DP Physics (last assessment 2024)

Question 21M.2.SL.TZ1.c.i

Date	May 2021	Marks available	[Maximum mark: 2]	Reference code	21M.2.SL.TZ1.c.i
Level	SL	Paper	2	Time zone	TZ1
Command term	Outline	Question number	c.i	Adapted from	N/A

c.i.

[Maximum mark: 2]

21M.2.SL.TZ1.c.i

Radioactive uranium-238 $({}_{92}^{238}U)$ produces a series of decays ending with a stable nuclide of lead. The nuclides in the series decay by either alpha (α) or beta-minus (β⁻) processes.

The graph shows the variation with the nucleon number A of the binding energy per nucleon.

Outline why high temperatures are required for fusion to occur

[2]

Markscheme

links temperature to kinetic energy/speed of particles ✓

energy required to overcome «Coulomb» electrostatic repulsion ✓

Syllabus sections

Core

Core » Topic 7: Atomic, nuclear and particle physics » 7.2 – Nuclear reactions

Core » Topic 7: Atomic, nuclear and particle physics

Question 21M.2.SL.TZ1.c.i

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