Unit 5: Nuclear and Quantum Physics
Topic 5.1: Structure of the Atom Questions
Practice 20 exam-style questions for IB Physics SL Topic 5.1. Review the question stems below, then unlock the full Question Bank to access markschemes, model answers, and AI grading.
1Identify2 marks
Two nuclei are described as being isotopes of the same element.
Identify the quantity that must be the same for both nuclei, and the quantity that differs between them.
Identify the quantity that must be the same for both nuclei, and the quantity that differs between them.
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2025
A student measures the charges on oil drops. Which set of results supports the idea that charge is quantised? (e = 1.60 × 10−19 C)
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2025
A detector counts alpha particles scattered by a thin gold foil at different angles from the original beam.
Describe how the count changes from small angles to angles greater than 90°.
Describe how the count changes from small angles to angles greater than 90°.
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A neutral atom of an element has nucleon number 39 and proton number 19.
State the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in this atom.
State the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in this atom.
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2025
Four energy levels of an atom are at −13.6 eV, −3.4 eV, −1.5 eV and −0.85 eV.
Which transition emits the photon with the longest wavelength?
Which transition emits the photon with the longest wavelength?
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2025
What did Millikan's oil-drop experiment show?
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2025
Nucleus P has 64 times the nucleon number of nucleus Q.
What are the ratios (P ÷ Q) of their radii and densities?
What are the ratios (P ÷ Q) of their radii and densities?
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2025
The scattering experiment is repeated with a thin aluminium foil and a detector that can be moved around the foil.
Describe two observations that show the atom has a small nucleus.
Describe two observations that show the atom has a small nucleus.
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2025
What can astronomers learn from the dark lines in a star's spectrum?
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2025
An electron is excited to the third energy level (n = 3) of an atom.
How many different photon energies can be emitted as it returns to the ground state, by any route?
How many different photon energies can be emitted as it returns to the ground state, by any route?
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2025
An infrared LED emits light of wavelength 940 nm.
Calculate the energy of one photon.
Calculate the energy of one photon.
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An electron is accelerated from rest through a potential difference of 250 V.
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An alpha particle (charge +2e) is accelerated from rest through a potential difference of 1.5 × 103 V between two parallel plates.
State, in electronvolts, the kinetic energy it gains.
State, in electronvolts, the kinetic energy it gains.
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2025
How does the volume of a nucleus vary with its nucleon number A?
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2025
A lead-208 nucleus and a carbon-12 nucleus are compared.
Calculate how many times wider the lead nucleus is.
Calculate how many times wider the lead nucleus is.
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2025
Which atom, after losing two electrons, has exactly one electron left, so that the Bohr model applies?
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2026
In the scattering experiment most alpha particles passed through the gold foil with almost no deflection.
What does this show?
What does this show?
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2025
Which statement about atoms is supported by their line spectra?
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2025
A UV lamp emits light of wavelength 254 nm.
Calculate the energy of one photon, in eV.
Calculate the energy of one photon, in eV.
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2025
A sample of atoms has electrons raised to level n = 5.
Counting every possible route back down to n = 1, how many spectral lines can appear?
Counting every possible route back down to n = 1, how many spectral lines can appear?
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