Edexcel A2 Physics

Questions and answers

5.1.1 Nuclear decay : Nuclear radiation

(Page-131)

1. Create a table summarising everything you know about alpha, beta and gamma radiations.
: 2p2n; +2 charge; large mass; highly ionizing; low penetration; absorbed by paper, skin or a few cm of air;
little hazard outside the body; extremely hazardous inside body;
: single electron; -1 charge; tiny mass; moderately ionizing; moderate penetration; absorbed by several
metres of air, or a few mm of aluminium; moderate hazard inside and outside the body
: high frequency e-m photon; no charge; no mass; low ionization; highly penetrating; energy significantly
reduced by several metres of concrete, or a few cm of lead; little hazard inside or outside body, prolonged
exposure can increase cancer risk.
2. In preparation for an experiment using a radioactive sample, Xian measured the radioactivity in her
laboratory without the sample present. In one hour, her GeigerMller tube measured 1645 counts. What was
the background count in becquerel?
0.46 Bq
3. Why is it theoretically safe to hold a sample which only emits alpha radiation? Why should you still never do
so?
particles stopped by a layer of dead skin cells outside the body. After handling, the emitter could be
ingested from the fingers.
4. Why does the UK governments Health Protection Agency list living in Cornwall as one of the most
(radiologically) hazardous activities that the public can undertake
The granite bedrock emits significant amounts of radon gas which is an alpha emitter which could be
breathed in.
5. 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.
Students own answers, including background count check and corrected count with various absorbers.
5.1.2 Nuclear decay : Rate of radioactive decay

(Page-135)

1. Calculate the decay constants for the following isotopes which are commonly used in school
laboratories:
a) radium-226: half-life = 1602 years
b) strontium-90: half-life = 28.8 years
c) cobalt-60: half-life = 5.3 years.
a) 1.37 x 10-11 s-1
b) 7.63 x 10-10 s-1
c) 4.15 x 10-9 s-1
2. If the cellar in a house in Cornwall contains 6.5 billion atoms of radon-220 gas, with a decay constant
= 0.0126 s1, how many radon gas atoms will there be one day later?
5.4 109 atoms
3. Technetium-99 is a gamma emitter which is often used as a medical tracer to monitor lymph node
activity. Use the graph of experimental results shown in fig. 5.1.6 to work out the half-life of
technetium-99.
t = 6 hours
4. Explain why a radioactive isotope with a very small decay constant will have a long half-life.
l 1/t
( = ln 2 / t )

Edexcel A2 Physics
Questions and answers
5.2.1 Nuclear decay : Nuclear fission and fusion

(Page-141)

1. Use the data in table 5 2.1 to work out how much energy could be produced if a proton, neutron and
electron were each completely converted into energy.
proton: 1.505 x 10-10 J
neutron: 1.507 x 10-10 J
electron: 8.19 x 10-14 J
2. The atomic mass unit used to be different in Physics and Chemistry until the system was unified in the
1960s. Previously, it was based on the mass of an atom of oxygen-16 in Physics, which is 15.994915 u.
Using the modern values, calculate the binding energy of a nucleus of oxygen-16.
1.98 x 10-11 J (124 MeV)
3. Inside large mass stars, fusion of heavier elements than in the protonproton cycle can occur. At about
108 K, helium-4 nuclei will fuse into carbon-12 nuclei according to the equation:
He2+ + 4He2+ + 4He2+ 12C6+
a) Calculate the energy released in this reaction.
b) How does the binding energy per nucleon change in the reaction?
c) What is the average kinetic energy and r.m.s. speed of the helium nuclei in the star?
a) 7.3 MeV
b) BE per nucleon goes up by 0.6 MeV
c) EK = 2.07 x 10-15 J; rms speed = 788 000 m s-1
4

4. Complete the following nuclear fission reaction to determine X:

235

U + n XRb+ 139Cs + 2n + energy

X = 95
5. Calculate the amount of energy, in joules, generated from 2 kg of uranium fuel, if the U-235 represents
0.7% of the metal, and every fission reaction produces 200 MeV.
7.17 x 1021 MeV
6. Calculate the energy released in one fission in the following reaction:
235

U + n 94Zr+ 139Te + 3n + energy

(Data: mass of Zr-94 = 93.9063 u; mass of Te-139 = 138.9347 u.)

173 MeV
7. Explain, in terms of binding energy per nucleon, why nuclear fusion and nuclear fission can release
energy.
Both fission and fusion products have higher binding energy per nucleon than the start nuclei. This means that
they are more tightly bound so there is less mass per nucleon. This drop in mass is released as energy.

Edexcel A2 Physics
Questions and answers

5.2.2 Nuclear decay : Nuclear power stations

(Page-145)

1. List all the factors that should be taken into consideration when deciding whether or not to build new
nuclear power stations.
Costs to build; costs to decommission; fuel price; amount of fuel needed; power output; costs to dispose of
radioactive waste; environmental impact; public opinion; and all these compared with the alternatives
2. Carry out some research to find out the methods for disposing of high, medium and low level
radioactive wastes.
Students own answers
3. Explain why a mechanical system using levers moved by hand would be inappropriate for use to lower
the control rods into a nuclear reactor.
In case of an emergency, a mechanical system would not fail safe.
4. Write a short editorial piece for a local newspaper, outlining your views about nuclear power
generation in Britain, and the implications for your local area.
Students own answers

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