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DP IB Physics: HL

Topic Questions

Home / IB / Physics: HL / DP / Topic Questions / 7. Atomic, Nuclear & Particle Physics / 7.2 Nuclear Reactions / Structured Questions


7.2 Nuclear Reactions

Question 1a

Marks: 2

A nuclear fission reaction occurs that has the following equation:

                               n presubscript 0 presuperscript 1 plus U presubscript 92 presuperscript 235 rightwards arrow S presubscript 38 presuperscript 90 r plus X presubscript 54 presuperscript 143 e plus 3 n presubscript 0 presuperscript 1 

(a)
Given the following information, estimate the amount of energy released during the fission reaction:
                             
  • Binding energy per nucleon of Uranium 235: 7.59 MeV/nucleon
  • Binding energy per nucleon of Strontium 90: 8.70 MeV/nucleon
  • Binding energy per nucleon of Xenon-143: 8.20 MeV/nucleon
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    Question 1b

    Marks: 4

    The binding energy per nucleon curve is shown:                      q1b_7-2_medium_ibphysics

    (b)
    With reference to the binding energy per nucleon curve:
     
    (i)
    Explain why fission is possible
    [2]
    (ii)
    Identify the source of energy released during this process

    [2]

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      Question 1c

      Marks: 5
      (c)
      A Uranium-235 nucleus undergoes fission into two approximately equally sized products.   
            
      Use the data from the figure in part (b) to show that the energy released as a result of the fission is approximately 4 × 10−11 J. 

               Show on the graph how you have used the data.

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        Question 1d

        Marks: 4
        (d)
        Under the right conditions, two hydrogen-2, 2H, nuclei can fuse to make a helium-4, 4He, nucleus.
            
        Nuclei Mass/ u
        H presuperscript 2 2.0135
        H presuperscript 4 e 4.0026

        Using the data in the above table, calculate the energy available as a result of the fusion of two hydrogen-2 nuclei.
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          Question 2a

          Marks: 2
          (a)
          This question is about nuclear physics.
           
          (i)
          Define mass defect 

          (ii)
          Define binding energy
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            Question 2b

            Marks: 2

            (b)        If deuterium is combined using fusion, then the following reaction will occur: 

                                                           H presubscript 1 presuperscript 2 plus H presubscript 1 presuperscript 2 rightwards arrow H presubscript 1 presuperscript 3 plus H presubscript 1 presuperscript 1

                        The following data is given for this interaction: 

            •    Binding energy per nucleon of deuterium H presubscript 1 presuperscript 2 : 1.12 MeV/nucleon
            •    Binding energy per nucleon of tritium H presubscript 1 presuperscript 3 : 2.82 MeV/nucleon

                       Estimate the energy released from this fusion reaction.

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              Question 2c

              Marks: 2
              (c)
              In order for the fusion reaction in part (b) to actually take place, very high temperatures are needed such as those found within the core of a star. Suggest why this the case.
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                Question 2d

                Marks: 3

                Fission and fusion reactions release different amounts of energy. 

                (d)
                Discuss other reasons why it would be preferable to use fusion rather than fission for the production of electricity, assuming that the technical problems associated with fusion can be overcome. 
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                  Question 3a

                  Marks: 3

                  The image below shows how the binding energy per nucleon varies with nucleon number. 

                  q3a-7-2-sq-medium-ib-physics

                  Fission and fusion are two nuclear processes in which energy can be released. 

                  a)

                   

                  (i)
                  On the image, mark the element with the highest binding energy per nucleon. 

                  [1]

                   

                  (ii)
                  Explain why nuclei that undergo fission are restricted to a different part of the graph than those that undergo fusion.
                  [2]
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                    Question 3b

                    Marks: 3
                    (b)
                    Explain with reference to the figure in part (a), why the energy released per nucleon from fusion is greater than that from fission.
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                      Question 3c

                      Marks: 2
                      (c)
                      Explain how the binding energy of an oxygen O presubscript 8 presuperscript 16 nucleus can be calculated with information obtained in the figure from part (a).
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                        Question 3d

                        Marks: 3

                        The mass of an O presubscript 8 presuperscript 16 nucleus is 15.991 u. 

                        (d)
                        Calculate: 

                        (i)
                        The mass difference, in kg, of the O presubscript 8 presuperscript 16 nucleus.

                         [2] 

                        (ii)
                        The binding energy, in MeV, of an oxygen O presubscript 8 presuperscript 16nucleus.

                        [1]

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                          Question 4a

                          Marks: 3
                          (a)
                          Bismuth-214 (B presubscript 83 presuperscript 214 i) decays into Polonium-214 (P presubscript 84 presuperscript 214 o) by beta minus decay.
                           
                          The binding energy per nucleon of Bismuth-214 is 7.774 MeV and the binding energy per nucleon of Polonium-214 is 7.785 MeV. 

                                   Beta-minus decay is described by the following equation:

                                                                          B presubscript 83 presuperscript 214 i rightwards arrow P presubscript 84 presuperscript 214 o plus beta to the power of minus plus stack v subscript e with bar on top

                          Show that the energy released in the beta to the power of minus decay of bismuth is about 2.35 MeV and state where the energy comes from.
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                            Question 4b

                            Marks: 5
                            (b)
                            If an additional neutron is accelerated into the Polonium-214 (P presubscript 84 presuperscript 214 o) to produce the isotope Polonium-215 (P presubscript 84 presuperscript 215 o), use the following information to deduce the binding energy per nucleon of this new isotope.
                             

                                     Mass of  P presubscript 84 presuperscript 215 o nucleus = 3.571140 × 10−25 kg

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                              Question 4c

                              Marks: 3

                              Polonium-215 (P presubscript 84 presuperscript 215 o) is radioactive and decays by the producing alpha radiation, which is known to be a particularly stable. 

                              (c)
                              Determine the binding energy of alpha radiation. 

                              The following information is available:
                              • Mass of a Helium-4 nucleus: 4.001265 u
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                                Question 4d

                                Marks: 2
                                (d)
                                A student claims that the amount of matter within a marble directly converted into energy would be enough to provide 1 year of current human energy consumption globally which is estimated to be 5.80 × 1018 J.
                                 
                                If the matter within marble is approximately 6.02 × 1023 u, determine if this statement is true, using the mass-energy equivalence.
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                                  Key Concepts
                                  Atomic Mass Unit

                                  Question 5a

                                  Marks: 2
                                  (a)
                                  Explain why the mass of an alpha-particle (α) is less than the total mass of two individual protons and two individual neutrons.
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                                    Question 5b

                                    Marks: 2
                                    (b)
                                    Show that the energy equivalence of 1.0 u is 931.5 MeV.
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                                      Question 5c

                                      Marks: 2
                                      (c)
                                      Data for the masses of some nuclei are given below 

                                      Nuclei

                                      Mass / u

                                      Deuterium (H presubscript 1 presuperscript 2)

                                      2.0141

                                      Zirconium (Z presubscript 40 presuperscript 97 r)

                                      97.0980

                                       

                                      Use the data to determine the binding energy of deuterium in MeV.

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                                        Question 5d

                                        Marks: 3
                                        (d)
                                        Using the data given in part (c), determine the binding energy per nucleon of zirconium in MeV.
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