DP Physics (last assessment 2024)

Question 21N.2.HL.TZ0.c.i

Date	November 2021	Marks available	[Maximum mark: 3]	Reference code	21N.2.HL.TZ0.c.i
Level	HL	Paper	2	Time zone	TZ0
Command term	Estimate	Question number	c.i	Adapted from	N/A

c.i.

[Maximum mark: 3]

21N.2.HL.TZ0.c.i

The energy in b(i) can be transferred into electrical energy to run the instruments of a spacecraft. A spacecraft carries 33 kg of pure plutonium-238 at launch. The decay constant of plutonium is 2.50 × 10⁻¹⁰ s⁻¹.

Estimate the power, in kW, that is available from the plutonium at launch.

[3]

Markscheme

number of nuclei present $= \frac{33 \times 10^{3}}{238} \times 6.02 \times 10^{23} « = 8.347 \times 10^{25} »$ ✓