RADIOACTIVITY AND PARTICLES

Q1.

In 2011, a nuclear accident happened at Fukushima in Japan.

This released radioactive materials into the environment.
A month later, the radioactivity of seaweed on the west coast of USA was tested.
The seaweed was found to contain radioactive iodine-131.
The half-life of iodine-131 is 8.0 days.
(a) Three samples of the same mass of seaweed were taken.
The number of counts in 10 minutes of the samples are shown in the table.

Explain why three separate samples were used.

(2)
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(b) Iodine-131 emits beta particles.
There was not a high risk to the public from the iodine-131 in the seaweed.
Explain one reason why the risk was not high.
(2)
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(Total for question = 4 marks)

Q2.

A scientist wants to determine the half-life of a radioactive isotope.

The scientist measures the count rate from the radioactive isotope.
(a) State how the scientist should correct the count rate for background radiation.
(1)
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(b) The graph shows how the activity of the radioactive isotope varies with time.

(i) Explain what is meant by the term half-life.

(2)
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(ii) Use the graph to determine the half-life of this isotope.
(2)

half-life = ........................................................... minutes

(Total for question = 5 marks)

Q3.

A teacher investigates the count rate detected from a radioactive source.

(a) (i) State one source of background radiation.
(1)
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(ii) Describe how the teacher could measure the count rate from a radioactive source and
correct the count rate for background radiation.
(4)
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(b) The teacher places a piece of lead sheet between the radioactive source and a radiation
detector.
The teacher determines the corrected count rate from the radioactive source three times and
calculates the mean.
They repeat this process using different thicknesses of lead sheet.
The table shows their results.
(i) Calculate the mean count rate when the thickness of lead is 6.0 mm.
(2)

mean count rate = ........................................................... Bq

(ii) Plot a graph of mean count rate against thickness of lead.
(3)

(iii) Draw the curve of best fit.

(1)

(iv) When there is not a sheet of lead between the radioactive source and the radiation
detector, the mean count rate is 484 Bq.
Use the graph to determine the thickness of lead needed to reduce the mean count rate by
25%.
(2)

thickness = ........................................................... mm
(c) The radioactive source emits only one type of radiation.
Explain which type of radiation this radioactive source emits.
(2)
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(Total for question = 15 marks)

Q4.

The chart shows the efficiencies of different methods of generating electricity.

(a) The chart shows that the geothermal power station has an efficiency of 15%.
Explain what is meant by an efficiency of 15%.
(2)
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(b) A small hydroelectric power station has a useful energy output of 6.0 kJ.
Calculate the total energy input for this power station using information from the chart.
(4)

total energy input = ........................................................... kJ

(c) (i) Name a fuel used in the reactor of a nuclear power station.
(1)
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(ii) These sentences describe the process of nuclear fission.
Complete these sentences by writing a suitable word in each blank space.
(5)
A nucleus absorbs a ............................................................................................. .

The nucleus formed splits because it is .............................................................................. .

The nucleus splits into two smaller nuclei called .................................................................

nuclei and two or three .....................................................

The energy released is transferred into the ..........................................................................

energy store of the fission products.

(Total for question = 12 marks)

Q5.

This is a question about nuclear energy.

(a) Nuclear fusion can take place between different isotopes of hydrogen to produce an isotope of
helium.
(i) Complete the nuclear equation for this process.
(2)

(ii) This process also results in the release of energy.

State where the fusion process takes place naturally.
(1)
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 (iii) Explain why the isotopes of hydrogen must be heated to a very high temperature for fusion
to take place.
(3)
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(b) Nuclear fission also results in a release of energy.
Explain how nuclear fission differs from nuclear fusion.
(2)
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(Total for question = 8 marks)

Q6.

(a) Uranium-235 captures a neutron and undergoes nuclear fission in a chain reaction.
The equation shows a possible nuclear fission reaction.

Calculate x, the number of neutrons released by this fission reaction.

(2)

x = ...........................................................
(b) Describe what is meant by a chain reaction.
(3)
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(c) Iodine-129 is an isotope found in radioactive waste from nuclear power stations.
Iodine-129 has a half-life of approximately 15 million years.
A sample of iodine-129 has an activity of 72 kBq.
Show that the time required for the sample to have an activity less than 5 kBq is approximately
60 million years.
(3)

(d) Some radioactive waste from nuclear power stations has a very long half-life.
Discuss precautions that must be taken when disposing of this radioactive waste.
(5)
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(Total for question = 13 marks)

Q7.

A teacher does an investigation to determine the half-life of a radioactive source.

(a) The radioactive source emits particles of radiation that are negatively charged.
Name the type of radiation emitted by this source.
(1)
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(b) This is the teacher's method.

 measure the count rate in the room

 bring the radioactive source into the room
 measure the count rate from the radioactive source every two hours
 to determine the corrected count rate, subtract the count rate in the room from each count
rate measured from the radioactive source
 plot a graph of corrected count rate against time
 use the graph to determine the half-life of the radioactive source
(i) Give a reason why the teacher measures the count rate in the room before bringing the
radioactive source into the room.
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(ii) State the dependent variable in the teacher's investigation.
(1)
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(c) The graph shows the teacher's results.
 (i) State what is meant by the term half-life.
(2)
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(ii) A different radioactive source has the same initial corrected count rate but a shorter half-life.
Sketch another line on the graph to show how the corrected count rate of this different source
changes with time.
(2)

(Total for question = 7 marks)