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1 markParticulate Nature of Electromagnetic Radiation

CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2016 · Paper 2 · Question 3(b)(iv)

An experiment measuring the attenuation of an X-ray beam by multiple thin gold discs of thickness 0.4 mm each.

Suggest a reason why the linear absorption coefficient of a metal would decrease with decreasing wavelength of the incident beam.

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Other parts of this question

  1. 3(a)X-rays are weakened by their passage through matter. Write the equation which quantifies this phenomenon, and state the meaning of EACH term in your equation.[4 marks]
  2. 3(b)(i)Complete Table 3 by inserting the relevant values in Columns 3 and 4 (−\ln(I/I_0) or \ln(I/I_0)^{-1} and Total Thickness / mm).[3 marks]
  3. 3(b)(ii)On the grid provided in Figure 6, plot a graph of the natural log of attenuation, \ln(I/I_0) versus total thickness.[4 marks]
  4. 3(b)(iii)Use your graph to determine the linear absorption coefficient of gold in \text{cm}^{-1} at the wavelength of the incident photons.[3 marks]

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