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Radioactive Emissions · CSEC Physics

37 past-paper questions on Radioactive Emissions, part of The Physics of the Atom, from every CSEC Physics paper on Quelpr.

Practise Radioactive Emissions
  1. 3(b)(i)4 marks· CSEC Physics · 1988 · Paper 2Enter, above each arrow, the symbols for the radiations that are likely to be emitted.
  2. 3(b)(ii)3 marks· CSEC Physics · 1988 · Paper 2If someone is exposed to all three radiations from the thorium source, which one do you think is most likely to cause the greatest harm? Explain your answer.
  3. 3(a)(i)2 marks· CSEC Physics · 1990 · Paper 2State the composition of an alpha-particle.
  4. 3(b)4 marks· CSEC Physics · 1990 · Paper 2Given the nuclear reactions: 216_84 Po -> 212_82 Pb + X and 212_82 Pb -> 212_83 Bi + Y, name the emissions X and Y and write the symbols for them.
  5. 4(b)5 marks· CSEC Physics · 1991 · Paper 2Complete the balanced nuclear equation for the alpha decay of uranium-238 to thorium-234, and the subsequent beta decay of thorium-234 to protactinium (symbol Pa).
  6. 4(c)(iii)1 mark· CSEC Physics · 1991 · Paper 2Determine the mass of the material remaining after 9 days if the external pressure were increased by a factor of 10.
  7. 2(b)(iv)1 mark· CSEC Physics · 1995 · Paper 2What difference, if any, would be noticed in the graph if Sample B were heated?
  8. 2(b)(v)3 marks· CSEC Physics · 1995 · Paper 2Sample B is an isotope of thorium (Th), with a proton number of 90 and a neutron number of 142. It decays by the emission of an alpha particle to form radium (Ra). Write a nuclear reaction to represent this decay.
  9. 4(b)2 marks· CSEC Physics · 1998 · Paper 2Give TWO reasons why nuclei that emit only alpha-particles are NOT normally used as medical tracers in the human body.
  10. 4(d)2 marks· CSEC Physics · 1998 · Paper 2Write a balanced nuclear equation for the decay of 131_53 I into xenon (Xe), emitting a beta-particle and gamma-radiation.
  11. 6(b)(i)3 marks· CSEC Physics · 2021 · Paper 2Explain what is meant by the term 'radioactivity'.
  12. 6(b)(ii)2 marks· CSEC Physics · 2021 · Paper 2Complete the equation for the decay of Radium-226: ²²⁶₈₈Ra ->
  13. 1(d)(i)2 marks· Physics Q1 1(d)(i)State TWO types of radioactive emissions.
  14. 1(d)(ii)1 mark· Physics Q1 1(d)(ii)Which type of radioactive emission is the most dangerous to human tissue?
  15. 3(b)(i)1 mark· Physics Q3 3(b)(i)State ONE precaution that workers in nuclear power plants need to take.
  16. 3(b)(i)2 marks· Physics Q3 3(b)(i)Calculate the values of A and Z.
  17. 3(c)3 marks· Physics Q3 3(c)By calculating P and Q, identify the nucleus X. [c = 3.0 × 10⁸ ms⁻¹]
  18. 4(b)(i)2 marks· Physics Q4 4(b)(i)Rewrite and complete the nuclear equation for this process.
  19. 4(c)3 marks· Physics Q4 4(c)Correctly complete the following nuclear fusion reaction: ²₁H + ³₁H → ? + ¹₀n.
  20. 5(e)(i)4 marks· Physics Q5 5(e)(i)Copy the three stages above and complete EACH equation.
  21. 5(e)(ii)4 marks· Physics Q5 5(e)(ii)Explain why lead is used when handling radioisotopes.
  22. 6(a)6 marks· Physics Q6 6(a)Describe an experiment to compare the ranges of β and γ emissions in aluminium.
  23. 6(a)6 marks· Physics Q6 6(a)With the aid of a diagram, describe how the presence of any TWO of the three types of radiation in such sample could be confirmed.
  24. 6(a)(i)6 marks· Physics Q6 6(a)(i)Compare these two types of radiation in terms of their range in air.
  25. 6(a)(i)3 marks· Physics Q6 6(a)(i)Describe the path of each of the three emissions (α, β and γ) when subjected to a uniform electric field from left if the emissions are projected up towards the top of your page.
  26. 6(a)(i)3 marks· Physics Q6 6(a)(i)Write the equation representing this decay process.
  27. 6(a)(ii)3 marks· Physics Q6 6(a)(ii)If the electric field is replaced by a uniform magnetic field into the page, predict the path of the emissions.
  28. 6(a)(ii)3 marks· Physics Q6 6(a)(ii)State THREE safety precautions to be taken when using radioactive substances.
  29. 6(a)(ii)6 marks· Physics Q6 6(a)(ii)Compare these two types of radiation in terms of their behaviour in an electric field.
  30. 6(a)(iii)6 marks· Physics Q6 6(a)(iii)Compare these two types of radiation in terms of their type of track in a cloud chamber.
  31. 6(b)3 marks· Physics Q6 6(b)Write a nuclear equation to represent this nuclear reaction.
  32. 6(b)6 marks· Physics Q6 6(b)With reference to the information in Table 5, write a possible sequence of three nuclear equations that can result in ²⁰⁶₈₂Pb (stable lead) from ²¹⁰₈₂Pb.
  33. 6(b)(i)5 marks· Physics Q6 6(b)(i)Rewrite the nuclear sequence to show how thorium-232 becomes uranium-233, a nuclear fuel, by calculating the numerical values of x, y, u, v, and z.
  34. 6(c)(i)1 mark· Physics Q6 6(c)(i)State the type of decay process that occurred.
  35. 6(c)(ii)2 marks· Physics Q6 6(c)(ii)Determine the values of p and q.
  36. 6(c)(iii)2 marks· Physics Q6 6(c)(iii)If element Y then undergoes a beta decay and forms an element Z, write the reaction equation.
  37. 6(c)(iv)1 mark· Physics Q6 6(c)(iv)How does radioactive decay affect a particle's mass?

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