IB Physics SL Theme B: The particulate nature of matter questions

Exam-style multiple choice and written questions with full markschemes. Check multiple choice answers straight away, or type, photograph or draw a written answer and get it marked.

Type
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Question 1

Paper 2Medium11 marks

An observer on Earth measures the apparent brightness of stars A and B shown in Figure 1. Assume that both stars emit uniformly in all directions and that absorption between each star and Earth is negligible.

Earth (observer)dA=2.0×1017 mdB=4.0×1017 mAbA=3.0×10−8 W m−2BbB=1.0×10−8 W m−2
(a)

State which star has the greater apparent brightness.

[1]
(b)

Determine the ratio LB/LAL_B/L_A

[3]
(c)

Calculate the luminosity of star A.

[2]
(d)

A third star, C, has twice the luminosity of star A and an apparent brightness of 1.2×10−8 W m−21.2\times10^{-8}\,\mathrm{W\,m^{-2}} Determine its distance from Earth.

[3]
(e)

Explain why the apparent brightness of a star decreases as its distance from Earth increases, if its luminosity is unchanged.

[2]

Question 2

Paper 2Medium8 marks

An ideal gas is in a vessel of uniform pressure. Figure 1 shows the gas and a surface SS of the vessel. The force shown is the resultant force exerted by the gas on SS

Use NA=6.02×1023 mol−1N_A=6.02\times10^{23}\ \mathrm{mol^{-1}} and R=8.31 J mol−1 K−1R=8.31\ \mathrm{J\,mol^{-1}\,K^{-1}} Give answers to three significant figures, except in (d), where give the temperature to the nearest degree Celsius.

surface S, A = 2.40 × 10−3 m2force exerted by gas, F = 240 NN = 2.50 × 1023 moleculesV = 1.00 × 10−2 m3
(a)

Determine the pressure of the gas.

[2]
(b)

Determine the amount of substance of the gas.

[2]
(c)

Using your answers to (a) and (b), determine the temperature of the gas in kelvin.

[3]
(d)

Express the temperature from (c) in degrees Celsius.

[1]

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