AQA · A level Physics

Firework colours: photons, energy levels and the delayed bang

Can you get 100%? Use an atomic model to explain coloured light, compare red and blue photons, then use a sound delay to estimate the distance to a display.

Read the physics behind firework colours

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Question

8 marks

Answer all parts. Model one coloured emission line using isolated atoms. Other processes in real firework mixtures do not need to be discussed.

1(a)

Explain how collisions can excite an atom and how it can then emit light at a particular wavelength.

[3 marks]

1(b)

A red photon and a blue photon travel in a vacuum. Which photon has greater energy? Explain using wavelength, frequency and photon energy. You may use and .

[2 marks]

1(c)

The bang from a single burst arrives after its flash. Take the speed of sound as and neglect the light travel time. Estimate the distance to the burst and explain why the flash arrives first.

[3 marks]

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