Matter and radiation
AQA Physics Answers to practice questions
Question Answer Marks Guidance
7 (a) (ii) All 3 marks would be available for
8
c 3.00 × 10 1 hc
f ( = λ ) = 8.30 × 10-13 direct use of E = ( λ ), but you
20
( = 3.61 × 10 Hz) must show your working
whatever method you choose.
–34 20
E ( = hf) = 6.63 × 10 × 3.61 × 10
1
( = 2.4 × 10−13 J)
1
−19
7 (a) (iii) Since 1 eV = 1.60 × 10 J, it
-13 6
2.39 × 10 1 follows that 1 MeV is 10 times
E = 1.60 × 10-13 larger.
= 1.5 MeV 1

7 (b) weak interaction 1 Always involved in β decay.

8 (a) (i) electron 1 A positron is a ‘positive electron’,
having the same mass and equal
but opposite charge.
8 (a) (ii) they annihilate, or destroy each other forming 1 2 photons are always needed
when annihilation takes place.

two gamma rays (or photons) 1 ‘Forming energy’ would not be

enough for the second mark.
8 (b) energy released = 2 × 0.51 = 1.02 MeV 1 The antiparticle must have the
same rest mass as the particle.
−13 –13
= 1.02 × 1.60 × 10 = 1.6 × 10 J 1 The energy released is the total
of the rest energies. The energy
released could be greater than
this if the particles were to meet
with a significant amount of
kinetic energy, so the value
calculated is the minimum energy
released.
9 (a) (i) they annihilate, or destroy each other, or form 1 This is straightforward
two photons annihilation of a particle and its
antiparticle.
9 (a) (ii) the energy associated with the rest masses 1 Total energy includes both the
must be added kinetic energy and the rest mass
energy of the two colliding
particles. Photons have no rest
mass.
9 (b) There are 3 possibilities: the particles produced any 2 Annihilation can produce particles
could other than photons (e.g. muons)
• be more numerous when the colliding particles have
• be more massive a total energy greater than the
• have greater kinetic energy rest masses of the particles that
are produced.
10 weak interaction 1
11 (a) γ photon/electromagnetic force 2 1 mark for naming the exchange
particle and the second mark for
the corresponding interaction.

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www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements
 1 Matter and radiation
AQA Physics Answers to practice questions
Question Answer Marks Guidance
11 (b) Possible roles are: any 2 One mark for each named role.
• transfers energy
• transfers momentum
• transfers force
• (sometimes) transfers charge
12 A high energy γ photon is required 1 Energy must be sufficient to
create at least the total rest
masses of the particles produced.

It is converted into a particle and its antiparticle 1 This occurs in the vicinity of
another particle, such as a
nucleus or an electron.

Suitable example named, such as: 1 Only one example is needed.

• proton + antiproton
• electron + positron

© Oxford University Press 2015 This resource sheet may have been changed from the original.
www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements