IB Physics HL A.3.1 Conservation of Energy Question Bank

Practise analysing HL conservation-of-energy questions involving energy-transfer chains, radiation and thermal losses, wind-turbine power limits and quantitative changes.

Exam points

Analyse energy conservation when energy is redistributed into radiation, thermal stores or diffraction maxima.
Calculate transferred energy from gravitational and kinetic changes, reporting appropriate significant figures.
Evaluate why wind turbines have a maximum power output by considering non-zero exit speed and energy transfer.

[Maximum number: 1]

Two sources of light produce an interference pattern on a screen.

Light of wavelength 720 nm is incident on two narrow slits that are separated by 0.12 mm . An interference pattern is observed on a screen. $\mathrm{P}_{1}$ and $\mathrm{P}_{2}$ are the points of destructive interference closest to the central maximum M .

Figure for Question A.3.1—Conservation of energy question 1 — IB Physics HL

Suggest how energy conservation is consistent with the fact that the energy at $\mathrm{P}_{1}$ and $\mathrm{P}_{2}$ is zero.

A beam of light containing all wavelengths in the range $[550 \mathrm{~nm}, 650 \mathrm{~nm}]$ is incident normally on a diffraction grating. The grating has 580 lines per mm . A diffraction pattern is observed on a screen as shown.

The energy missing at $\mathrm{P}_{1}$ and $\mathrm{P}_{2}$ is found at the maxima

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A.3.1—Conservation of energy question 1