Loading [MathJax]/jax/output/CommonHTML/fonts/TeX/fontdata.js

User interface language: English | Español

Date May 2014 Marks available 1 Reference code 14M.1.HL.TZ2.29
Level Higher level Paper Paper 1 Time zone Time zone 2
Command term Question number 29 Adapted from N/A

Question

An electron X is accelerated from rest through a potential difference V. Another electron Y is accelerated from rest through a potential difference 2V. After acceleration, the de Broglie wavelength of X is λX and that of Y is λY. The speeds reached by the electrons are well below that of the speed of light.

What is the ratio λXλY?

A. 2

B. 2

C. 12

D. 12

Markscheme

B

Examiners report

This was a very good discriminator – but involved a lot of guessing for the weaker candidates.

Candidates should be familiar with the de Broglie wavelength increasing as the speed of the particle increases, so C and D can be eliminated immediately. And, in calculating the change in wavelength (which they do not need to do) the equation kinetic energy = potential energy will be used. This involves the square of the velocity, hence B must be true.

Syllabus sections

Additional higher level (AHL) » Topic 12: Quantum and nuclear physics » 12.1 – The interaction of matter with radiation
Show 140 related questions

View options