Wrong Questions - P5 to P8 Flashcards
Heating plastic in a microwave oven results in plastic having a lower temperature rise than water. Suggest why.
- only water particles absorb microwaves, thus only water is heated
- the microwaves penetrate the beaker and are thus not absorbed by the plastic
- the tiny temp rise in plastic is only due to the hot water heating the beaker indirectly through the transfer of thermal energy to its surroundings
What are microwaves absorbed by?
- some are absorbed by water molecules, fats and sugars = to heat food (turns to kinetic energy passed on)
- some arenβt and thus are used for satellites (and can thus pass through our atmosphere)
- not absorbed by plastic, glass or ceramics
- reflected by metal
What happens to light when it hits our eyes?
- light is reflected off objects
- absorbed by the retina
Difference between specular and scattered/ diffused reflection:
- specular - the angle of I = angle of R = on smooth surface - mirror
- diffused/scattered - the angle of I is not = to angle of R (doesnβt follow the law of reflection) = rough surface - as the incoming ray leaves at diff angle to the one it approaches the surface
Why do alpha particles have a short range?
Alpha particles transfer more energy to the material they travel through than gamma rays as they have a higher ionising power. This means that they used their energy to ionise the materials they have come in contact with, meaning they have a shorter range
How do fluorescent light bulbs work?
electrons are accelerated through the mercury vapour which ionises some of the mercury atoms, producing more free electrons
- when this flow of free e- collides with the e- in other mercury atoms, the e- in the mercury atoms are excited to higher energy levels
- when the excited e- return to their original energy levels, they emit radiation in the UV range of the EM spectrum
- compound called phosphor coats the inside of the tube and absorbs this radiation, exciting itβs electrons to higher energy levels and these e- cascade down the energy levels, emitting many diff frequencies of radiation, all in the visible part of the EM spectrum
Why can atoms only absorb certain frequencies?
- electrons can only occupy certain energy levels around the nucleus of an atom (1)
- energy required to jump from one energy level to another corresponds to the energy of the photon
absorbed (1)
What is a chain reaction?
- In a chain reaction neutrons from one fission reaction trigger other fission reactions.
What is the difference between contamination and irradiation?
Contamination: when you take radioactive material inside your body or it is on your skin
Irradiation: there is radioactive material outside your body, but the radiation can travel into your body
Why canβt we carry out fusion on Earth?
- Very high temperatures are required, so the nuclei are moving at very high speeds
- very high pressures are required, so the nuclei are close enough to fuse
How can you increase the signals received by a microwave dish?
- making dish larger = to reduce diffraction / so wave
spreads less / to maximise signal received / to
produce a parallel beam - position dish high up / sensible place = (explanation) avoids obstacles / maximise signal
received / avoids signal loss
Why may features of radioactive isotope not be visible?
- Activity is a random/unpredictable occurrence so may not be constant in a graph
- Low numbers of counts amplify relative variations
- (All radioactive isotopes) have a half-life
- but changes in activity will be small if the half-life is long
When are radioactive levels ok?
- measure levels
- if equal to background radiation then ok
Why might scientists not believe evidence?
- no data / no evidence
- secrecy
- cannot be proved/be reproduced / cannot get
similar or reliable results - disagrees with fundamental physics (e.g if fusion canβt occur at low temp and pressure)
What are the problems of dealing with radioactive waste?
- (as gamma is highly penetrating) it must be placed in a material resistant or thick enough (to stop the radiation penetrating)
- long term containment needed
- it must be stored where there is no possibility of it
contaminating water supply - they need to monitor levels of radioactivity for long periods of time (as acceptable radioactivity levels may change over time)
Why can starts undergo fusion?
- needs high Pa = nuclei are close together
- need high temp = more ke so nuclei move faster with high velocity
- need large gravitational force = pulls it together
What is released in fusion vs fission?
- fusion = a large stable nucleus, energy due to the mass defect (more than fission) and 3 neutrons
- fission = 2 daughter nuclei, energy due to the mass defect and 3 neutrons
Does the Sun emit radiation equally at all frequencies?
- no
- 99% of the radiation emitted in the form of visible light, ultraviolet rays, and infrared rays (also known as heat). - high-frequency radiation
How does the Earthβs atmosphere help to protect against UV?
- ozone in the atmosphere absorbs UV
Why do people sunbathe even after knowing the issues?
- to get a tan- vitamin D production
- improves health - can lower blood pressure
- the benefit outweighs the risk
- use protective measure, e.g. high factor sun cream/only do it for short times to keep risk small/ skin cancers can be easily seen and dealt with
Why is alpha not detected?
- all windows block alpha
How does nuclear fission occur in a reactor?
- chain reaction produces energy in the fuel rod
- fuel rod contains the nuclear fuel for fission
- control rod absorbs neutrons
- coolant absorbs heat from the reaction/ transfers heat
Why can calmer waves destroy things inland?
- amplitude is bigger on the shore/ smaller in mid-ocean
- Wavelength gets smaller as waves slow down as they approach land
- Large amplitude means more (potential) energy (to cause damage
- Waves go further inland/can get over barriers
What is background radiation?
radiation present in the environment/around us /
radiation that is always present
How does short length radiation damage living cells?
they are ionising radiations/can cause ionisation
(ionisation) removes electrons (from atoms/molecules) (
(ionisation) results in chemical reactions /damage DNA/
cause mutations (1)
Why is irradiation less hazardous than contamination?
- no physical contact with source/contamination means physical contact with source
- so exposed for less time with irradiation
- irradiation can be screened off/can move away from source
What is background radiation?
radiation) all around us /(subjected to) it all the time /
from the environment
Why can smoke detectors be dangerous even after 10 years?
(Alpha particles are highly) ionising ο
This can damage cells/DNA/cause cancer ο
(After 10 years the) activity will still be very high (due to long half-life) ο
Am-241 may escape from a discarded detector ο
Can be ingested by animals/absorbed by plants / enter the food webs ο
What happens when the frequency of waves increases?
Speed is unchanged / stays the same ο
Wavelength reduces
What is the typical weight of an empty single decker bus?
120 000N or 12,000 kg
Why should doctors check the activity of a substance before using it on a patient?
To check the activity / intensity / strength of the isotope (1)
Idea that the activity will be continually falling so needs to be monitored (1~)
Using the equation P=IsquaredR explain why the increase in voltage is important to power loss?
Very large decrease in power loss (1)
Power loss is related to the square of the current / AW (1
Why may there be anomalies in radioactivity counting?
Radiation / activity is random (1)
Randomness is amplified at low readings / AW (1)
Why is a gamma knife safe?
Few days between treatments allows healthy cells to be repaired or replaced (1)
Size of dose related to the mass of the patient / age of patient / size of tumour / nature of tumour (1)
Rotation of source reduces damage to healthy cells (1)
BUT rotation of source reduces damage to healthy as time of exposure is shorter (1)
Patient remaining still will reduce the damage to healthy cells (1)
Describe convex lens
refraction occurs at boundary between two different mediums
speed of light in air is faster than in glass
refractive index of glass is higher than air
light bends towards normal when entering lens / ORA
lens causes light rays to converge
light rays parallel to the principal axis meet at the focal point
image is inverted / image is after F
How can you design an experiment to check the focal length of a lens?
- focal length is distance between lens and image (of a distant object) or distance between lens and focal point
- measures thickness of all lenses (with the mm ruler)
- produce an image (of the tree on the card)
- measure image distance from tree = which is the focal length - with a metre ruler
- try all lenses
- repeat three times
Why would IR not be detected if someone was wearing silver clothing?
- foil reflects IR (back to body
- not enough IR (from body) detected