ATOMIC AND NUCLEAR PHYSICS
Go to: AP FREE RESPONSE PROBLEMS
ATOMIC PHYSICS AND QUANTUM EFFECTS
For problems related to the photoelectric effect:
1. Complete a table with the information given.
2. Find the work function of the metal.
3. Find the maximum kinetic energy.
For problems related to the de Broglie wavelength of a particle:
1. Complete a table with the information given.
2. Solve for the de Broglie wavelength.
For problems related to emission spectra:
1. Complete a table with the information given.
2. Solve for the wavelength of the light emitted when a electron transition occurs between two energy levels.
3. Determine the frequency of the photon.
4. Determine the energy of the photon.
NUCLEAR PHYSICS
For problems related to the binding energy of the nucleus:
1. Complete a table with the information given using a table of nuclear masses to determine the total mass of the constituent particles that make up the nucleus.
2. Determine the difference between the mass of the nucleus and the mass of the constituent particles.
3. Use Einstein's energy-mass equation to determine the binding energy.
(Remember the conversion factor: 931 MeV/u)
For questions related to a particular type of nuclear decay when the parent nucleus is known:
1. Identify whether the decay is alpha, beta, or gamma.
2. Write down the general equation for the particular type of decay.
3. Use the conservation laws to determine the atomic number and mass number of the daughter nucleus.
4. Use a periodic table to identify the daughter element.
For problems related to the calculation of the disintegration energy of an alpha decay:
1. Use a table of nuclear masses to determine the mass of the parent nucleus, daughter nucleus, and alpha particle in atomic mass units.
2. Determine the difference between the mass of the parent nucleus and the mass of the daughter nucleus + alpha particle. Express this difference in atomic mass units.
3. Determine the disintegration energy by multiplying the mass difference expressed in atomic mass units by 931.5 MeV/u.
ATOMIC AND NUCLEAR PHYSICS FREE RESPONSE AP PROBLEMS
The list of problems is given as follows:
Year of examination
Problem number
Topics covered in problem
1983, 6, photoelectric effect
1984, 6, radioactive decay, half life
1985, 6, atomic energy levels
1987, 6, photoelectric effect
1989, 6, kinetic energy, conservation of momentum, mass-energy equation, rest mass
1990, 5, conservation of energy, frequency, wavelength, de Broglie equation
1991, 5, radioactive decay, mass defect, de Broglie wavelength
1992, 4, atomic energy levels
1994, 3, photoelectric effect,
1995, 4, atomic energy levels, energy, frequency, kinetic energy, de Broglie wavelength
1996, 5, alpha decay, kinetic energy, mass-energy conversion, beta decay
1997, 6, part a) description of one experiment: Rutherford scattering, photoelectric effect or Michelson-Morley experiments, part b) atomic energy levels
2000, 5, photoelectric effect
2001, 7, nuclear reaction, mass defect, binding energy and energy-mass conversion
