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6 marksAtomic Mass

CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2004 · Paper 2 · Question 9(c)

Plutonium-238 is an alpha emitter with disintegration energy Q = 5.50 MeV and half-life 90 years, used as a thermal power source.

Calculate the rate at which thermal energy is generated in 1 kg of Plutonium-238. (1 year = 3.156 × 10^7 s).

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Other parts of this question

  1. 9(a)(i)In the equation N = N_0 e^(-λt), explain the meaning of the symbols and define the terms activity, A, and half-life, t_(1/2).[5 marks]
  2. 9(a)(ii)Show that the half-life of the sample can be written as (N ln 2) / A.[3 marks]
  3. 9(b)(i)Determine the half-life of the sample from Figure 9.[2 marks]
  4. 9(b)(ii)Determine the decay constant of the sample from Figure 9.[2 marks]
  5. 9(b)(iii)Determine the activity at 1000 s from Figure 9.[2 marks]

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