1 In a laboratory, a detector of ionising radiation records an average background count rate of
8 counts per second.
detector
counts / s
A radioactive source is now placed close to the detector. The count rate on the detector rises to
200 counts per second.
detector
counts / s
radioactive
source
What is the count rate due to radiation from the radioactive source?
A 25 counts / s
B 192 counts / s
C 200 counts / s
D 208 counts / s
14
2 6C is a nuclide of carbon.
What is the composition of one nucleus of this nuclide?
neutrons protons
A 6 8
B 6 14
C 8 6
D 14 6
3 Which row gives the properties of the radiation from radioactive materials?
most penetrating radiation most highly ionising radiation
A α β
B β γ
C γ α
D γ γ
38 Which statement about α-radiation is correct?
A It is a stream of fast-moving electrons.
B It is a form of electromagnetic radiation.
C It is more highly ionising than γ-radiation.
D It is more penetrating than β-radiation.
39 A radioactive source produces a count rate on a detector of 1600 counts / s.
After 32 hours the count rate has fallen to 100 counts / s.
Both count rates have been corrected for background radiation.
What is the half-life of the source?
A 2.0 hours B 6.4 hours C 8.0 hours D 16 hours
22
40 A nuclide has the symbol 10 Ne .
What is the proton number of a nucleus of this nuclide?
A 10 B 12 C 22 D 32
40 Which statement is correct for the nucleus of any atom?
A The nucleus contains electrons, neutrons and protons.
B The nucleus contains the same number of protons as neutrons.
C The nucleus has a total charge of zero.
D The nucleus is very small compared with the size of the atom.
238
38 A uranium 92 U nucleus emits an α-particle.
What are the new nucleon and proton numbers?
nucleon number proton number
A 238 88
B 236 90
C 234 92
D 234 90
39 Which row shows the nature and the penetrating ability of β-particles?
nature most are stopped by
A electron a few mm of aluminium
B electron a thin sheet of paper
C helium nucleus a few mm of aluminium
D helium nucleus a thin sheet of paper
40 A radioactive isotope is placed near a detector. The readings on the detector are corrected for
background radiation and recorded every hour.
The table shows the corrected readings.
time / hours 0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0
count rate / counts per second 500 375 280 210 160
What is the half-life of the isotope?
A between 0 and 1 hour
B between 1 hour and 2 hours
C between 2 hours and 3 hours
D between 3 hours and 4 hours
38 The table shows the results of an experiment to find the half-life of a radioactive substance.
count rate from substance
time / s
counts / second
0 150
60 120
120 95
180 75
240 60
What is the half-life of the substance?
A 60 seconds
B 120 seconds
C 180 seconds
D 240 seconds
39 The diagram shows a box used for storing radioactive sources.
Which material is best for lining the box to prevent the escape of most radioactive emissions?
A aluminium
B copper
C lead
D steel
39 The diagram shows a box used for storing radioactive sources.
Which material is best for lining the box to prevent the escape of most radioactive emissions?
A aluminium
B copper
C lead
D steel
40 A lithium nucleus contains 3 protons and 4 neutrons.
What is its nuclide notation?
3 4 7 7
A 4 Li B 3 Li C 3 Li D 4 Li
40 A particular nuclide of chlorine can be represented by the symbol shown.
37
17
Cl
How many electrons are there in a neutral atom of this nuclide?
A 17 B 20 C 37 D 54
39 The graph shows how the count rate on a detector due to a radioactive source changes with time.
4800
count rate
counts per minute
2400
0
0 1 2 3 4 5
time / hours
What is the count rate at 5.0 hours?
A 960 counts per minute
B 600 counts per minute
C 150 counts per minute
D 0 counts per minute
40 The diagram represents a carbon atom.
––
––
key
neutron
+ + + proton
+ + – electron
+
+
––
What is the nucleon number (mass number) for this atom?
A 6 B 8 C 14 D 20
39 A radiation detector is placed close to a source of β-particles.
Aluminium sheets of increasing thickness are placed between the source and the detector.
source of
β-particles
aluminium sheet detector
Eventually a sheet which is 2.0 cm thick is used. The reading on the detector decreases, but does
not fall to zero.
Why does the reading not fall to zero?
A Some of the β-particles go round the edges of the sheet.
B The detector is too close to the source.
C There is always some background radiation.
D The sheet can never be thick enough to absorb all the β-particles.
40 A nuclide is represented by the notation shown.
How many nucleons are there in one atom of this nuclide?
A P B Q C P+Q D P–Q
38 A radioactive nucleus emits a β-particle.
β-particle
nucleus
What happens to the proton number (atomic number) of the nucleus?
A It stays the same.
B It increases by 1.
C It decreases by 2.
D It decreases by 4.
39 The diagram shows the paths of three different types of radiation, X, Y and Z.
2 mm of 10 mm of 50 mm
plastic aluminium of lead
Which row in the table correctly identifies X, Y and Z?
X Y Z
A α-particles β-particles γ-rays
B β-particles α-particles γ-rays
C β-particles γ-rays α-particles
D γ-rays α-particles β-particles
40 Which diagram could represent the structure of a neutral atom?
A B C D
key
– – – –
neutron
++ ++ + proton
+ ++
+ – electron
– – –
40 A radioactive nucleus emits a β-particle.
β-particle
nucleus
What happens to the proton number (atomic number) of the nucleus?
A It stays the same.
B It increases by 1.
C It decreases by 2.
D It decreases by 4.
