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Physics P2 > P2.3-P2.6 > Flashcards

P2.3-P2.6 Flashcards

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1
Q

What’s the mass of a proton?

A

1

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2
Q

What’s the mass of a neutron?

A

1

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3
Q

What’s the mass of an electron?

A

~0

1/2000

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4
Q

What’s the charge of a proton?

A

+1

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5
Q

What’s the charge of a neutron?

A

0

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6
Q

What’s the charge of an electron?

A

-1

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7
Q

Where are the protons in the atom?

A

Inside the nucleus

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8
Q

Where are the neutrons in the atom?

A

Inside the nucleus

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9
Q

Where are the electrons in the atom?

A

Orbiting the nucleus

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10
Q

What does the atomic number of an element represent?

A

Number of protons (or electrons) in a neutral atom of an element

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11
Q

What does the mass number of an element represent?

A

Protons+neutrons

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12
Q

What’s an ion?

A

A pos. or neg. charged particle

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13
Q

What do isotopes of an element have in common with each other?

A

Same atomic number

same number of protons

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14
Q

What are the differences between isotopes of an element?

A

Different mass numbers

diff. number of neutrons

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15
Q

What was Rutherford’s experiment with alpha particles?

A

Alpha particles were fired at a sheet of gold leaf
Particles came off at diff. angles
(most passed through, some deviated, some deflected)

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16
Q

What was the plum pudding model of the atom, accepted before Rutherford’s findings?

A

Atom= sphere of pos. charged w/ neg. charged electrons dotted within it

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17
Q

What is the expectation that Rutherford had for his experiment?

A

The alpha particles would smash through the gold leaf like a canon through tissue paper

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18
Q

What is the explanation for Rutherford’s results?

A

The plum pudding model of the atom was not correct
The atom must have a small dense positive centre
(must be small- the maj. of particles went through undeflected)
Back scatterring- repelled because alpha particles and nucleui are both neg. charged

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19
Q

What is radioactive decay?

A

When an unstable nucleus breaks down and emits one of 3 types of ionising radiation

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20
Q

What are the 3 types of ionising radiation?

A

Alpha particles
Beta particles
Gamma waves

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21
Q

Where does the majority of background radiation come from?

A

Radon gas- from rocks in the ground

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22
Q

What is a half-life of a radioactive element?

A

The time it takes for the activity to reduce by a half

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23
Q

What are some sources of background radiation?

A

Rocks- radon gas
Cosmic rays
Medical uses
Living things (absorb radiation from soil)

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24
Q

What happens if ionising radiation gets into living tissue?

A

It will ionise the atoms that make up DNA and cause mutations

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25
Q

What does ionising radiation have the energy to do?

A

Ionise atoms?

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26
Q

What is the mass of alpha particles?

A

4

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27
Q

What is the unit of mass?

A

amu

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28
Q

What is the mass of beta particles?

A

0

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29
Q

What is the mass of gamma rays?

A

0

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30
Q

What is the charge of alpha particles?

A

2+

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31
Q

What is the charge of beta particles?

A

1-

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32
Q

What is the charge of gamma rays?

A

0

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33
Q

What is the unit of charge?

A

e

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34
Q

What is an alpha particle?

A

Helium nucleus

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35
Q

What is a beta particle?

A

Fast moving electron

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36
Q

What is a gamma ray?

A

Electromagnetic wave

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37
Q

What is the ionising ability of an alpha particle?

A

High

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38
Q

What is the ionising ability of a beta particle?

A

Weak

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39
Q

What is the ionising ability of a gamma ray?

A

Very weak

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40
Q

What are alpha particles stopped by?

A

Sheet of paper

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41
Q

What are beta particles stopped by?

A

Sheet of aluminium

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42
Q

What are gamma rays stopped by?

A

Thick lead

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43
Q

Are alpha particles deflected by a magnetic field?

A

Yes

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44
Q

Are beta particles deflected by a magnetic field?

A

Yes (opposite to alpha)

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45
Q

Are gamma rays deflected by a magnetic field?

A

No

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46
Q

What happens when a nucleus emits an alpha particle?

A

Looses 2 protons and 2 neutrons

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47
Q

What do decay chains mean about the amount of radioactive elements in the universe?

A

It’s never fixed

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48
Q

How can people be safe around radioactive materials?

A

Keep space between the source and the person

Keep exposure time to the source as low as possible

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49
Q

What are alpha particles used for?

A

Smoke alarms

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50
Q

What form do alpha particles come in when used for smoke detectors?

A

Aluminium-241

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51
Q

How do alpha particles work in smoke alarms?

A

Ionise air particles that enter = current
When smoke enters- gets in the way (alpha can’t move through smoke) and reduces air particles being ionised
Reduces current–> sets off alarm

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52
Q

Why does smoke entering a smoke alarm reduce the number of air particles being ionised?

A

Alpha particles can’t travel through smoke

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53
Q

Why are alpha particles the most useful for smoke alarms?

A

Highly ionising
Don’t travel well through air
-Won’t harm people living in house if it’s on the ceiling

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54
Q

What are beta particles used for?

A

Paper mills- to control thickness

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55
Q

How are beta particles used in paper mills?

A

As the paper is being rolled- beta particles are fired at it with a Geiger-Muller detector on the other side
The thicker the paper- the less radiation detected
-detector will send a message to rollers to adjust pressure according to results

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56
Q

What is the relationship between the number of beta particles being detector by the GM tube and the thickness of the paper in a paper mill?

A

Thick paper- less particles

Thing paper- more particles

57
Q

Why are beta particles ideal for use in a paper mill?

A

Have the ability to pass through paper- but will be obstructed by thicker sheets

58
Q

What are gamma rays used for?

A

Sterilising medical equipment

Treating cancer

59
Q

How are gamma rays used in the sterilisation of medical equipment?

A

Focused on a sealed packet with the equipment inside

Strong enough to kill any bacteria present

60
Q

How are gamma rays used to treat cancer?

A

Focused on a tumour

- in a high enough conc. to kill the cells

61
Q

Why is the ability to focus gamma rays on a specific part of the body when used in treating cancer useful?

A

Reduces exposure for healthy tissue

62
Q

Why are gamma rays ideal for use in radiotherapy?

A

Travel through skin easily
Strong enough to kill cells
Low ionising ability- low amount of damage

63
Q

How do nuclear power plants produce electricity?

A 
Nuclear reaction gives off heat
Heat evaporates water
Water vapour drives the turbine
Turbines drives the generator
Generator produces electricity
64
Q

What are the elements commonly used in nuclear power plants to produce electricity?

A

Uranium

Plutonium

65
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power plants as a source of electricity?

A

Advantages:
Releases less CO2 than fossil fuel plants
Requires less fuel than fosil fuel plants
UK has stores of uranium and plutonium already

Disadvantages:
Produces radioactive waste with half lives of 1000s of years

66
Q

What is nuclear fission?

A

The splitting of a nucleus into two smaller nuclei

67
Q

How does nuclear fission split a nucleus into two smaller nuclei?

A

By firing a high energy neutron at it

68
Q

What are the two most common fissionable materials?

A

Uranium-235

Plutonium-239

69
Q

How does the process of nuclear fission work?

A

Neutron fired at a nucleus
= unstable element that breaks into 2
–> releases 3 neutrons
process can continue-=nuclear bomb

70
Q

What is nuclear fusion?

A

The joining together of two atomic nuclei to form a large one

71
Q

Does nuclear fusion form any other products except for a larger nucleus?

A

NO

72
Q

What are the conditions needed for nuclear fusion?

A

V extreme
High pressure and temperature
(not possible on Earth yet)

73
Q

Are the conditions required for nuclear fusion possible on Earth yet?

A

NO

74
Q

How old is the universe?

A

13.9 billion years old

75
Q

What are nebulae?

A

Large clouds of gas and dust in space

76
Q

How are main sequence stars formed?

A

Nebulae collapse under their own gravity
Loss of GPE increases KE of gas particles
-increases pressure and temperature until fusion is possible
Heat from the fusion increases the pressure- particles push back away away from gravity pulling them in
–> eventually= settles into equilibrium
= main sequence star

77
Q

What are the two types of star that a main sequence star could turn into?

A

Red Giant
(size of sun)

Red Super Giant

78
Q

What happens to red giants?

A

–>
white dwarf
–>
black dwarf

79
Q

What happens to super red giants?

A

–>
Supernova (explode)
–>
EITHER

Black hole

OR

Neutron star

80
Q

What charges an atom?

A

Changing the number of electrons

81
Q

How is static electricity generated?

A

When insulators are rubbed together

82
Q

What is electrostatic charge?

A

The charge created when electrons from one insulator are moved to another using friction

83
Q

How does the charge of an object remain on it?

A

Electrons aren’t free to move

84
Q

How do charged particles act towards each other?

A

Opposites attract

85
Q

What is the relationship between how charged an object is and the amount of potential difference is has?

A

The more charged- The more p.d

86
Q

What happens if a charged object has a too big potential difference?

A

A spark may jump from the object to earth or a conductor that is earthed

87
Q

How does connecting a metal pipe to the earth with a wire avoid the danger of sparks?

A

Gives the sparks a fast route to the earth

88
Q

What are the two types of charge?

A

Positive

Negative

89
Q

Why does hair go fluffy after it is combed?

A

Electrons have exchanged between the hair and comb

-they are attracted to each other (have electrostatic charges)

90
Q

Describe the function of a LDR

A

Resistance changes with light

91
Q

Describe the function of a LED

A

When current flows in one direction- they light up

92
Q

Describe the function of a resistor

A

Resists the flow of electrical charge

93
Q

Describe the function of a voltmeter

A

Measures volt. (potential difference)

94
Q

Describe the function of a diode

A

Alows the current to flow in one direction

95
Q

Describe the function of a switch

A

Prevents the flow of electricty

96
Q

Describe the function of a lamp

A

Emits light

97
Q

Describe the function of an ammeter

A

Measures amps (current)

98
Q

Describe the function of a fuse

A

Disposable circuit breaker

99
Q

Describe the function of a variable resistor

A

A resitor who’s resistance can be changed

100
Q

Describe the function of a battery

A

Stores energy

101
Q

What are batteries made up of?

A

Cells

102
Q

Describe the function of a thermistor?

A

Resistance charges with heat

103
Q

Describe the function of a cell

A

Makes up a battery

104
Q

What is potential difference?

A

Voltage- energy supllied to the charges

105
Q

What is the unit of potential difference?

A

Volts

106
Q

What is the unit charge?

A

Coulomb

107
Q

What is a current?

A

Flow of charge

108
Q

What is the unit of charge?

A

Amps

109
Q

What is resistance?

A

The ability to prevent a current flowing when a potential differnce is applied

110
Q

When does the resistance of a wire increase?

A

The length of the wire increases

The thickness of the wire decreases

111
Q

When does a current flow?

A

When charged particles travel through a conductor

-moving electrons can move freely through particles

112
Q

What is the unit for resistance?

A

Ohms

113
Q

What does Ohm’s law state?

A

Electric current:
Proportional to voltage
Inversely proportional to resistance

114
Q

What does DC stand for?

A

Direct current

115
Q

What does AC stand for?

A

Alternating current

116
Q

What happens in DC?

A

No change in potential difference across battery–> current only flows in 1 direction

(Most portable devices)

117
Q

What happens in AC?

A

Change in potential difference as it changes direction smoothly
–> causes current to oscillate back and forth

(Mains)

118
Q

What colour is the earth wire in a plug?

A

Green and yellow

119
Q

What is the function of the earth wire in a plug?

A

If there is a fault & case becomes live- current passes along
(device is safe)

120
Q

What colour is the neutral wire in a plug?

A

Blue

121
Q

What is the function of the neutral wire in a plug?

A

Completes the circuit

122
Q

What is the potential difference of the neutral wire in a plug?

A

0v

123
Q

What colour is the live wire in a plug?

A

Brown

124
Q

What is the function of a live wire in a plug?

A

Provides energy for the device

125
Q

What is the potential difference of a live wire in a plug?

A

230v

126
Q

What is Kirchoff’s 1st law?

A

Sum of current in = Sum of current out

127
Q

Is the current in a series circuit equal in all parts?

A

Yes

128
Q

Is the current in a parallel circuit equal in all parts?

A

No- current is split between branches

129
Q

What does potential difference do in a series circuit?

A

Splits equally between all components

somehow knows how many

130
Q

What does potential difference do in a parallel circuit?

A

Is equal in every branch

131
Q

What is Kirchoff’s 2nd law?

A

Sum of potential difference from cell = Sum of potential difference in each branch

132
Q

What does resistance do in a series circuit?

A

(bridge analogy- wider bridge= less resistance, one after another=slower
)
Rt=R1+R2

133
Q

What does resistance do in a parallel circuit?

A

(two bridge analogy- two to choose from for a big group- faster)
1/Rt=1/R1+1/R2

134
Q

What is the relationship between the resistance and the temperature in a filament lamp?

A

Directly proportional

-resistance increases as temperature increases

135
Q

What is the relationship between the resistance and the temperature in a thermistor?

A

Inversely proportional

-resistance falls as temperature increases

136
Q

What is the relationship between the resistance and the temperature in an LDR?

A

Inversely proportional

-resistance falls as light intensity increases

137
Q

What is the relationship between the thickness of a wire and the current it can bear?

A

Directly proportional

-thicker the wire, greater the current it can bear

138
Q

What is the function of a control rod in a nuclear reaction?

A

To absorb neutrons

slows chemical reaction down to control it

139
Q

What are the three effects when two forces act upon an object?

A

Compression
Tension
Torsion

Physics P2 (2 decks)

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