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2 marksRadioactivity

CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2002 · Paper 2 · Question 9(d)

Spontaneous alpha decay of uranium-238: 238_92 U -> 234_90 Th + 4_2 He. Given masses: 234_90 Th = 234.116550 u, 238_92 U = 238.12492 u, 4_2 He = 4.00387 u.

Show that a uranium-238 nucleus can disintegrate spontaneously with the emission of an alpha particle.

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Other parts of this question

  1. 9(a)(i)Distinguish between nuclear fusion and nuclear fission.[2 marks]
  2. 9(a)(ii)Sketch a graph of binding energy per nucleon versus mass number, and explain how nuclear fission and fusion can be understood from the shape of the curve.[4 marks]
  3. 9(b)(i)Explain what is meant by mass defect.[1 mark]
  4. 9(b)(ii)Explain what is meant by binding energy of an atomic nucleus.[1 mark]
  5. 9(c)The nitrogen nucleus 15_7 N has a mass of 15.9963 u. Calculate the binding energy per nucleon of this nucleus.[6 marks]
  6. 9(e)(i)Assuming the uranium-238 nucleus was at rest before disintegration, calculate the total energy released in the disintegration.[2 marks]
  7. 9(e)(ii)Calculate the kinetic energy of the emitted alpha particle.[2 marks]

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