30

1. the first artificially produced isotope was the isotope phosphorus 15 p. this was formed by
bombarding aluminium al with α-particles.

(a) (i) complete the equation to show the missing nucleon and proton
numbers:

....... .......
....... al + ....... α → 3015 p + 01 n
(2)

30 30
(ii) 15p decays to a stable isotope of silicon 14 si by the emission of a further particle, x.
complete the following equation to show the missing nucleon and proton numbers:

.......
p → si + ....... x
30 30
15 14

suggest what the particle x is.

............................................................................................................................
(2)

30
(b) the half-life of the radioactive isotope of phosphorus 15 p is 195 seconds. give the
meanings of the terms half-life and isotope.

half-life ........................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................

isotope ..........................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................
(3)

(c) atoms which emit α- or β-particles usually emit γ-rays as well. explain why this occurs.

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................
(1)
(total 8 marks)

2. (a) (i) complete equation

4
correct identification of 2 for α (1)
correct substitution (1) 2
27
13 or correct values which balance the candidate’s equation

ealing, hammersmith and west london college 1

 nd
(ii) completion of 2 equation
0
1 (1)
+
correct identification of positron / positive (+ ve) electron / β / (1) 2
antielectron
0
–
[if incorrectly given −1 allow electron / β ie 1 mark]
[correct spelling only]
(b) half-life
average (1)
time taken for the activity/intensity/count rate to drop by half
or time taken for half the atoms/nuclei to decay (1)
[not mass, count, particles, radioisotope, sample]
isotope
same: proton number / atomic number (1)
[not same chemical properties]
different: neutron number / nucleon number / mass number (1)
max 3
[not different physical properties/density]
(c) γ-ray emission 1
either or
(the loss of a helium the nucleus emits its surplus
nucleus/electron has left the energy (in the form of a quantum
remaining) nucleus in an of γ-radiation) (1)
excited state/with a surplus
of energy
[8]

3. when electrons are fired at nucleons many of the electrons are scattered.

when the electrons have low energy, the scattering is elastic.

however, when the electrons have sufficiently high energy, deep inelastic scattering occurs.

(a) what is meant by inelastic in this situation?

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................
(1)

(b) what is revealed about the structure of the nucleon by deep inelastic scattering?

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................
(1)

ealing, hammersmith and west london college 2

 (c) what quantity is conserved during both elastic and inelastic scattering?

.......................................................................................................................................
(1)

(d) historically, physicists found that electrons of low energy could not be used to find out
information about the nucleus of neutral atoms. suggest why.

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................
(1)
(total 4 marks)

4. (a) inelastic scattering

kinetic energy is not conserved / (some) kinetic energy is ‘lost’ (1) 1
(b) structure
there are point charges/quarks/smaller particles within the (1) 1
nucleon or mass not uniform
(c) quantity conserved
momentum / energy / charge / mass (1) 1
(d) no information
electron was repelled (by the (outer) electron shell(s)) or (1) 1
captured to make an ion.
[4]

12 14
5. 6C and 6C are two isotopes of carbon.

14
state the number of electrons in a neutral atom of 6C .

..............................................................................................................................................

14
state the number of neutrons in a neutral atom of 6C .

..............................................................................................................................................
(2)

14
6C decays by beta minus emission. complete the nuclear equation below.
14
6C N +
(2)

ealing, hammersmith and west london college 3

 14
describe briefly how you would test whether 6C decays only by beta emission

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................
(3)
(total 7 marks)

12 14

6. 6 C and 6
c are two isotopes of carbon.
14

state the number of electrons in a neutral atom of 6

c
6

14

state the number of neutrons in a neutral atom of 6

c
8
(2 marks)
14
6
c decays by beta minus emission. complete the nuclear equation below.
14 14 0 0
C
→ N+ e
6 7 –1 –1

(2 marks)
14

describe briefly how you would test whether 6

c decays only beta emission
(using g.m. tube) take background reading (1)
valid test to show α present/absent eg insert paper + effect on c.p.m. (1)
valid test to show β present/absent (1)
other methods: apply same 3 points
(3 marks)
[total 7 marks]

7. in 1909 geiger and marsden carried out an important experiment to investigate alpha particle
scattering. alpha particles were directed towards a thin gold sheet and detectors were used to
observe the distribution of scattered alpha particles.

ealing, hammersmith and west london college 4

 state what was observed in this experiment.

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................
(3)

explain why these observations led to the conclusion that an atom was composed mainly of
space, with a very small positive nucleus.

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................
(3)

state an approximate value for

(i) the diameter of a gold atom

..........................................................................................................................

(ii) the diameter of a gold nucleus

..........................................................................................................................
(2)
(total 8 marks)

8. in 1909 geiger and marsden carried out an important experiment to investigate alpha particle
scattering. alpha particles were directed towards a thin gold sheet and detectors were used to
observe the distribution of scattered alpha particles.
state what was observed in this experiment.
some α particles pass } straight through (or
equivalent) (1)
some flashes are seen }
some are deflected slightly (1)
some rebound (or equivalent) (1)
(3 marks)

ealing, hammersmith and west london college 5

 explain why these observations led to the conclusion that an atom was composed mainly of
space, with very small positive nucleus.
(repulsion) links positive α particles and positive nucleus (1)
link large proportion straight through and (1)
small proportion strongly deviated with mainly space and small nucleus (1)
(3 marks)
state an approximate value for
(i) the diameter of a gold atom
10–9/10–10/10–11 m (1)

(ii) the diameter of a gold nucleus

10–13/10–14/10–15 m (1)
unit penalty once
(2 marks)
[total 8 marks]

9. name two sources of natural background radiation.

1 ...................................................................................................................................

2 ...................................................................................................................................
(2)

caesium-137 is a by-product of nuclear fission within a nuclear reactor. complete the two boxes
137
55
in the nuclear equation below which describes the production of cs.

235 1 137 95 1
92 U + 0 n 55 C s + Rb + 0 n
(2)

the half-life of caesium-137 is 30 years. when the fuel rods are removed from a nuclear reactor
core, the total activity of the caesium-137 is 5.8 × 1015 bq. after how many years will this
activity have fallen to 1.6 × 106 bq?

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

number of years = .........................................................

(4)

ealing, hammersmith and west london college 6

 comment on the problems of storage of the fuel rods over this time period.

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................
(2)
(total 10 marks)

10. name two sources of natural background radiation.

1) two sources of different origin,
2) e.g. cosmic radiation; rocks (1) (1)
(2 marks)
caesium-137 is a by-product of nuclear fission within a nuclear reactor. complete the two boxes
137
in the nuclear equation below which describes the production of 55 Cs .
1 137 95
235
92 U + 0 n 55 Cs + 37 Rb + 4 10 n
37 (1), 4 (1)
(2 marks)
the half-life of caesium-137 is 30 years. when the fuel rods are removed from a nuclear reactor
core, the total activity of the caesium-137 is 5.8 × 1015 bq. after how many years will this
activity have fallen to 1.6 × 106 bq.
1.6 × 106 = 5.8 × 1015 e-λt (or nt = no ....) (1)

correct value of λ (1)

correct use of ln’s (1)

. × 10 6
16
. × 1015 = (½)n for full credit
or use of 58
number of years = 950 – 960 (1)
(4 marks)
comment on the problems of storage of the fuel rods over this time period.
two problems which are relevant to (1)
the very long storage time involved (1)
eg deterioration of container; finding a site which will remain safe;
long term monitoring.
(2 marks)
[total 10 marks]

ealing, hammersmith and west london college 7

11. radon-220 (also know as thoron) is a radioactive gas which decays by α emission to polonium
216
Po
84 . the half-life of this decay is approximately 1 minute.

write a nuclear equation for this decay.

..............................................................................................................................................
(1)

describe an experiment you could perform in a school laboratory to determine the half-life of an
α emitter of half-life approximately 1 minute.

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................
(5)

a sample of milk is contaminated with a very small quantity of strontium-90. this isotope decays
by β- emission with a half-life of approximately 28 years.

give two reasons why it would be very difficult to use this contaminated sample of milk to
obtain an accurate value for the half-life of strontium-90.

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................
(2)
(total 8 marks)

216
12. radon -220 (also know as thoron) is radioactive gas which decays by α emission to polonium 84

po. the half-life of this decay is approximately 1 minute.

write a nuclear equation for this decay.
220
86 Rn → 216
84 Po + 42 α (1)

(1 mark)
describe an experiment you could perform in a school laboratory to determine the half-life of an
α emitter of half-life approximately 1 minute.
an appropriate set up for detecting α radiation. (1)
measurement of successive count rates. (1)
at 10-20 second intervals or total duration ≤ 5 min. (1)

ealing, hammersmith and west london college 8

 g-m tube methods: take background into account or
ionisation chamber: calibrate meter. (1)
plot appropriate graph (1)
measure t½ directly or find gradient of ln graph. (1)

repeat for different coordinates or t½ = ln 2/gradient (1)

any 5 points
(5 marks)
a sample of milk is contaminated with a very small quantity of strontium -90. this isotope
decays by β- emission with a half-life of approximately 28 years.
give two reasons why it would be very difficult to use this contaminated sample of milk to
obtain an accurate value for the half-life of strontium-90.
count rate so low, difficult to distinguish from background radiation
or from random fluctuations (1)
very slow change in count rate difficult to detect over normal experimental
times (1)
β absorbed within sample. (1)
any two points
(2 marks)
[total 8 marks]

13. a student carries out an experiment to determine the half-life of a radioactive isotope m. after
subtracting the mean background count from the readings, the student plots the smooth curve
shown on the graph below.

3000

A c tiv ity /c p m

2000

1000

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
T im e /m in u te s

from this graph the student concludes that the isotope m is not pure, but contains a small
proportion of another isotope c with a relatively long half-life.

state a feature of the graph that supports this conclusion.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………
(1)

ealing, hammersmith and west london college 9

 estimate the activity of isotope c.

………………………………………………………………………………………………
(1)

determine the half-life of isotope m. show clearly how you obtained your answer.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………

half-life of m = ………………………………….
(3)

isotope m decays by β– emission. write down a nuclear equation showing how the β– particles
are produced.

………………………………………………………………………………………………
(1)

describe briefly how the student could determine the nature of the radiation emitted by isotope
c.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………
(3)
(total 9 marks)

ealing, hammersmith and west london college 10

14. a student carries out an experiment to determine the half-life of a radioactive isotope m. after
subtracting the mean background count from the readings, the student plots the smooth curve
shown on the graph below.
3000

A c tiv ity /c p m

2000

1000

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
T im e /m in u te s

from this graph the student concludes that the isotope m is not pure, but contains a small
proportion of another isotope c with a relatively long half-life.
state a feature of the graph that supports this conclusion.
graph has flattened off after 7 minutes or non-consistent half-life. (1)
(1 mark)
estimate the activity of isotope c.
150 cpm (1)
(1 mark)
determine the half-life of isotope m. show clearly how you obtained your answer.
allow for 150 (1)
two sets of readings averaged (1)
half-life of m = 1.2 minutes (1)
(3 marks)
isotope m decays by β– emission. write down a nuclear equation showing how the β– particles
are produced.
1 1 0
n→ p e
0 1 + −1 (1)
(1 mark)

ealing, hammersmith and west london college 11

 describe briefly how the student could determine the nature of the radiation emitted by isotope c.
wait until m has decayed (1)
set up discussion about use of paper leading to α (1)
ditto to β (1)
or
use range in air arguments to distinguish α from β [can score marks using γ]
or
any other acceptable experiment.
(3 marks)
[total 9 marks]

269
15. it is thought that an extremely short-lived radioactive isotope 110 x, which decays by ?-emission,
has a half-life of 200 ?s.

A
after a series of ? decays the element 104 y is formed from the original isotope. there are no ?
decays.

deduce the value of a.

...............................…........................................................................................................…

...............................…........................................................................................................…
(2)

269
calculate the decay constant λ of 110 x.

...............................…........................................................................................................…

...............................…........................................................................................................…

λ = ....................................…
(1)

269
the number of nuclei n of 110 x in a sample of mass 0.54 ?g is 1.2 ?1015. determine the activity of
269
0.54 ?g of 110 x

...............................…........................................................................................................…

...............................…........................................................................................................…

activity = ..........................................................…
(2)

ealing, hammersmith and west london college 12

 why is this value for the activity only approximate?

...............................…........................................................................................................…

...............................…........................................................................................................…

...............................…........................................................................................................…
(1)
(total 6 marks)

16. geiger and marsden carried out a scattering experiment which led to a revised understanding of
the structure of the atom. the tables below refer to this experiment. complete the tables and
sentences.

N am e
In c o m in g p a r tic le
T a rg e t a to m s

O b se r v a tio n C o n c lu s io n a b o u t a to m ic s tr u c tu r e

T h e in c o m in g p a r tic le s
w e re m o s tly u n d e fle c te d .

A fe w p a rtic le s w e re
d e fle c te d b y a n g le s g re a te r
th a n 9 0 ° .

the diameter of ……............................................................ is approximately 10–15 m.

the diameter of ....................……........................................ is approximately 10–11 m.

(total 6 marks)

ealing, hammersmith and west london college 13

17. the photograph shows α particle tracks.

what properties of the α particles can be deduced from this photograph?

...............................…............................................................................................................

...............................…............................................................................................................

...............................…............................................................................................................

...............................…............................................................................................................
(4)

a different source emits both α and β particles. how would you use a geiger counter to determine
the approximate count rate due to the α radiation only?

...............................…............................................................................................................

...............................…............................................................................................................

...............................…............................................................................................................

...............................…............................................................................................................
(2)
(total 6 marks)

ealing, hammersmith and west london college 14

18. the grid enables different nuclei to be represented by plotting the number of neutrons n against
the number of protons z in a nucleus. the arrow shows a nucleus x decaying to a nucleus y.

88
N
86
X

84
Y

82

80
58 60 62 64
Z

what type of radioactive decay is taking place?

....................................................................................................................................

write a nuclear equation for this decay.

....................................................................................................................................

add another arrow to the grid to represent what happens if nucleus y subsequently decays by
–
β emission to nucleus w.

mark a point p on the grid that could represent the nucleus of an isotope of x.
(total 5 marks)

19. type of radioactive decay

α-decay

nuclear equation for decay

147× 143 Y + 4 α / 4 HE
62 60 2 2

[1 mark for letters, 1 mark for numbers]

ealing, hammersmith and west london college 15

 addition of arrow to diagram
88
N
86
X

84 P
Y

82
W

80
58 60 62 64
Z
point p on diagram
[5]

20. it is thought that some soil could be contaminated with a radioisotope.

you have a sample of this soil. design an experiment to find what types of radiation are emitted.

....................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................
(total 5 marks)

ealing, hammersmith and west london college 16

21. design of experiment to find what types of radiation are emitted:
soil in container with opening facing detector
take background count /or shield apparatus
with detector close to soil, insert paper
or take close reading then at, ≈ + 5 cm; count rate reduced so α present
insert aluminium foil: further reduction ∴β present
insert lead sheet: count rate still above background or count rate reduced
to zero,∴ϒ present.
or, if no count after aluminium foil, no ϒ
or, if count rate above background with thick aluminium, then ϒ present
[5]

22. read the following paragraph carefully and circle the correct response to the choices in the
brackets.

geiger and marsden carried out an experiment to investigate the structure of the atom.

Alpha particles diffracted

   
Beta particles  refracted 
Gamma rays  scattered 
in this experiment   were   by thin films of metals such as gold.

uncharged 
 
 negatively charged 
positively charged 
the experiment led to the conclusion that the atom had an   nucleus of

all the mass 

 
10 m 
–15
most of the mass
 –10   1 of the mass 
10 m   2000 
diameter approximately  and containing of the atom.
(total 5 marks)

23. in this experiment alpha particles were

scattered by thin films of metals such as gold.
the experiment led to the conclusion that the atom had a
–15
positively charged nucleus of diameter approximately 10 m
and containing
most of the mass of the atom
[5]

ealing, hammersmith and west london college 17

24. the graph shows the decay of a radioactive nuclide.

8
N u m b e r o f a to m s
N / 1 0 20

0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180
t/s

determine the half-life of this radionuclide.

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

half-life = .......................................
(2)

use your value of half-life to calculate the decay constant λ of this radionuclide.

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

decay constant = ............................

(1)

20
use the graph to determine the rate of decay dn/dt when n = 3.0 × 10 .

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

rate of decay = ..............................

(3)

ealing, hammersmith and west london college 18

 use your value of the rate of decay to calculate the decay constant λ of this radionuclide.

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

decay constant = ............................

(2)

explain which method of determining the decay constant you consider to be more reliable.

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................
(1)
(total 9 marks)

25. half-life of radionuclide:

one value for half-life: 33 → 36 s
repeat and average/evidence of two values (u.e.) 2
decay constant:
ln2 ÷ their value for t1/2 calculated correctly
–1
= (0.02) s (u.e.) 1
rate of decay:
20
tangent drawn at n = 3.0 × 10
attempt to find gradient, ignore “−“ sign
18
= 5.5 → 6 × 10
−λt
[or use of n = noe , calculate λ, or other graphical means]
18
[nb 6.25 × 10 = 0/3 as use of coordinates] 3
decay constant:
substitute in dn/dt = − λn
18 20
e.g. 6 × 10 = (−) λ × 3 × 10 [their above]
= (0.02) [their λ correctly calculated] 2
methods: 1
either value chosen with a valid reason
st
e.g. 1 because can take several and average
st
1 because difficult to draw tangent
[9]

26. uranium decays into thorium, th, by emitting an alpha particle.

the thorium produced is itself radioactive and decays by beta minus emission to element x.

ealing, hammersmith and west london college 19

 complete the nuclear equations for both decays below. ensure that all symbols have the
appropriate nucleon and proton number.

234
u → 90 th +
234
90 th → +
(4)

how could a strong magnetic field be used to distinguish alpha particles from beta particles?

....................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................
(2)
(total 6 marks)

27. completion of nuclear equations:

238 238
92 u/u 92 (1)
4
2 α / 42 he (1)
234
91 x [not th] (1)
0 0
–1 e / –1 β [not –le] (1) 4
use of magnetic field to distinguish alpha particles:

×××××
×××××
b field perpendicular to direction of motion of particles or (1)
particles deflected in opposite directions (1)
β curve more than α / α harder to deflect / β affected more (1)
[magnets marked +/–, 0/2
α β attracted / repelled by n/s, 0/2] max 2
[6]

28. name two sources of natural background radiation.

1 …………………………………………………………………………………………....

2 ....………………………………………………………………………………………....
(2)

ealing, hammersmith and west london college 20

 caesium-137 is a by-product of nuclear fission within a nuclear reactor. the nuclear equation
137
below describes the production of 55 Cs . complete the two boxes.

235 1 137 95 1
92 U + 0 n 55 Cs + Rb + 0 n

(2)

the half-life of caesium-137 is 30 years. when the fuel rods are removed from a nuclear reactor
core, the total activity of the caesium-137 is 6.4 × 1015 bq.

explain the phrase the activity of caesium-137 is 6.4 × 1015 bq.

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................
(2)

after how many half-lives will this activity have fallen to 2.5 × 1013 bq? explain your working.

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

number of half-lives = .…………………………………………………

(2)

comment on the problems of storage of the fuel rods over this time period and beyond.

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................
(2)
(total 10 marks)

29. two sources of different origin, e.g. cosmic radiation, rocks 2

95
37 Rb + 4 01 n
37

i.e. 4
2
6.4 × 1015 atoms/nuclei of cs decay
on average each second 2

ealing, hammersmith and west london college 21

 either:
6.4 × 1015 ÷ 2.5 × 1013 = 256
= 28 i.e. 8 half-lives
or
6.4 × 1015 ÷ 2 successively
until, after 8 times, gives 2.5 × 1013 2
two problems which are relevant to the very long storage time involved
e.g. deterioration of container; finding a site which will remain safe;
long term monitoring 2
[10]

30. complete the following equations by writing the correct physical quantities, in words, on the
dotted lines.

mass

volume = .................................................

.................................................
average velocity = time

weight
mass = ..........................................................................

activity

decay constant = ...........................................

(total 4 marks)

31. density (1)

displacement [not distance] (1)
acceleration due to gravity/gravitational field
strength/acceleration of free fall/acceleration g
[not gravity or gravitational force/pull] [not g]
[not acceleration by itself] (1)
number of nuclei/atoms [not particles, molecules]
[not amount of substance] [not nuclides, decayed nuclei] (1)
[4]

32. samples of two different isotopes of iron have been prepared. compare the compositions of their
nuclei.

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

ealing, hammersmith and west london college 22

 the samples have the same chemical properties. suggest a physical property which would differ
between them.

...............................................................................................................................................
(3)

tritium (hydrogen-3) is an emitter of beta particles. complete the nuclear equation for this decay.

h→ he + β
(3)

describe how you would verify experimentally that tritium emits only beta particles.

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................
(4)
(total 10 marks)

33. compositions of nuclei:

different number of neutrons (1)
same number of protons / proton no. (1)
physical property:
boiling point/melting point/density/ [ not mass; heavier; ram] (1) 3
nuclear equation:
( )h
3
1 (1)
( ) he
3
2 (1)
( )β
0
−1 (1) 3
experiment:
gm tube [allow ionisation chamber, cloud chamber] (1)

ealing, hammersmith and west london college 23

 how to check no alpha:
source close/next to/near/up to 5 cm to gm or ionisation /cloud chamber,
insert paper, no change in ‘count rate’
or
source close to gm, move away, no sudden drop in count rate (1)
how to check no gamma:
insert a few mm aluminium, count rate reduced to zero
or
apply e or b field, gm tube fixed, count rate to zero (1)
correcting/allowing for background (i.e. measure it, and look for
count reducing to background in “no gamma” test) (1) 4
[10]

34. state the composition of an alpha particle.

...............................................................................................................................................
(1)

when an alpha particle passes through matter, it may ionise atoms. explain what ionise means.

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................
(1)

–13
an alpha particle from a certain radioactive source has a kinetic energy of 8.2 × 10 j. using the
information below, estimate how long it would take this alpha particle to travel a distance equal
to the diameter of an atom.

–27
mass of alpha particle = 6.6 × 10 kg
–10
diameter of atom = 1.0 × 10 m

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

time = ..........................................................
(3)

ealing, hammersmith and west london college 24

 a beta particle from a different radioactive source has the same kinetic energy as the alpha
particle. explain qualitatively how the speed of this beta particle would compare with the speed
of the alpha particle.

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................
(2)

beta particles are many times less effective at ionising atoms than alpha particles.
suggest a reason for this.

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................
(1)
(total 8 marks)

35. composition of alpha, particle

2 protons + 2 neutrons only (1) 1
explanation of ionise
change number/add/remove electrons (1) 1
estimation of time alpha particle would take to travel
2
use of ek = mv /2 (1)
use of t = diameter/v (1)
–18
6.3 × 10 s [no ecf] (1) 3
explanation comparing speed of alpha and beta particles
faster (1)
less massive/lighter/less weight (1) 2
reason why beta particles less effective
beta spends less time in the atom/goes through atom more
quickly/less charge (1) 1
[8]

14
36. how many neutrons does the nucleus of 6C contain?

...............................................................................................................................................

carbon-14 has a half-life of 5600 years. calculate the decay constant of carbon-14.

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

decay constant = ..........................................

(3)

ealing, hammersmith and west london college 25

 23
a sample of 14g of carbon-14 contains 6.0 × 10 nuclei.
–9
how many nuclei are there in 7.0 × 10 g of carbon-14?

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

number of nuclei = ................................................

–9
hence calculate the activity of 7.0 × 10 g of carbon-14.

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

activity = ......................................................
(3)

carbon-14 is a beta-minus emitter and its decay product is a nucleus of nitrogen, n. write down a
nuclear equation demonstrating this decay.

...............................................................................................................................................
(2)
(total 8 marks)

37. number of neutrons

8 (1)
decay constant
use of λ = 0.69/t1/2 (1)
–4 –1 –12 –1
λ = 1.2 × 10 yr or 3.9 × 10 s (1) 3
number of nuclei
14
3.0 × 10 (1)
calculation of activity
their n × their λ (1)
= 1170 bq [no e.c.f. if no conversion to seconds] (1) 3
nuclear equation
14 14 0
6C → 7 N + −1 e (1) (1) 2
[8]
14 0 0
[1 mark for 7 N , 1 mark for −1 e as −1 β ]
[must be on correct side of arrow]

ealing, hammersmith and west london college 26

38. two possible structures of the atom were proposed in the early 1900s.they were the rutherford
and “plum pudding” models, as shown.

= e le c tr o n

S m a ll d e n s e n u c le u s U n if o rm p o s itiv e c h a rg e

R u th e rfo rd m o d e l: a sm a ll d e n se P lu m p u d d in g m o d e l: e le c tr o n s
n u c le u s s u r r o u n d e d b y e le c tr o n s e m b e d d e d in a re g io n o f u n ifo rm
p o s itiv e c h a rg e

geiger and marsden scattered alpha particles off gold atoms. outline the evidence from this
experiment that supported rutherford’s model.

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................
(3)

suggest what geiger and marsden would have observed if the “plum pudding” model had been
correct.

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

explain your answer.

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................
(2)
(total 5 marks)

39. outline of evidence from geiger’s and marsden’s scattering experiment

most alpha particles went (almost) straight through (1)
some or a few deflected at larger angles/>90°/rebounded (1)
a tiny minority [e.g. 1 in 8000] were deflected at angles > 90° or rebounded (1) 3

ealing, hammersmith and west london college 27

 suggestion
no large deflections/all go (almost) straight through (1)
explanation
no concentrated charge/mass or no massive object (to hit) no dense
object to hit [consequent] (1) 2
[5]

40. what are isotopes?

……….…………………………………………………………………………………………….

……….…………………………………………………………………………………………….
(1)

a nucleus of an isotope of polonium (symbol po) has 84 protons and 126 neutrons. mark the
position of this nucleus on the grid below, and label it po.

N u c le o n 214
num ber
213

212

211

210

209

208

207

206

205

204
80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89
P ro to n n u m b e r

this isotope of polonium decays by alpha particle emission into an element x. starting from po,
add a line to the grid to represent this decay.
(3)

ealing, hammersmith and west london college 28

 this isotope of polonium is thought to emit only alpha radiation. describe how you could check
this experimentally.

……….…………………………………………………………………………………………….

……….…………………………………………………………………………………………….

……….…………………………………………………………………………………………….

……….…………………………………………………………………………………………….

……….…………………………………………………………………………………………….

……….…………………………………………………………………………………………….

……….…………………………………………………………………………………………….
(3)
(total 7 marks)

41. isotopes
same different
number of protons number of neutrons
atomic number neutron number
element nucleon number
proton number atomic mass
mass number (1) 1
polonium decay
po at (84, 210) with label (1)
2 steps west (1)
4 steps south (1) 3
experimental check
use of gm tube (1)
inserting sheet of paper/aluminium foil/very thin aluminium/a few cm of
air stops the count (1)
measure background, and look for count rate dropping to background (1) 3
nb award points 2 and 3 for correct converse argument.
[7]

ealing, hammersmith and west london college 29

42. the nucleus of a radioisotope of carbon (c) contains 6 protons and 8 neutrons. write down a
nuclear equation for the decay of this isotope by beta minus emission to nitrogen (n).

(3)

n
the diameter of a carbon nucleus is approximately 10 m.

suggest a value for n. ..........................................................................................................

(1)

–26
the mass of the carbon nucleus is 2 × 10 kg. estimate its density.

…………………………………………………………………………………………….….

…………………………………………………………………………………………….….

…………………………………………………………………………………………….….

…………………………………………………………………………………………….….

density = .................................................................
(3)

comment on your value, relating it to the density of an everyday material.

…………………………………………………………………………………………….….

…………………………………………………………………………………………….….
(2)
(total 9 marks)

xù43.nuclear equation for decay of isotope

14
8C

14
7 N (1) )
0 0 (−)
−1 e / −1 β (1) ) [either way round] 3

ealing, hammersmith and west london college 30

 value for n
−14 to −15 (1) 1
density of nucleus
use of d = m/v (1)
use of nucleus as sphere/cube (1)
if the nucleus is thought of as a cube:
16 –3
and n = −14, then d = 2 × 10 kg m
19 –3
and n = −15, then d = 2 × 10 kg m
if the nucleus is thought of as a sphere:
16 –3
and n = −14, then d = 3.8 × 10 kg m
19 –3
and n = −15, then d = 3.8 × 10 kg m
[e.c.f. candidate’s n] (1) 3
comment on value
3–4 –3 0–1 –3
liquids/solids have densities ≈ 10 (kg m )/≈ 10 g cm (1)
» /much greater (1) 2
[9]

ealing, hammersmith and west london college 31