Physics 11 - Relativity and Nuclear Physics · PDF filePhysics 11 - Relativity and Nuclear Physics Review ... Chapter 7: Relativity 1 ... Michelson and Morley revolutionized physics

Physics 11 - Relativity and Nuclear Physics Review

This worksheet is an assignment to be completed on separate paper. Please be sure to round numerical

answers to 2 or 3 significant figures and include appropriate units.

Chapter 7: Relativity

1. Michelson and Morley revolutionized physics in 1887 when they discovered that ether does not exist.

What two assumptions can we draw based on this finding?

There is no preferred reference frame for light

The speed of light is constant (3x108 m/s) in every reference frame

2. A dragster, traveling at 2.0 x 108 m/s, completes a 400m (quarter-mile) run in 2.0 x 10

-6 s according to

observers in the stands

a) How long did the run take according to the driver?

b) How long is the track according the driver?

c) If the rest mass of the dragster is 1500 kg, what is the mass according to people in the stands?

a) 1.49x10-6

s b) 298 m c) 2.01x103 kg

3. A school bus and a segway move past each other at a relative velocity of 2.76 x 108 m/s. The person on

the segway measures the bus at 3.92 m long.

a) How long is the bus according to students on the bus?

b) How long did it take for the segway to pass according to students on the bus?

c) How long did it take to pass the bus according to the driver of the segway?

d) Who is correct?

a) 10m b) 3.62x10-8

s c) 1.42x10-8

s d) yes

4. A student running at 2.4 x 108 m/s throws a frisbee at 1.5 x 10

8 m/s. What is the velocity of the

frisbee relative to the ground?

2.79x108 m/s

5. At what velocity will an 8 kg cat be 14 kg? State your answer in βc and m/s.

0.82c, 2.46x108 m/s

6. How much energy could be produced from a 17 gram empty pop can if it was possible to

completely convert the mass into energy?

1.53x1015

J

7. What is the kinetic energy of a proton, mass 1.67 x 10-27

kg, travelling at 2.7 x 108 m/s?

1.503x10-10

J ���� 3.831x10-27

kg ���� 3.448x10-10

J ���� 1.95x10-10

J

Chapter 8: Nuclear Physics

1. In your own words, give brief definitions for,

a) Nucleons

b) Binding Energy

c) Transmutation

d) Half-Life

e) Fission

f) Fusion

2. Many elements are similar to Uranium in that they have many different isotopes. Each isotope of

Uranium has a slightly different mass. In terms of protons, electrons, and neutrons, what do the

different isotopes of Uranium all have in common, and what do they not have in common?

3. In a nuclear reactor, what are the functions of?

a) Moderators

b) Control Rods

4. List 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages of nuclear power.

5. Explain the ways radioactive isotopes with short half-lives can be both more and less dangerous

that isotopes with long half-lives.

6. Determine the missing numbers or symbols

a) Xe136 b) 40

19 ? c) 1

0 ? d) 0

1 ?−

7. Determine the binding energy of 65

29Cu in joules.

8. Determine the half life of a radioactive material that drops from a mass of 1200 grams to only 400

grams in 42 hours.

9. For both of these elements, Ra226

88 , Co60

27 , with the help of your data table,

a) Determine their number of protons, electrons, and neutrons

b) Determine what type of radioactive decay they follow

c) Write a balanced decay equation (do not worry about any γ rays)

d) Determine the “mass defect”

e) Determine the energy given off from each reaction

f) What is the elements half-life?

10. Why do CANDU reactors use heavy water instead of normal water?

11. Balance the following reactions and indicate if they are:

Alpha Decay, Beta Decay, Fission, or Fusion

a) +→ PbPo210

82

214

84

b) BeHe7

4

4

2 →+

c) nBaUn1

0

143

56

235

92

1

0 3++→+

d) +→−

0

1

131

53 I