(a) A particle is made up from an anti-up quark and a down quark.
1
(i) Name the classification of particles that has this type of structure.
(1)
(ii) Find the charge on the particle.
(1)
(iii) State the baryon number of the particle.
(1)
(b) A suggested decay for the positive muon (µ+) is µ+
→ e+ + ve
Showing your reasoning clearly, deduce whether this decay satisfies the conservation rules
that relate to baryon number, lepton number and charge.
Baryon number
Lepton number
Charge
(3)
(Total 6 marks)
(a) State the quark substructure of a neutron.
2
(2)
(b) Circle the terms below that can be used to describe a neutron.
antiparticle baryon fundamental particle hadron lepton meson
(2)
(Total 4 marks)
(a) State whether or not each of the following properties of a baryon is conserved when it decays
by the weak interaction.
3
charge
baryon number
strangeness
(2)
Page 1 of 17
(b) State, with a reason, whether or not each of the following particle reactions is possible.
(i) p + π– → K– + π+
(ii) p+ → n = e+
(4)
(Total 6 marks)
State the differences in quark structure between a meson and a baryon.
4
(Total 2 marks)
A negative pion (π−) is a meson with a charge of −1e.
5
State and explain the structure of the π− in terms of up and down quarks.
(Total 3 marks)
(a) Name two hadrons.
6
(b) Name two leptons which are also antiparticles.
Page 2 of 17
(c) State a possible quark structure of the pion π0.
A table of the properties of quarks is given in the Data booklet.
(d) A K– kaon is a strange particle.
State one characteristic of a strange particle.
(Total 4 marks)
7 Nuclei of decay by the emission of an α particle to form a stable isotope of an element X. You may
assume that no γ emission accompanies the decay.
(a) (i) State the proton number and the nucleon number of X.
proton number
nucleon number
(ii) Identify the element X.
(2)
(b) Each decaying nucleus of Po releases 8.6 × 10–13 J of energy.
(i) State the form in which this energy initially appears.
(ii) Using only the information provided in the question, calculate the difference in mass
between the original atom and the combined mass of an atom of X and an α
particle.
speed of light in vacuum = 3.0 × 108 m s–1
(3)
(Total 5 marks)
Page 3 of 17
8 (a) An ion of plutonium Pu has an overall charge of +1.6 × 10–19C.
For this ion state the number of
(i) protons
(ii) neutrons
(iii) electrons
(3)
(b) Plutonium has several isotopes.
Explain the meaning of the word isotopes.
(2)
(Total 5 marks)
Under certain circumstances it is possible for a photon to be converted into an electron and a positron.
9
(a) State what this process is called.
(1)
(b) A photon must have a minimum energy in order to create an electron and a positron.
Calculate the minimum energy of the photon in joules. Give your answer to an appropriate number
of significant figures.
minimum energy = J
(3)
Page 4 of 17
(c) A photon of slightly higher energy than that calculated in part (b) is converted into an
electron and a positron.
State what happens to the excess energy.
(1)
(d) Describe what is likely to happen to the positron shortly after its creation.
(2)
(Total 7 marks)
10 The element uranium has an isotope U.
(a) Explain what is meant by an isotope.
(2)
(b) Determine the charge in coulomb of the U nucleus.
charge = C
(2)
Page 5 of 17
(c) A positive ion of U has a charge of +4.80 × 10−19 C.
Determine the number of electrons in the ion.
number of electrons =
(2)
(d) U decays by β− emission to form an isotope of neptunium (Np).
Complete the equation for this decay.
U→ Np + β− + ............
(3)
(Total 9 marks)
11 An atom of argon is ionised by the removal of two orbiting electrons.
(a) How many protons and neutrons are there in this ion?
protons
neutrons
(2)
(b) What is the charge, in C, of this ion?
(2)
(c) Which constituent particle of this ion has
(i) a zero charge per unit mass ratio,
(ii) the largest charge per unit mass ratio?
(2)
Page 6 of 17
(d) Calculate the percentage of the total mass of this ion that is accounted for by the mass of its
electrons.
(3)
(Total 9 marks)
(a) There are a number of ways in which u, d and s quarks and their associated antiparticles may be
12 combined to form mesons. Use the table ‘properties of quarks’, in the Data booklet, to complete
parts (i) to (iii).
(i) The kaon K– has a strangeness –1. Write down its quark composition.
K–
(ii) The kaons K0 and K+ both have strangeness +1. Write down their quark composition.
K0
K+
(iii) Write down the quark composition of a proton.
p
(5)
(b) In the strong interaction,
K– + p → K0 + K+ + X,
deduce the quark composition of, and state the type of, hadron represented by X.
(2)
(c) A positive muon may decay to a positron and two neutrinos. Write down an equation
representing the muon decay.
μ+ →
(2)
(Total 9 marks)
Page 7 of 17
Which of the following nuclei has the smallest specific charge?
13
(Total 1 mark)
Which line correctly classifies the particle shown?
14
Quark
Particle Category
combination
A neutron baryon ūd
B neutron meson udd
C proton baryon uud
D positive pion meson ūd
(Total 1 mark)
Which line does not give the correct exchange particle for the process?
15
Process Exchange particle
A gravitational attraction W boson
electrostatic repulsion of
B virtual photon
electrons
C strong interaction pion
D β− decay W boson
(Total 1 mark)
Page 8 of 17
Which of the following statements about muons is incorrect?
16
A A muon is a lepton.
B A muon has a greater mass than an electron.
C If a muon and an electron each have the same de Broglie
wavelength then they each have the same momentum.
D A muon with the same momentum as an electron has a larger
kinetic energy than the electron.
(Total 1 mark)
What are the numbers of hadrons, baryons and mesons in an atom of 73Li?
17
hadrons baryons mesons
A 7 3 3
B 7 4 4
C 7 7 0
D 10 7 0
(Total 1 mark)
Electron capture can be represented by the following equation.
18
p + e– → X + Y
Which row correctly identifies X and Y?
X Y
A p K–
B e– e+
C n Ve
D n π0
(Total 1 mark)
Page 9 of 17
Mark schemes
(a) (i) meson (not muon)
1
B1
1
(ii) –1 or –1.6 × 10–19 C or –e
B1
1
(iii) 0
B1
1
(b) baryon number 0 → 0 + 0 (satisfied or cs)
(allow statement that as these are all leptons baryon number is
not relevant owtte)
B1
lepton number –1 → –1 + 1 × or not satisfied
B1
charge (+)1 → (+)1 + 0 (satisfied or cs)
B1
3
[6]
(a) Three quarks mentioned; at least one u, one d
2
C1
udd A1
2
(b) hadron
B1
Baryon
B1
2
[4]
Page 10 of 17
(a) charge – yes*
3
baryon number – yes* strangeness –
no*
* all correct (1) (1)
deduct one for each incorrect answer
(max 2)
(b) (i) no (1)
strangeness [or baryon number] not conserved (1)
(ii) yes (1)
charge and baryon number conserved (1)
(4)
[6]
meson has 2 quarks; baryon has 3 quarks/3 antiquarks
4
B1
good extra detail
B1
[2]
2 quarks
5 M1
down and anti-up
A1
–1 / 3 + (–2 / 3) = – 1
A1
[3]
(a) any two hadrons e.g. proton, neutron, pion, kaon, etc. (1)
6
(b) any two antiparticle leptons e.g. anti-(electronic) neutrino etc (1)
(c)
(d) usually created in pairs (*)
normally decays into combinations of π, p and n (*) contains at
least one strange quark (*)
usually decays via the weak interaction (*)
half - life is relatively long compared with half -life of typical particle decaying via
strong interaction (*)
(*) any one (1)
[4]
Page 11 of 17
(a) (i) proton number 82 and nucleon number 214 (1)
7
(ii) Pb (1)
2
(b) (i) kinetic energy [or electrostatic potential energy] (1)
(ii) Δm = (1)
= = 9.6 × 10–30 kg (1)
3
[5]
(a) (i) 94 (protons) (1)
8
(ii) 145 (neutrons) (1)
(iii) 93 (electrons) (1)
3
(b) same number of protons
[or same atomic number] (1)
different number of neutrons/nucleons [or
different mass number] (1)
2
[5]
(a) pair production
9
1
(b) (energy = 2 × rest mass energy)
energy = 2 × 0.510999 = 1.021998 (MeV)
energy = 1.021998 × 1.60 × 10−13 = 1.64 × 10−13 J
(3 sig figs )
If miss out 2 factor can get CE
Can use E=2mc2
First mark for full substitution and second mark for answer
3
(c) kinetic energy (of electron and positron)
KE of photon gets zero
1
(d) (meet an electron and) annihilate
(converting into two or more) photons OR gamma rays
2
[7]
Page 12 of 17
(a) (isotopes have)
10
same number of protons ✔
allow atomic mass / proton number
different numbers of neutrons ✔
allow mass number / nucleon number
TO where mix up atomic number and mass number
2
(b) 92 × 1.60 × 10−19 ✔
correct power
penalise minus sign on answer line
(+)1.47 × 10−17 (C) ✔
Allow 2 sf answer 1.5 × 10−17 (C)
Pay attention to powers on answer line
2
(c) (4.8 × 10-19 ÷ 1.60 × 10−19 =) 3 ✔
or
1.47 × 10−17 − 4.8 × 10−19 (= Q) (ecf)
(92 − 3 =) 89 ✔
95 on answer line 1 mark
(d) ✔✔✔
one mark for:
• both numbers correct on Np
• both numbers correct on β−
• correct symbol for (electron) antineutrino
3
[9]
(a) 18 (protons) (1)
11 (37 – 18 gives) 19 (neutrons (1)
2
(b) (charge) = 2+ or 2– (1)
Q = 2 × 1.60 × 10–19 = 3.2 × 10–19 (C) (1)
2
(c) (i) neutron (1)
(ii) electron (1)
2
Page 13 of 17
(d) (2) (for correct nuclear mass and substitution)
(= 2.36 × 10–4) = 2.36 × 10–2 (%) (1)
3
[9]
12 (a) (i) (1)(1) [one mark for s and an antiquark]
(ii)
(1)
(iii) p = uud (1)
(5)
(b) X = sss (1) (= Ω–)
baryon (1)
(2)
(c) μ+ → e+ + ve + (+Q)
all correct (1) (1) [deduct one mark for each error]
(2)
[9]
D
13
[1]
C
14
[1]
A
15
[1]
D
16
[1]
C
17
[1]
C
18
[1]
Page 14 of 17
Examiner reports
(a) (i) The majority identified that particles with this type of structure are mesons.
1
(ii) This should have been an easy mark using the information on the formula sheet but this
was not the case for a significant proportion of the candidates who misread information
from the table or made careless arithmetical errors
(e.g.–2/3 – 1/3 = 1, 1/3 or –1/3).
(iii) Errors similar to those in (ii) were made in this part by a significant number of
candidates.
(b) This was often well done with a clear conclusion that lepton number was not conserved. It was
acceptable for candidates to state that as there were no baryons involved in the equation the
conservation of baryon number did not apply. The main error in dealing with charge was to assign
a charge to the neutrino.
(a) Almost all were able to indicate the correct quark substructure of the neutron. However these
2 answers were often couched simply as, for example, ‘udd’ without any definition of these
symbols leaving the examiners to infer what candidates meant.
(b) Again, many knew that the terms baryon and hadron are used to describe a neutron, but far too
many also suggested that the neutron is a fundamental particle. A small group of candidates used
the lepton response as an alternative to hadron.
This question, on particles and their conservation, was much more discriminating than similar questions
3 have been in previous years. It has been common for a majority of candidates to obtain full marks in such
questions. Half of the candidates did not know that strangeness is not necessarily conserved in a weak
interaction.
Many errors were also seen in part (b). The most common was that charge was not thought to balance in
both equations. The errors came from candidates not realising that the proton was positively charged
Many candidates were able to suggest that mesons have two quarks and that baryons have three, but fewer
4 were able to give good additional detail (for example, that mesons have a quark and anti-quark structure).
A sizeable minority reversed the quark count in the arrangement of the two types of particle.
Marks gained for this part hinged on whether or not candidates were aware that a meson consists of a
5 quark-antiquark pair. When this was known the candidate usually went on to correctly assess that a
negative pion could only be a down quark or an anti-up quark. A slight minority were unable to access
any marks, believing that a meson comprises of three quarks.
This question was generally done well, even though the parts of the question became progressively more
6 difficult. Naming two hadrons was an easy task, but only the best candidates could state clearly a
characteristic of a strange particle.
Part (a) was answered well by the great majority of candidates, although a significant number reversed the
7 values of proton number and nucleon number.
Page 15 of 17
Surprisingly, part (b)(i) caused many candidates difficulty, with too many believing that heat was the form
of the initial energy. Those candidates who answered potential energy without making it clear that it was
electrostatic were not allowed the mark. There were very many correct answers to part (b)(ii).
The usual error was failure to use E = mc2 or, when doing so, failure to square c. The unit of m
was often wrong.
Over 50% of the candidates lost one or more marks on this easy opening question. The most common
8 error was giving the wrong number of electrons, by mistakenly taking the charged ion as a neutral atom.
Also, a worrying number of candidates did not answer part (b) correctly because they were confused
between neutrons and protons. Many candidates did not refer to the number of protons when discussing
isotopes but simply stated that isotopes were the same atom with different numbers of neutrons.
This question required an understanding of the mechanism of pair production and whilst the majority of
9 candidates were able to name the process, a significant number of them were unclear of the details. This
was particular noticeable in part (b) where candidates were required to calculate the minimum energy
required to create an electron positron pair. Only about 27% of candidates managed to do this successfully.
The most common error was a failure to convert the rest mass of the electron and positron into joules. Some
candidates did use the masses of the particles and Einstein’s mass energy equivalence equation to determine
the frequency. This is of course perfectly acceptable even though the equation is in unit 5. This calculation
required an answer to an appropriate number of significant figures and as this was a stand-alone mark,
many candidates were awarded it even though their frequency was incorrect.
Part (c) generated some good answers although about a third of candidates did not appreciate that higher
frequency photons would result in the electron and positron having more kinetic energy. In part (d) many
candidates realised that the positron would annihilate but over half thought that this due to the positron
meeting the original electron.
This question was well done by the vast majority of students.
10
On the whole, the calculations were done correctly. Mistakes seen in part (b) included students presenting
the specific charge as their answer due to rote application of a method without due regard to the question.
Part (c)’s errors were mostly due to incomplete calculations where students determined the number of
electronic charges but failed to take this away from the proton number. Surprisingly almost 20% of
students were unable to complete the decay equation in part (d).
Part (a) usually gave a good start to the majority of candidates. In part (b) there was an even split between
11 candidates who gave the answer as +2 and those who gave the correct answer in coulombs. The final
answer was also sometimes given a negative value. The results in part (c) were, in general, correct.
In part (d) only the better candidates completed the calculation. The usual errors involved using the wrong
number of electrons or nucleons or not using consistent mass units. In recent examinations it has been
quite common for candidates to make errors when calculating percentages but in this question this error
was not often seen.
Page 16 of 17
Most candidates could write down the quark composition of the proton in part (a)(iii) but only a small
12 majority could answer the other sections to part (a).
Part (b) was tackled properly only by the best candidates. lt was apparent that many candidates tried to
identify the actual particle X instead of stating whether it was a baryon or a meson.
Only the best candidates gained full marks in part (c). Only a few included the antineutrino and even
fewer included the correct subscripts.
Page 17 of 17