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Date May 2018 Marks available 1 Reference code 18M.3.HL.TZ2.6
Level Higher level Paper Paper 3 Time zone Time zone 2
Command term Calculate Question number 6 Adapted from N/A

Question

Two protons, travelling in opposite directions, collide. Each has a total energy of 3.35 GeV.

As a result of the collision, the protons are annihilated and three particles, a proton, a neutron, and a pion are created. The pion has a rest mass of 140 MeV c–2. The total energy of the emitted proton and neutron from the interaction is 6.20 GeV.

Calculate the gamma (γ) factor for one of the protons.

[1]
a.

Determine, in terms of MeV c–1, the momentum of the pion.

[3]
b.i.

The diagram shows the paths of the incident protons together with the proton and neutron created in the interaction. On the diagram, draw the path of the pion.

[1]
b.ii.

Markscheme

γ «= \(\frac{{3350}}{{938}}\)» = 3.37

[1 mark]

a.

energy of pion = (3350 × 2) – 6200 = 500 «MeV»

5002 = p2c2 + 1402

p = 480 «MeV c–1»

 

[3 marks]

b.i.

path of pion constructed in direction around 4–5 o’clock by eye

 

M18/4/PHYSI/HP3/ENG/TZ2/06.b.ii/M

[1 mark]

b.ii.

Examiners report

[N/A]
a.
[N/A]
b.i.
[N/A]
b.ii.

Syllabus sections

Option A: Relativity » Option A: Relativity (Additional higher level option topics) » A.4 – Relativistic mechanics (HL only)
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