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IB DP Physics Questions

12.1 Interaction of Matter with Radiation

Question 1

Which phenomenon best demonstrates the particle nature of light?

A. Diffraction

B. Interference

C. Photoelectric effect

D. Polarisation

Question 2

What is the work function of a metal?

A. The maximum kinetic energy of emitted electrons.

B. The energy required to remove an electron from the metal.

C. The energy of the incident photon.

D. The energy difference between the conduction and valence bands.

Question 3

In the Compton scattering experiment, if the incident photon has a longer wavelength than the scattered photon, what can be inferred?

A. The photon has lost energy.

B. The photon has gained energy.

C. The photon's energy remains unchanged.

D. The photon has been annihilated.

Question 4

Which of the following best describes the Compton wavelength shift?

A. The change in wavelength of a photon after interaction with an electron.

B. The difference in wavelengths of incident and reflected photons.

C. The wavelength at which maximum scattering occurs.

D. The wavelength at which photon-electron interaction is minimal.

Question 5

For pair production to occur, the energy of the incident photon must be:

A. Equal to the rest energy of an electron.

B. Less than the rest energy of an electron.

C. Greater than twice the rest energy of an electron.

D. Equal to the kinetic energy of an electron.

Question 6

a) Describe the basic principles of the photoelectric effect and explain the significance of the threshold frequency. [3]

b) Light of frequency 8 x 10^14 Hz is incident on a metal surface with a work function of 3.5 x 10^-19 J. Determine if photoemission will occur. [2]

Question 7

a) Define Compton scattering and explain its significance in understanding the particle nature of light. [3]

b) During a Compton scattering experiment, an X-ray photon of wavelength 0.05 nm is scattered by an electron. Calculate the change in wavelength if the scattering angle is 90 degrees. Use the Compton wavelength shift formula and the electron rest mass energy. [2]

Question 8

a) Explain the phenomenon of pair production and state the energy requirements for it to occur. [3]

b) A gamma-ray photon interacts with the nucleus of an atom and produces an electron-positron pair. If the rest mass energy of an electron is 0.511 MeV, calculate the minimum energy of the gamma-ray photon required for this process. [2]

Question 9

a) Describe the significance of the work function in the context of the photoelectric effect. [2]

b) A metal has a work function of 4.2 eV. Calculate the threshold frequency for this metal. [3]

c) If light of frequency 1.5 x 10^15 Hz is incident on this metal, will photoemission occur? Justify your answer. [2]

Question 10

a) Explain the concept of stopping potential in the photoelectric effect. [2]

b) Light of frequency 8 x 10^14 Hz is incident on a metal surface, causing photoemission. If the stopping potential is measured to be 1.5 V, determine the work function of the metal in eV. [3]

c) How would the stopping potential change if the frequency of the incident light is increased? [2]

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT a conservation law associated with pair production?

A. Conservation of energy

B. Conservation of momentum

C. Conservation of charge

D. Conservation of wavelength

Question 12

In the photoelectric effect, if the frequency of the incident light is increased while keeping the intensity constant, what happens to the stopping potential?

A. It remains the same.

B. It decreases.

C. It increases.

D. It becomes zero.

Question 13

Which of the following best describes the relationship between the kinetic energy (KE) of emitted electrons in the photoelectric effect and the frequency (f) of the incident light?

A. KE is proportional to f

B. KE equals hf

C. KE equals hf minus the work function

D. KE equals the work function minus hf

Question 14

In Compton scattering, if the scattering angle is 90°, what is the change in the wavelength of the photon?

A. Change in wavelength equals lambda

B. Change in wavelength equals h divided by (mass of electron times speed of light)

C. Change in wavelength equals 2 times h divided by (mass of electron times speed of light)

D. Change in wavelength is zero

Question 15

Which of the following processes involves the conversion of energy into matter?

A. Photoelectric effect

B. Compton scattering

C. Pair production

D. Diffraction

Question 16

a) Define Compton wavelength shift and its significance in the study of light-matter interactions. [3]

b) A photon undergoes Compton scattering with an electron and experiences a wavelength shift of 0.002 nm. Calculate the scattering angle. [3]

c) How would the Compton wavelength shift change if the photon scattered off a proton instead of an electron? [2]

Question 17

a) Describe the phenomenon of pair production and the conditions under which it occurs. [3]

b) If an electron-positron pair is produced from a gamma-ray photon, calculate the minimum energy of the gamma-ray photon in MeV. [2]

c) What happens to the electron and positron after their creation? [2]

Question 18

a) Describe the underlying principle of the photoelectric effect and its implications on the nature of light. [3]

b) A certain metal has a work function of 3.5 eV. Calculate the threshold frequency for this metal. [2]

c) If ultraviolet light of frequency 1.2 x 10^15 Hz is incident on this metal, determine the maximum kinetic energy of the emitted photoelectrons in eV. [3]

d) How would the kinetic energy of the emitted photoelectrons change if the intensity of the incident light is doubled? [2]

Question 19

a) Define Compton scattering and explain its significance in the study of light-matter interactions. [3]

b) A photon undergoes Compton scattering with an electron and experiences a wavelength shift of 0.004 nm. Calculate the scattering angle. [3]

c) How does the Compton wavelength shift vary with the scattering angle? [2]

d) What would be the Compton wavelength shift if the photon scattered off a proton instead of an electron? [2]

Question 20

a) Describe the process of pair production and the conditions necessary for it to occur. [3]

b) If a gamma-ray photon undergoes pair production to produce an electron-positron pair, calculate the minimum energy of the gamma-ray photon in MeV. [2]

c) Explain the conservation laws that are obeyed during the process of pair production. [3]

d) What is the fate of the electron and positron produced in pair production? [2]

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