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10 (a) Fig. 10.1 shows a beam of radiation in a vacuum. The beam contains α-particles, β-particles
and γ-rays.
region of uniform
magnetic field out of the page
beam of radiation,
containing α, β and
γ-rays
Fig. 10.1
The beam enters a region where there is a strong, uniform magnetic field. The direction of the
magnetic field is out of the page.
On Fig. 10.1, mark and label the paths through the magnetic field of:
(i) α-particles (label this path α) [1]
(ii) β-particles (label this path β) [2]
(iii) γ-rays (label this path γ). [1]
(b) Radioactive sources have many uses in medicine.
State two safety precautions which hospital staff take when working with γ-ray sources.
1. ...............................................................................................................................................
2. ......................................................................................................................................... [2]
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(c) The radioactive isotope iodine-131 is used as a tracer in medical diagnosis. A nucleus of
iodine-131 contains 53 protons and 78 neutrons. The symbol for iodine is I.
(i) Use nuclide notation to show this isotope of iodine.
[1]
(ii) Iodine-131 emits γ-radiation. It has a half-life of 8 hours.
Explain why this emission and this half-life make iodine-131 a suitable material for a
tracer in medical diagnosis.
...........................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................... [2]
[Total: 9]
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10 A student places a sample of an isotope of protactinium (Pa-234) near a radiation detector.
The readings on the detector, taken every 20 s, are recorded in Table 10.1.
Table 10.1
count rate
time / s
counts / min
0 101
20 88
40 76
60 66
80 58
100 51
120 46
140 42
160 38
180 35
Fig. 10.1 shows a graph of the count rate due to this sample against time.
80
count rate
counts / min
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180
time / s
Fig. 10.1
(a) Explain why the readings in Table 10.1 are not the same as those plotted on the graph.
...................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................. [2]
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(b) Using the graph in Fig. 10.1, determine the half-life of this isotope of protactinium.
half-life = ....................................................... s [2]
234
(c) The nuclide notation for this isotope of protactinium is 91Pa.
Protactinium-234 decays to an isotope of uranium (U) by β-emission.
Write down the nuclide equation for this decay of protactinium-234.
[3]
[Total: 7]
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10 (a) The magnitude of the charge on a β (beta)-particle is 1.6 × 10–19 C.
(i) State the proton number and nucleon number of an α (alpha)-particle.
proton number ...................................................................................................................
nucleon number ................................................................................................................
[2]
(ii) Determine the magnitude of the charge of an α (alpha)-particle.
charge ...............................................................................................................................
[1]
(b) A nucleus of radium-230 consists of 88 protons and 142 neutrons. Radium-230 is radioactive
and decays by β (beta)-emission to an isotope of actinium. The symbol for radium is Ra and
the symbol for actinium is Ac.
Write down the nuclide equation for this decay.
[3]
(c) The half-life of radium-230 is 93 min. A sample contains 9.6 × 10–12 g of radium-230.
Calculate the mass of radium in the sample after 279 min.
mass = ......................................................... [2]
[Total: 8]
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11 (a) A student investigates a radioactive substance in a laboratory.
Fig. 11.1 is a graph showing the count rate detected as the substance decays for 7.5 minutes.
250
count rate
counts / min
200
150
100
50
0
0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0
time / min
Fig. 11.1
The background radiation is 20 counts / min.
(i) Determine the half-life of the substance.
half-life = ......................................................... [3]
(ii) Calculate the count rate detected at time = 9.6 minutes.
count rate = .......................................counts / min [2]
(b) The substance emits α-particles and γ-rays. The student suggests that it is safe to store the
substance in a plastic container of thickness 2 mm.
State and explain whether the student’s suggestion is correct.
statement ..................................................................................................................................
explanation ...............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................. [3]
[Total: 8]
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