Lesson 8.3.2

8.3.2 Mass-energy equivalence and MeV and GeV units Quiz: Pearson Edexcel Physics, Unit 8

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 8.3.2, Mass-energy equivalence and MeV and GeV units: 20 multiple choice questions for the Pearson Edexcel Physics (9PH0), Unit 8: Nuclear and Particle Physics, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What equation expresses the equivalence of mass and energy?

    • Delta E = c^2 Delta m
    • Delta E = Delta m / c^2
    • Delta E = c^2 Delta m^2
    • Delta E = c Delta m

  2. How many joules are equivalent to 1 MeV?

    • 1.6 x 10^-13 J
    • 1.6 x 10^-16 J
    • 1.6 x 10^-19 J
    • 1.6 x 10^-10 J

  3. How many MeV are in 1 GeV?

    • 10000 MeV
    • 1000 MeV
    • 100 MeV
    • 1 MeV

  4. What is the SI-unit mass equivalent of 1 MeV/c^2?

    • 1.78 x 10^-30 kg
    • 9.00 x 10^16 kg
    • 1.60 x 10^-13 kg
    • 5.63 x 10^-30 kg

  5. A quantity of mass Delta m = 1.0 x 10^-30 kg is converted entirely into energy. How much energy is released?

    • 9.0 x 10^-30 J
    • 1.1 x 10^13 J
    • 9.0 x 10^-14 J
    • 3.3 x 10^-22 J

  6. What is the energy equivalent of 1.0 gram of mass?

    • 3.0 x 10^8 J
    • 9.0 x 10^16 J
    • 9.0 x 10^13 J
    • 9.0 x 10^10 J

  7. A pair of electron and positron annihilates, with a total mass of 2 x 0.511 MeV/c^2 converted to energy. What is this energy in joules?

    • 1.63 x 10^-13 J
    • 1.0 x 10^-12 J
    • 6.4 x 10^-14 J
    • 1.6 x 10^-19 J

  8. A nuclear reaction has a mass defect of 0.0020 u. Using 1 u = 931.5 MeV/c^2, what energy is released?

    • 1.9 MeV
    • 0.47 MeV
    • 466 MeV
    • 0.0020 MeV

  9. How many MeV are there in 2.5 GeV?

    • 25000 MeV
    • 2.5 MeV
    • 25 MeV
    • 2500 MeV

  10. The rest energy of a proton is about 938 MeV. What is the approximate rest mass of a proton in kilograms?

    • 1.67 x 10^-27 kg
    • 1.50 x 10^-10 kg
    • 1.67 x 10^-30 kg
    • 9.38 x 10^-13 kg

  11. A particle has a rest mass of 4.0 x 10^-29 kg. What is its rest energy in MeV?

    • 2.25 MeV
    • 4.0 x 10^-29 MeV
    • 22.5 MeV
    • 225 MeV

  12. Two particles each of rest energy 1.0 GeV annihilate completely. What mass in kilograms is converted to energy?

    • 3.6 x 10^-27 kg
    • 1.8 x 10^-27 kg
    • 3.6 x 10^-24 kg
    • 7.1 x 10^-27 kg

  13. What is the approximate ratio of the rest energy of a proton (938 MeV) to that of an electron (0.511 MeV)?

    • About 180
    • About 1.8
    • About 18400
    • About 1840

  14. What is 4.0 keV expressed in MeV?

    • 0.40 MeV
    • 0.0040 MeV
    • 4000 MeV
    • 0.0000040 MeV

  15. Using 1 u = 931.5 MeV/c^2, what is 1 MeV/c^2 expressed in atomic mass units?

    • 0.0186 u
    • 1.07 u
    • 9.3 x 10^-4 u
    • 1.07 x 10^-3 u

  16. A nuclear reaction releases 17.6 MeV of energy. What is this energy in joules?

    • 2.8 x 10^-14 J
    • 1.1 x 10^-12 J
    • 2.8 x 10^-12 J
    • 1.1 x 10^-10 J

  17. A student says mass and energy are separately conserved, so the relation Delta E = c^2 Delta m is unnecessary. Which response is correct?

    • The student is wrong: mass can be converted into energy, so only total mass-energy is conserved and Delta E = c^2 Delta m links the two
    • The student is right: mass and energy are always conserved separately in every reaction
    • The student is right, but only when the particles involved are moving at non-relativistic speeds
    • The student is wrong because energy is never released in any nuclear or particle reaction

  18. Why are particle masses often expressed in MeV/c^2 rather than kilograms?

    • Particle masses in kilograms are extremely small numbers, while MeV/c^2 gives convenient values that match rest energy in MeV
    • Particle masses in kilograms are always negative, so MeV/c^2 is needed for positive values
    • MeV/c^2 is the only unit in which mass is conserved in particle interactions
    • Kilograms cannot be used to describe any particle with a mass less than one gram

  19. What is the approximate rest mass of an electron, whose rest energy is 0.511 MeV, in kilograms?

    • 9.1 x 10^-31 kg
    • 9.1 x 10^-28 kg
    • 1.6 x 10^-13 kg
    • 5.1 x 10^-31 kg

  20. A nuclear reaction produces a mass decrease of 0.030 u. Using 1 u = 931.5 MeV/c^2, how much energy is released?

    • About 280 MeV
    • About 28 MeV
    • About 3.1 MeV
    • About 0.030 MeV

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