Modern Physics Flashcards

1
Q

Thermionic emission

A
  • the emission of electrons from the surface of a hot metal
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

uses of thermionic emission

A
  • xray tube
  • cathode ray tube (in old tv as screen glows)
  • increase in temperature = faster electrons
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Cathode ray

A
  • in a vacuum (avoids collisions of e- with gas particles)
  • low voltage passed through a metal filament
  • causes thermionic emission of cathode plate
  • high voltage anode accelerator with a hole (2kv potential difference between cathode and anode)
  • pass through due to high velocity (e- gun)
  • pass through 2 sets of parallel plates (y/x)
  • allows electrons to be focused on a point
  • electrons transfer kinetic energy into a bright flash on phosphorescent screen
  • fast enough to look like a single image to human eye

use = oscilloscopes, electro cardiograms, xrays

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

x-ray

A
  • cathode ray tube
  • higher potential difference between cathode and anode means faster electrons (more frequency) (50-90 kv)
  • anode is tungsten (high melting point)
  • e- hit tungsten and kinetic energy is converted - produce 1% x ray 99% heat
  • causes e- in tungsten to get excited emitting an x ray
  • higher energy electrons = more penetrating
  • oil coolant backs tungsten; prevents over heating
  • mica window - allows xrays out
  • lead wall for protection
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

who found xray

A
  • Rontgen
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

properties of xrays

A
  • high frequency E.M radiation
  • penetrates certain materials - bone absorbs
  • can ionise certain materials; knock off electrons; semi conductors
  • photographic film
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

photoelectric effect

A

the emission of electrons from the surface of a metal when E.M radiation of a suitable frequency is incident on it

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Photon energy

A

E=hf

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Work function

A
ϕ = h fo
fo = thresh hold frequency

the minimum energy required to cause the photoelectric effect (release an electron from the surface of a metal)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Einstein’s photoelectric law

A

the kinetic energy of the fastest moving electron emitted is calculated as the difference in energy between the energy of the incident photon and the work function of the metal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

photoelectric effect demonstration

A
  • positive/negatively charged zinc plate
  • GL electroscope
  • red laser - nothing on either
  • ultraviolet - nothing on = + charged
  • ultraviolet - causes leaf to fall on - charged because there is an excess of electrons which will be emitted > Fo for - charged
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

x-ray definition

A

electromagnetic radiation of a high frequency that is produced when high speed electrons strike a metal target

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

threshold frequency

A

the minimum frequency of light needed to equal the work function

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Einsteins Explanation of the photoelectric effect

A
  • hf = Φ + 1/2 mv²
  • light travels in photons of energy
  • each photon gives all of its energy to one electron
  • if the energy of the photon is greater than or equal to the work function an electron is released
  • any energy exceeding the work function is given to the electron as kinetic energy
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Rutherford’s gold experiment

A
  • alpha particle, gold foil, zinc sulfide screen
  • fired at foil
  • most went straight through - atom mostly empty space
  • some slightly deflected - repelled by nucleus
  • some bounced straight back - hit nucleus straight on

= mostly empty space
small dense positive core
electrons orbit nucleus (not embedded)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

isotopes

A

different atoms of the same element with the same atomic number but different mass numbers (numbers of neutrons)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

defining a substance

A
protons = element 
neutrons = isotope (of same element)
electrons = ionisation (dif e = ionised)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Henry Becquerel

A

discovered radioactivity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Rutherford

A

structure of the atom

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

einstein

A

photoelectric effect

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

hertz

A

uv light has energy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

rontgen

A

x-ray

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

stooney

A

names electron

24
Q

radioactivity

A

the spontaneous decay of unstable nuclei with the emission of one or more types of radiation

25
Q

alpha particle

A

penetrating power = lowest (paper)
ionising ability = highest (larger)
charge = +2

26
Q

beta particle

A
penetrating = middle (aluminium foil/plastic)
ionising = medium 
charge = - 1
27
Q

gamma ray

A
penetrating = greatest 
ionising = least 
charge = 0 (no deflection in EM field)
28
Q

radioisotope

A

any isotope that decays and emits radiation

29
Q

Uses of radiation

A

1) food irradiation - kills bacteria
2) medicine - γ - sterilises instruments
- β - tracers (α would stay)
- γ - cancer
3) non - destructive stress testing - thickness
4) Carbon dating - ratio different after death
- C14 - C12
- compare to atmospheric
5) smoke detectors - two electrodes
- air ionised by α
- smoke too dense

30
Q

ionisation

A

radiation collides on an atomic level with the nucleus of cells and can knock an electron out of their shells

  • can cause rapid uncontrollable growth of cells (cancer)
  • can kill a cell
  • can cause genetic abnormalities
31
Q

cloud chamber

A
  • based on penetrating ability
  • low pressure gas
  • mica window
  • contrails
  • α - common, short
  • β - less common, longer
  • γ - rare - long
32
Q

Gieger Muller tube

A
  • based on ionising ability
  • doesn’t identify type
  • only count rate
  • low pressure, saturated gas
  • mica window (low density)
  • counter

1) - radiation ionises 1 molecule
- creates ion pair
2) - e attracted to cathode shell
- cation attracted to anode
3) causes avalanche effect
- further ionisation
- increases count rate
4) - causes current to flow
- converted to counts

33
Q

Activity/Rate of decay

A

number of nuclei of a radioactive source that decay every second

34
Q

Law of radioactive decay

A

the activity of a radioactive substance is always ∝ the number of nuclei that remain undecayed

35
Q

half-life

A

the time taken in seconds for half of the nuclei of a radioactive source to decay

36
Q

Nuclear energy

A

energy that originates from the nucleus of atoms

37
Q

radiation

A

the spontaneous release of α, β, γ particles from an unstable nucleus

38
Q

nuclear fission

A

the splitting of a large nucleus into two approximately similar smaller nuclei with the release of neutrons and energy

39
Q

nuclear fusion

A

the joining of two smaller nuclei into one larger single nucleus with the release of energy

40
Q

Uranium

A

largest nucleus that can be held together with strong nuclear force naturally

41
Q

critical mass

A

the minimum mass of fissile material required in order to sustain a chain reaction

42
Q

chain reaction

A

a self-sustaining fission reaction where at least one neutron is emitted in order to carry on the reaction

43
Q

Nuclear Fission of Uranium

A

1) uranium enriched with U235
(0.7 % = natural)
(3 % = plant)
(9% = bomb)
(U238 would absorb neutrons produced so no chain reaction)

2) critical mass brought together
3) neutron strikes U235
4) briefly turns into U236 - unstable
5) U236 undergoes fission - Kr
- Ba
- 3 neutrons
6) neutrons carry Ek liberated (e = mc²)

7) as at least 1 neutron released a chain reaction occurs (further fission)
(slow = plant)
(fast + uncontrollable = bomb)

8) reaction carries on until it is slowed or stopped by human intervention

44
Q

fate of the products of nuclear fission

A

Barium - used for tracing in hospitals
- detected by xrays
Krypton - energy saving fluorescent lights

reprocessed (enriched again) - Sellafield

45
Q

Critical Mass Properties

A
  • varies for each radioisotope
  • depends on - temp, shape, density, purity
  • too little = no chain reaction
  • too much = uncontrollable = can lead to a melt down
46
Q

Speed of neutrons

A
  • slow neutrons needed to cause fission
  • too slow - won’t enter nucleus
  • too fast - radiative capture
    - absorbed by nucleus
    - increases mass
47
Q

Nuclear reactor

A
  • generator
  • steam created by nuclear energy turns a turbine in a magnetic field to produce a.c electricity
  • Fuel rods - enriched uranium fissile material
  • control rods - absorbs neutrons being
    emitted from fuel rods
    - lowered/raised proportionally
  • moderator - slows down fast neutrons
    - allows for sustainable fission
    - prevents radiative capture
  • coolant - liquid/gas
    - absorbs heat and carries it to the
    heat exchanger
  • concrete shield - protects from leaks
48
Q

Advantages of Nuclear Fission

A
  • produces massive amounts of energy economically
  • does nos emit greenhouse gasses
  • low accident rate
  • will be no shortage of nuclear fuel
  • products can be reused
49
Q

disadvantages

A
  • radioactive waste - long half life
    - expensive to store
  • reprocessing expensive
  • major accident = large scale health hazard
50
Q

factors affecting Nuclear fusion

A
  • two nuclei forced together
  • need enough energy to overcome repulsive coulomb force
  • extreme temp + pressure
  • high velocity - particle accelerator
51
Q

isotopes of helium

A

deuterium/triterium

52
Q

advantages of fusion

A
  • no greenhouse gases
  • no radioactive waste
  • large amounts of energy produced
  • fuel required is cheap + plentiful (heavy water = deuterium)
53
Q

disadvantages of fusion

A

unable to create a sustainable fusion reaction due to the energy required to overcome the repulsive coulomb force

54
Q

difference between nuclear and chemical reactions

A
  • in the nucleus
  • spontaneous
  • new elements created
  • doesn’t involve electrons
  • no forming/breaking of chemical bonds
55
Q

solid state detector

A
  • PN junction
  • radiation hits depletion layer
  • electron - hole pairs produced
  • current flows
56
Q

neutrons and chain reaction

A

at least 1 neutron must be released to cause further fission for a chain reaction to occur

  • > 1 = uncontrollable + unsafe
  • < 1 = no chain reaction occurs