DP Physics Questionbank

Description

Nature of science:

Creative and critical thinking: Einstein’s great achievement, the general theory of relativity, is based on intuition, creative thinking and imagination, namely to connect the geometry of spacetime (through its curvature) to the mass and energy content of spacetime. For years it was thought that nothing could escape a black hole and this is true but only for classical black holes. When quantum theory is taken into account a black hole radiates like a black body. This unexpected result revealed other equally unexpected connections between black holes and thermodynamics. (1.4)

Understandings:

• The equivalence principle
• The bending of light
• Gravitational redshift and the Pound–Rebka–Snider experiment
• Schwarzschild black holes
• Event horizons
• Time dilation near a black hole
• Applications of general relativity to the universe as a whole

Applications and skills:

• Using the equivalence principle to deduce and explain light bending near massive objects
• Using the equivalence principle to deduce and explain gravitational time dilation
• Calculating gravitational frequency shifts
• Describing an experiment in which gravitational redshift is observed and measured
• Calculating the Schwarzschild radius of a black hole
• Applying the formula for gravitational time dilation near the event horizon of a black hole

Guidance:

• Students should recognize the equivalence principle in terms of accelerating reference frames and freely falling frames

Data booklet reference:

Theory of knowledge:

• Although Einstein self-described the cosmological constant as his “greatest blunder”, the 2011 Nobel Prize was won by scientists who had proved it to be valid through their studies on dark energy. What other examples are there of initially doubted claims being proven correct later in history?

Utilization:

• For the global positioning system to be so accurate, general relativity must be taken into account in calculating the details of the satellite’s orbit
• The development of the general theory of relativity has been used to explain the very large-scale behaviour of the universe as a whole with far-reaching implications about the future development and fate of the universe

Aims:

• Aim 2: the general theory of relativity is a great synthesis of ideas that are required to describe the large-scale structure of the universe
• Aim 9: it must be appreciated that the magnificent Newtonian structure had serious limitations when it came to the description of very detailed aspects of planetary motion

Directly related questions

• 18M.3.HL.TZ2.7b: Star S-2 is in an elliptical orbit around a black hole. The distance of S-2 from the centre of...
• 18M.3.HL.TZ2.7a.ii: Calculate the distance of the event horizon of the black hole from its centre.                  ...
• 18M.3.HL.TZ2.7a.i: Outline what is meant by the event horizon of a black hole.
• 18M.3.HL.TZ1.7c: Observer A now sends a beam of light initially parallel to the surface of the planet. Explain...
• 18M.3.HL.TZ1.7b: Calculate the gravitational field strength on the surface of planet X.                          ...
• 18M.3.HL.TZ1.7a: Calculate the shift in frequency observed by A in terms of Δf.
• 17N.3.HL.TZ0.8b: Calculate the number of ticks detected in 10 ks by the distant observer.
• 17N.3.HL.TZ0.8a: Outline why the clock near the black hole runs slowly compared to a clock close to the distant...
• 17M.3.HL.TZ2.7b: The diagram shows a box that is falling freely in the gravitational field of a planet. A...
• 17M.3.HL.TZ2.7a.iii: Suggest why the surface area of the event horizon can never decrease.
• 17M.3.HL.TZ2.7a.ii: Show that the surface area A of the sphere corresponding to the event horizon is given...
• 17M.3.HL.TZ2.7a.i: State what is meant by the event horizon of a black hole.
• 17M.3.HL.TZ1.6b: Explain whether the detected frequency would be greater or less than the emitted frequency.
• 17M.3.HL.TZ1.6a: Calculate the expected shift in frequency between the emitted and the detected gamma rays.
• 16N.3.HL.TZ0.9b: Suggest, whether your answer to (a) underestimates or overestimates the correction required to...
• 16N.3.HL.TZ0.9a: The gravitational field strength at 20 Mm above the surface of the Earth is about 0.6 N kg–1....
• 16M.3.HL.TZ0.7b: An observer views a distant spacecraft that is 23.0 km from the centre of a black hole. The...
• 15M.3.HL.TZ1.16a: Calculate the Schwarzschild radius for an astronomical object of mass 5.0 ×1030 kg.
• 15M.3.HL.TZ1.16b: A spaceship is travelling towards the object in (a). The spaceship moves in a straight line such...
• 15M.3.HL.TZ1.16c: An observer, when viewing a distant galaxy, sees two images of the galaxy separated by a small...
• 15M.3.HL.TZ2.17a: Newton’s universal law of gravitation.
• 15M.3.HL.TZ2.17b: Einstein’s theory of general relativity.
• 15M.3.HL.TZ2.18a: A ray of light is moving at right angles to the direction of the rocket according to the same...
• 15N.3.HL.TZ0.15a.ii: Discuss the shift in frequency of the laser beam.
• 15N.3.HL.TZ0.15b: The spacecraft leaves the planet with an acceleration of \({\text{5.7 m}}\,{{\text{s}}^{ - 2}}\)....
• 15N.3.HL.TZ0.15a.i: Show that the gravitational field strength at the surface of the planet is about...
• 14M.3.HL.TZ1.18a: State the principle of equivalence.
• 14M.3.HL.TZ1.19: This question is about evidence that supports general relativity. The astronomical photograph...
• 14M.3.HL.TZ1.18b: An observer in a spaceship moving at constant speed measures the frequency f0 of light emitted by...
• 14N.3.HL.TZ0.20a: Explain why the light reaching the space station will be red-shifted.
• 14N.3.HL.TZ0.20b: The time between the pulses as measured by the observer on the distant space station is found to...
• 14M.3.HL.TZ2.17b: (i)     \({f_{\text{C}}}\) (ii)     \({f_{\text{P}}}\)
• 14M.3.HL.TZ2.17c: Newton explained the motion of a planet around the Sun in terms of a force of gravitation between...
• 13M.3.HL.TZ1.16a: Deduce the change in the frequency of the gamma rays, as measured by the observer, when the...
• 13M.3.HL.TZ1.16b: Outline, with reference to the principle of equivalence, how the situation in (a) relates to the...
• 13M.3.HL.TZ1.17a: Explain, with reference to the warping of spacetime, the gravitational attraction between Earth...
• 13M.3.HL.TZ1.19a: Sirius B has a mass of 2.0×1030 kg. Calculate the minimum density required for Sirius B to...
• 13M.3.HL.TZ2.19a: State the equivalence principle.
• 13M.3.HL.TZ2.19b: A helium filled balloon is floating in air inside a spacecraft in outer space. The...
• 13M.3.HL.TZ2.19c: In an experiment, to verify the bending of light as it passes close to the Sun, the position of a...
• 12M.3.HL.TZ1.13a: State the principle of equivalence.
• 12M.3.HL.TZ1.13c: General relativity predicts the existence of black holes. (i) State what is meant by a black...
• 12M.3.HL.TZ1.13b: The gravitational field strength near the surface of a neutron star is 1.2 ×1013Nkg–1. A light...
• 11M.3.HL.TZ2.17c: Explain how spacetime is used to describe the gravitational attraction between Earth and a...
• 11N.3.HL.TZ0.14a: Outline why, if the spaceship now accelerates, Kim will measure the light from L1 to be...
• 11N.3.HL.TZ0.14b: Suggest, with reference to Einstein’s principle of equivalence, how your answer to (a) leads to...
• 12N.3.HL.TZ0.17b: A gamma-ray photon is emitted from the base of a tower towards the top of the tower. (i)...
• 12N.3.HL.TZ0.18a: Define the Schwarzschild radius of a black hole.
• 12M.3.HL.TZ2.17a: State the equivalence principle.
• 12N.3.HL.TZ0.18b: Explain, using the concept of spacetime, why the path of the light ray is straight at distances...
• 12N.3.HL.TZ0.17a: State the principle of equivalence.
• 12M.3.HL.TZ2.17b: The diagram shows two identical boxes in two different states of motion. In diagram 1 the box...
• 12M.3.HL.TZ2.17c: Radio signals, sent at the same time from Earth, reflect off two satellites X and Y as shown. The...
• 13N.3.HL.TZ0.14b: Outline how the concept of spacetime accounts for the (i) orbiting of Earth about the Sun. (ii)...
• 11M.3.HL.TZ1.19a: (i) State how the frequency as measured by observer B compares with the frequency as measured by...
• 11M.3.HL.TZ1.19b: The lasers are now placed on a spaceship, which is accelerating upwards at a constant rate of...
• 10N.3.HL.TZ0.H3b: Outline how the concept of spacetime can be used to explain the (i)     trajectory of the ball...
• 10N.3.HL.TZ0.H3c: Calculate the radius that Earth would have to have in order for it to behave as a black hole. The...
• 10N.3.HL.TZ0.H3a: State and explain whether, from the path followed by the ball, Bob can deduce that the spaceship...