OXFORD CAMBRIDGE AND RSA EXAMINATIONS

Advanced GCE

PHYSICS B (ADVANCING PHYSICS)

2865/01

Advances in Physics
26 JANUARY 2006

Thursday

Morning

1 hour 30 minutes

Candidates answer on the question paper.

Additional materials:
Insert (Advance Notice Article for this question paper)
Data, Formulae and Relationships Booklet
Electronic calculator

Candidate Name

TIME

Centre Number

Candidate
Number

1 hour 30 minutes

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

Write your name in the space above.

Write your Centre number and Candidate number in the boxes above.

Answer all the questions.

Write your answers in the spaces provided on the question paper.

Read each question carefully and make sure you know what you have
to do before starting your answer.

Show clearly the working in all calculations, and give answers to only
a justifiable number of significant figures.

FOR EXAMINERS USE

Qu

Max.

INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES

Section A (questions 16) is based on the Advance Notice article, a

copy of which is included as an insert. You are advised to spend about
60 minutes on Section A.

11

The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each

question or part question.

There are four marks for the quality of written communication on this
paper.

12

16

The values of standard physical constants are given in the Data,

Formulae and Relationships booklet. Any additional data required are
given in the appropriate question.

13

QWC

TOTAL

90

Mark

This question paper consists of 23 printed pages and 1 blank page and an insert.
SP (NF/SLM) S87864/5
OCR 2006 [D/100/3711]

Registered Charity Number: 1066969

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2
Answer all the questions.
Section A
The questions in this section are based on the Advance Notice article.
You are advised not to spend more than 60 minutes on this section.

This question is about the physical properties of the polymer PTFE (lines 1929 and Fig. 1 in
the article).
Fig. 1.1 shows a plot of resistivity and cost for a number of materials.
1021

1015

glasses
PVC

resistivity / m

polymers

109

ceramics
103

103
100

10 000

1000

100 000

cost / m3
Fig. 1.1
A point for PVC is shown plotted on the graph.
PTFE has a resistivity of 1016 m, and costs about 20 000 per cubic metre.
(a) Plot PTFE on Fig. 1.1.

[2]

(b) PVC and PTFE are both used as electrical insulators. Use Fig. 1.1 to suggest why
(i)

PVC is used for domestic wiring

[1]

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3
(ii)

PTFE is used for the electrical connections to high-voltage equipment.

[1]
(c) The deformation of polythene can be described in terms of the movements of the
molecular chains.
A
B

bonds rotate
bond angles become deformed

Fig. 1.2 shows the stress-strain graph for polythene.

Circle and label the appropriate sections A and B.
stress

strain
[2]
Fig. 1.2

(d) Polythene and PTFE are both composed of long chains of carbon atoms. They differ
only in the other atoms joined to the carbon atoms. (Fig. 1.3).
carbon
atom

fluorine
atom
PTFE

hydrogen
atom
polythene
Fig. 1.3

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(i)

Use the differences between these two structures to suggest why PTFE is stiffer
than polythene (lines 1924 in the article).

[1]
(ii)

Sketch on Fig. 1.2, a possible stress-strain graph for PTFE.

[1]
[Total: 8]

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5
2

This question is about the properties of uranium hexafluoride (lines 3946 in the article).
(a) Use the table below to show that a molecule of uranium hexafluoride (UF6) is more than
ten times as massive as an air molecule (lines 3941 in the article). Most air molecules
consist of two nitrogen atoms bonded together.
atom

nucleon number

uranium

238

fluorine

19

nitrogen

14

[2]
(b) Equation 1 relates the motion of N molecules each of mass m and mean square speed c 2
in an ideal gas to the pressure p and volume V of the gas.

Equation 1 can be rewritten as

(i)

pV =

1
Nmc 2
3

equation 1

pV =

1
Mc 2
3

equation 2

State what the quantity M = Nm in equation 2 represents.

[1]

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(ii)

Use equation 2 to show that the mean-square speed of the molecules in a gas of
density is given by
3p
c2 =

equation 3

[2]
(iii)

Use equation 3 to show that the difference in the r.m.s. speeds

c 2 of
uranium-238 hexafluoride and uranium-235 hexafluoride at standard pressure is
only about 1 m s1.
standard pressure = 1.01 105 Pa
at standard pressure, density of uranium-235 hexafluoride = 15.5 kg m3
at standard pressure, density of uranium-238 hexafluoride = 15.7 kg m3

[2]
(iv)

Use your answers to parts (b)(ii) and (iii) to explain why the difference in diffusion
speeds is very small indeed, so large-scale apparatus with many stages was
needed (lines 4546 in the article).

[2]
[Total: 9]
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3

This question is about keeping charged particles moving around in a ring (lines 6467 and
Fig. 2 in the article).

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(a) Fig. 3.1 shows a plan view of Fermilabs Main Ring. The arrows show the path taken by
protons moving at a speed 2.97 108 m s1 (99% of the speed of light).

6400 m
Fig. 3.1
(i)

Explain clearly why there must be a force acting on the protons if they are to travel
in a circular path.

[1]
(ii)

This force is provided by a magnetic field.

Here are four directions in which the magnetic field could be acting.
A radially inwards towards the centre
of the circle

B radially outwards away from the

centre of the circle

C perpendicular to the plane of the

diagram

D the same direction as the proton

path

Choose the correct direction from the four directions above.

direction ............. [1]

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(b) The same ring contains antiprotons (the anti-particles of protons), also moving at a
speed of 2.97 108 m s1.
(i)

Complete the table below comparing the proton and antiproton.

particle

mass / 1027 kg

charge / 1019 C

proton

1.7

+1.6

antiproton
[1]
(ii)
(c) (i)

Draw arrows on Fig. 3.1 above to show the path followed by the antiprotons.

[1]

In the article, it states that The job of the Tevatron Ring is to accelerate the protons
to energies of 1000 GeV (1 TeV), which is about 1000 times their rest energy (lines
8586 in the article).
Show that the rest energy of a proton is about 1 GeV.
c = 3.0 108 m s1
e = 1.6 1019 C
mp = 1.7 1027 kg

[3]
(ii)

Use the result of (c)(i) to explain why, for a proton of total energy E = 1000 GeV
(1 TeV), the equation
E 2 = ( pc)2 + (rest energy)2

(Line 82 in the article)

can be simplified to
E pc.

[2]
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(iii)

Use the equation E pc and the data from Table 1 in the article to show that the
total energy E of a proton travelling at 99.9999% of the speed of light is close to
1 TeV (1.6 107 J).

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[2]
[Total: 11]

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4

This question is about superconducting electromagnets (Figs. 3 and 4 and lines 96109 in
the article).
(a) The magnetic field in the conventional magnets in the Fermilab Main Ring is 1.8 T. In the
superconducting Tevatron Ring, the field is 4.5 T.
Explain why it was not possible to use conventional electromagnets to achieve a field of
4.5 T.

[2]
(b) The cross-section of the wire used in the superconducting electromagnet coils is shown
in Fig. 4.1. About half of the cross-section is niobium-titanium, and half is copper.

copper

filament of
niobium-titanium
Fig. 4.1
Below a temperature of 10 K, the resistivity of niobium-titanium is zero.
No electrical p.d. is required to maintain the current in the superconducting
niobium-titanium. Explain why there is no current in the copper under these
circumstances (lines 100101 in the article).

[2]
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(c) The article describes the catastrophic effects of a temperature rise in the
superconducting magnets (lines 105109 in the article).
(i)

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Explain why a collapse of the magnetic flux leads to a large current in the coil.

[2]
(ii)

Explain why this current passes mainly in the copper, not in the niobium-titanium.

[1]
(iii)

Explain why the copper could become very hot.

[1]
(d) The large superconducting magnet in an MRI scanner produces a very strong magnetic
field inside the scanner.
Suggest why patients must remove any iron or steel objects, such as dental braces,
before entering the scanner.

[1]

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12
5

This question is about medical images of the head (Fig. 5 and lines 122125 in the article).

An image has been

removed due to third party
copyright restrictions

An image has been

removed due to third party
copyright restrictions

Details: An X-ray of a human

skull

Details: An MRI scan of a

human skull

Fig. 5.1
(a)

X-ray

Fig. 5.2

MRI

Suggest why X-rays (Fig. 5.1) are better than MRI scans (Fig. 5.2) for investigating
possible fractures of the skull.

[2]
(b) A doctor wishes to study the region of the brain marked
X (the cerebellum). The MRI
image is enhanced as shown in Fig. 5.3 to make this region clearer.

An image has been removed due to

third part copyright restrictions
Details: An MRI scan of a human skull

Fig. 5.3
(i)

enhanced MRI

This digital image has been enhanced by the process of

areas have become dark and dark ones light.
Explain this process.

inversion , where light

[3]
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(ii)

Describe one other way in which the image could be enhanced to make the
structure of region X clearer.

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[2]
(iii)

The scale of the structures in region X is small, so an image with high resolution is
needed. Explain the meaning of the term resolution of an image.

[1]
[Total: 8]

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6

This question is about the energy needed to put satellites into orbit (lines 128130 in the
article).
The International Space Station (ISS) orbits the Earth with an orbit of mean radius
6.8 106 m.
(a) Use equation 1
Vgrav =

GM
r

equation 1

to show that the gravitational potential difference between the surface of the Earth and
the position of the ISS is given by equation 2
Vgrav = GM

1 1

rE r

equation 2

where rE is the radius of the Earth, r is the radius of the orbit, G is the gravitational force
constant and M the mass of the Earth.

[2]
(b) (i)

Use equation 2 above to show that the gravitational potential difference Vgrav
between the surface of the Earth and the position of the ISS is about 4 106 J kg1.
GM = 4.0 1014 N m2 kg1
rE = 6.4 106 m
r = 6.8 106 m

[2]
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(ii)

Calculate the gravitational potential energy gained by the ISS as it is put into orbit.

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mass of ISS = 1.9 105 kg

gravitational potential energy ............................. J [1]

(iii)

The ISS orbits the Earth once every 90 minutes.

Calculate its kinetic energy in orbit.

kinetic energy ............................. J [3]

(iv)

Suggest why the energy required to put the ISS into orbit is much greater than the
sum of the two energies in parts (ii) and (iii).

[2]

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(c) The orbit of the ISS is quite low. Satellites are often placed in a geostationary orbit,
about 100 higher above the Earths surface.
surface of
the Earth

position of
ISS
10

15

20

25

position of
geostationary
orbit
30
35

r / Mm
40

10

Vgrav / MJ kg1

20
30
40
50
60
70
Fig. 6.1
Use the graph of Fig. 6.1 to calculate the gravitational potential energy the ISS would
need to gain if it were moved from its present position into a geostationary orbit.
mass of ISS = 1.9 105 kg

[2]
[Total:12]
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BLANK PAGE

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18
Section B

This question is about light and astronomy.

When an electric current is passed through hydrogen gas in a discharge tube, the hydrogen
emits a line spectrum. One of the wavelengths in the visible part of the spectrum is due to
the change in the energy levels of the hydrogen atom shown in Fig. 7.1.
2.4 1019 J

5.4 1019 J
Fig. 7.1
(a) Show that photons of light of wavelength 660 nm can be produced by this energy level
change.
h = 6.6 1034 J s
c = 3.0 108 m s1

[3]
(b) Light from a discharge tube containing hydrogen was observed through a diffraction
grating having 600 lines per mm.
(i)

Show that the grating spacing d is about 1.7 106 m.

[1]

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(ii)

Show that the 660 nm wavelength will be detected at about 23 from the zero order.

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[2]
(c) When stars are moving away from us, their spectral lines are red-shifted.
Indicate on Fig. 7.2 how the position of the lines, originally at 660 nm, would change
when viewed through the diffraction grating if the light had been red-shifted. The grey
lines indicate the position of these lines if there is no red-shift.

zero order
[1]
Fig. 7.2
(d) The wavelengths of light from the star Regulus were found to be red-shifted by
0.0020%.
Use the relationship
v
=

c
to calculate the velocity of recession v of Regulus relative to Earth.
c = 3.0 108 m s1

velocity of recession .................... m s1 [3]

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(e) Two stars A and B have the same actual luminosity (brightness).
However, star A appears to be emitting 100 times less energy per second than star B,
which is at a distance of 30 parsecs from the Earth.
Use the inverse square law to calculate the distance of star A from Earth.

distance ..................... parsecs [2]

(f)

For distant galaxies, the cosmological redshift z is given by

1+z=

+
.

One particular spectral line of hydrogen has wavelength 122 nm on Earth. In light from
the very distant galaxy Abell 1835 IR1916, the same spectral line is observed to have a
wavelength of 1.34 m.
(i)

Show that the redshift z of this galaxy is about 10.

[2]

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(ii)

Use the cosmological redshift equation above to explain why a cosmological

redshift of 10 implies that the Universe is now 11 times larger than when the galaxy
emitted that light.

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[2]
[Total: 16]

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22
8

This question is about the position sensing system shown in Fig. 8.1.

A diagram has been removed due to third party copyright restrictions

Details:
A diagram of a positioning system that uses a light dependant resistor (LDR)
and a pedal

Fig. 8.1
As the pedal is pushed, the shaft moves allowing more light to fall on the LDR. This results in
a reduction in the resistance of the LDR.
A +30 D lens, positioned 0.05 m to the right of the lamp, is used to converge light onto the
LDR.
(a) (i)

Calculate the separation between the LDR and the lens needed to achieve a sharp
image of the lamp filament on the face of the LDR.

[3]
(ii)

State one way in which the lens improves the performance of the system.

[1]

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(b) Fig. 8.2 shows the sensing circuit connected to the LDR. The fixed resistor has a
resistance of 1500 . The 12 V battery has negligible internal resistance, and the
voltmeter has a very large resistance.

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LDR
12 V
1500

Fig. 8.2
(i)

When the shaft completely covers the LDR it has a maximum resistance of 3000 .
Show that in this position the current drawn from the battery is about 3 mA.

[2]
(ii)

Show that the voltmeter reading with the LDR covered would be 4 V.

[2]
(iii)

As the pedal is pushed the voltmeter reading rises to a maximum of 11.3 V.

Show that the LDR resistance drops to a minimum of about 100 .

[3]

Question 8 continues on page 24

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(iv)

Explain how the performance of the system would be changed if the fixed resistor
were replaced with a 1 M resistor.

[2]
[Total: 13]
Quality of Written Communication [4]

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