| Date | November 2012 | Marks available | 3 | Reference code | 12N.3.HL.TZ0.18 |
| Level | Higher level | Paper | Paper 3 | Time zone | Time zone 0 |
| Command term | Define and Explain | Question number | 18 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
This question is about black holes.
The diagram shows the path of a light ray in the space around a black hole.
The radius of the dotted circle is the Schwarzschild radius of the black hole.
Define the Schwarzschild radius of a black hole.
[1]
a.
Explain, using the concept of spacetime, why the path of the light ray is straight at distances far from the black hole and curved when near the black hole.
[3]
b.
Markscheme
the distance from the black hole where the escape speed is the speed of light / the distance from the black hole inside which nothing can escape;
a.
light travels along – geodesics/paths of shortest length;
geodesics/light paths – follow the curvature of spacetime / OWTTE;
spacetime is more curved nearer/less curved further from a black hole;
b.
Examiners report
[N/A]
a.
[N/A]
b.
Syllabus sections
Option A: Relativity » Option A: Relativity (Additional higher level option topics) » A.5 – General relativity (HL only)
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