GCSE PHYSICS

RADIOACTIVITY

High Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 1

The chart below shows the change in mass number and atomic number of an atom for different types of
radioactive decay.

A
B
C
D

change in mass
number
0
-4
0
0

om

change in atomic
number
-1
-2
0
+1

(a) Write down the letter which shows how the mass number and atomic number change for the following:
(i)

emission of an alpha particle

e.c

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) emission of a beta particle

ctiv

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(iii) emission of gamma radiation

ma

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

238
92

238
92

(i)

and

235
92

92

to an isotope of thorium (Th)

[2]

U are both forms of uranium.

ww
w.c

(c)

238

he

(b) Complete the equation below to show the decay of

when it emits an alpha particle.

What do we call different forms of the same element?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) Describe how their nuclei differ from each other.
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

TOTAL / 7

GCSE PHYSICS

RADIOACTIVITY

High Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 2

A radioactive source is used in a factory to monitor the level of washing powder in cardboard boxes as they
move along a conveyer belt.

hopper

washing powder

om

GM tube

radioactive source

e.c

cardboard box

ctiv

(a) A beta source is used.

Why is an alpha source unsuitable?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(b) Why could a gamma source not be used?

ma

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(c) Explain what happen when the level of powder in the box reaches X.

he

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

ww
w.c

..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [4]

TOTAL / 6

GCSE PHYSICS

RADIOACTIVITY

High Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 3

Before Lord Rutherfords alpha particle scattering experiment in 1909, the atom was thought of as something
like a plum pudding.
(a) Describe the plum pudding model.
..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]

om

(b)We now think of the atom as having a positively charged nucleus surrounded by negatively charged
electrons. Briefly describe how Rutherfords experiments provided the evidence for this model.
..............................................................................................................................................................................

e.c

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

ctiv

..............................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [5]

ma

(c) Nuclear reactors make use of a process called nuclear fusion.

How does nuclear fusion result in a release of energy?

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

he

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

ww
w.c

..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [4]

TOTAL / 6

GCSE PHYSICS

RADIOACTIVITY

High Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 4

Paul is a medical physicist. He uses an iodine-123 tracer in diagnosis of thyroid problems.

800

om

700

ctiv

e.c

600

ma
he

400

300

ww
w.c

Counts per minute

500

200

100

0
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Hours

The graph shows the decay curve for iodine-123.

(Continued...)

GCSE PHYSICS

RADIOACTIVITY
QUESTIONSHEET 4 CONTINUED

(a) Explain what is meant by the half-life of a radioactive substance.

..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(b)(i)

Using the graph, write down the half-life of iodine-123.

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
What is the count rate after 24 hours?

om

(ii)

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
If 0.08 g of iodine-123 in solution is injected into a patient, what is the maximum amount still
in the body after 39 hours?

e.c

(c)(i)

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

ctiv

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) Why is it unlikely to actually be this much?

(d) (i)

ma

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
Iodine-123 is a gamma emitter.
Another isotope, iodine-131, with a half-life of 8 days is a beta emitter.
Give two reasons why iodine-131 is not suitable as a tracer in the body.

he

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

ww
w.c

......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(ii) Complete the equation for the decay of iodine-131 to form xenon (Xe).
131
53

..............................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]

TOTAL / 9

GCSE PHYSICS

RADIOACTIVITY

High Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 5

The table below shows a list of radionuclides, their half-lives and the types of radiation emitted.

220

24
11

32
15

90
38

14

half-life

Rn

54.5 s

Na

15 hr

14 days

Sr

28 yr.

5700 yr.

radiation emitted
alpha
gamma

ctiv

No of
neutrons

beta

beta

e.c

86

No of
protons

om

radionuclide

beta & gamma

(a) In the appropriate spaces in the table, write down the numbers of protons and neutrons in each nucleus.

[5]

(i)

ma

(b) Many radioactive substances have industrial, and scientific uses.

Choose the most suitable substances for the following tasks.
finding the age of prehistoric remains

(ii) tracing leaks in oil pipes

he

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

ww
w.c

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

TOTAL / 7

GCSE PHYSICS

RADIOACTIVITY

High Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 6

A source, which emits beta radiation, is used in a factory to control thickness of sheet metal as it is being rolled.
Pressure
control
Detector
Rollers

Metal sheet

om

Source

e.c

(a) Name a suitable detector.

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

ctiv

(b)Explain how this arrangement controls the metal thickness.

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

ma

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

he

......................................................................................................................................................................... [5]

ww
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(c)One worker suggests that an alpha source would be safer to use.

Why is this not a sensible idea?
..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

TOTAL / 7

GCSE PHYSICS

RADIOACTIVITY

High Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 7

Freya is excavating a prehistoric site.

She finds human bones in the ground and decides to send them for carbon dating.
(a) (i)

Which isotope of carbon is measured in carbon dating?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii)

Why is the element carbon chosen as the one to measure?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

e.c

om

(b) The graph below shows the decay curve for radioactive carbon

100

ctiv

90

ma

70

he

60
50

ww
w.c

Counts per minute

80

40
30
20
10
0
0

5000

10000

15000

20000

Years

(Continued...)

GCSE PHYSICS

RADIOACTIVITY

High Demand Questions

(i)

QUESTIONSHEET 7 CONTINUED

The count rate at A is 100 counts per minute.

What time period would a sample having this count rate come from?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) The analysis of Freyas sample gave a count rate of 60 counts per minute.
How old is the sample?
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

om

(iii) If the sample was know to date from 0 AD, what count rate would you expect?
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

e.c

(iv) What is the half-life of this carbon isotope?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

ctiv

(c) Freya believes that there may have been civilizations in the world more than 10 000 years ago.
Give two reasons why carbon dating would be unsuitable for testing any samples from this period.
..............................................................................................................................................................................

ww
w.c

he

ma

......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]

TOTAL / 8

GCSE PHYSICS

RADIOACTIVITY

High Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 8

The diagram below shows a nucleus of uranium-235 undergoing nuclear fission.

A2

235

A1

(a) (i)

om

A3

What type of particle is A1?

e.c

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) Continue the diagram to show what happens when particles A2 and A3 meet more uranium nuclei.
(iii) What type of reaction has been started?

[1]

ctiv

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(iv) What is produced in nuclear fission which makes it very useful for electricity generation?
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

ma

(b) The diagram below shows a nuclear reactor.

boron control rods

graphite
moderator

he

hot gas

ww
w.c

uranium
fuel rods

heat
exchanger
steam to
turbogenerators

core
cold water

cold gas

gas flow

(i)

thick
concrete
shield

pump

What happens to the heated coolant?

..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(ii) What is the purpose of the layer of concrete around the reactor?
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(iii) What is the purpose of the control rods?
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
TOTAL / 8

GCSE PHYSICS

RADIOACTIVITY

Medium Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 9

(a) Choose words from this list to complete the sentence below
electrons
molecules
elements
protons
neutrons
crystal
nucleus
An atom is made up of a tiny ....................... which contains ................. and
[4]

om

..................... It is surrounded by a cloud of ...................

(b) Explain what is meant by radioactivity.

e.c

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

ww
w.c

he

ma

ctiv

......................................................................................................................................................................... [4]

TOTAL / 8

GCSE PHYSICS

RADIOACTIVITY

Medium Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 10

(a)

Complete the following table

type of radiation
alpha

composition
electron

speed
slow
fast

electrical charge
positive

gamma
[6]

om

(b) Radiation comes from the atomic nucleus, which only contains protons and neutrons.
Explain how beta radiation arises.
..............................................................................................................................................................................

e.c

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

ww
w.c

he

ma

ctiv

......................................................................................................................................................................... [3]

TOTAL / 9

GCSE PHYSICS

RADIOACTIVITY

Medium Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 11

(a) Radiation can be detected by photographic film.

Workers in the radiation industry wear photographic film badges.
Explain the purpose of these badges.
..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(b) (i)

Name a device commonly used to measure radioactivity.

om

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) The device works by detecting the ionisation of a gas in a tube.
Explain the meaning of the word ionisation.

e.c

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

ww
w.c

he

ma

ctiv

......................................................................................................................................................................... [3]

TOTAL / 5

GCSE PHYSICS

RADIOACTIVITY

Medium Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 12

A Geiger-Muller tube is attached to a ratemeter to measure the activity of a radioactive sample.

A student records the measurements at two-minute intervals.

time interval (min)

counts per second

0-2
87

2-4
92

4-6
81

6-8
84

8 - 10
80

(a) Why do the measurements vary?

om

..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]

e.c

(b) Calculate the average measurement in a two-minute period.

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

(c) (i)

ctiv

......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
When the source is removed, the ratemeter continues to register a count.
What is the origin of this count?

ma

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) Is the average measurement of this count likely to be higher or lower than that with the source present?

ww
w.c

he

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

TOTAL / 6

GCSE PHYSICS

RADIOACTIVITY

Medium Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 13

Radiation is used in medicine to kill cancerous cells.

RADIATION

tumour
organ
RADIATION

om

RADIATION

(a) What is the name we give to this treatment?

e.c

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(b) What type of radiation is used?

(c)Three weak beams of radiation are used.

Explain why?

ctiv

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

ma

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

ww
w.c

he

......................................................................................................................................................................... [4]

TOTAL / 6

GCSE PHYSICS

RADIOACTIVITY

Medium Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 14

Sophie found a school radioactive source without a label.

She decided to measure its count rate under different conditions using a Geiger-Muller counter.
The table shows her results.

(a) (i)

counts per min

451
455
18
15

What was the count rate due to background activity?

om

set up
source + no absorber
source + 1 mm foil absorber
source + 10 mm aluminium absorber
no source or absorber

(ii)

Name two sources of background radiation.

e.c

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

ctiv

..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]

ma

(b) What was the count rate due to the source alone?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

he

(c) What type of radiation did the source emit?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
Sophie then took further readings of count rate, without an absorber, at regular time intervals.
She plotted a graph of count rate against time.
What quantity might she be able to read from the graph?

ww
w.c

(d) (i)

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) Why is it likely that she would not actually be able to find this quantity?
..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]

(e) Give two precautions that Sophie should take when handling radioactive sources.
..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]

TOTAL / 10

GCSE PHYSICS

RADIOACTIVITY

Medium Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 15

% of background
radiation dose
1
5
3
24
40
3
2

x-ray source
dental
chest
skull
pelvis
spine
leg
arm
Draw a bar graph to display the data.

[4]

ww
w.c

he

ma

ctiv

e.c

(a) (i)

om

Members of the public who do not work with radiation are allowed a certain dose per year.
The table shows the percentage of that dose that each medical x-ray gives.

(ii) Jack has a chest x-ray.

How many dental x-rays would he need to have the same dose?
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(iii) Name two ways in which radiation can damage the body.
..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(b)

Mary is a radiographer who routinely works with x-rays.

Give two precautions she must take to keep her exposure as low as possible.
..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
TOTAL / 9

GCSE PHYSICS

RADIOACTIVITY

Medium Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 16

Bilal did an experiment to measure the penetrating power of alpha, beta and gamma radiation.
The diagram shows a summary of his results.

Source
Source

Paper

(ii)

Lead

Continue the arrows for each type of radiation.

[1]

e.c

(a) (i)

Aluminium

om

Source

Bilal placed a strong magnet near each radiation beam.

State what would happen to each radiation beam.

ctiv

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

ma

......................................................................................................................................................................... [3]
(iii) Why do the results described in (ii) happen?

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

he

......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]

(i)

ww
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(b) On a visit to a nuclear research laboratory, Bilal was shown a room containing a large cobalt-60 source.
Cobalt-60 is a gamma emitter.
What would be the best material for the walls of the room?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) State a precaution which should be taken by workers at the laboratory to reduce their dose of
gamma radiation.
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

TOTAL / 8

GCSE PHYSICS

RADIOACTIVITY

Low Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 17

(a) Write down two ways in which radioactivity is harmful to humans.

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

(b) A source of radiation is outside a persons body.

Which type of radiation is least dangerous to the person?
(Give a reason for your answer)

e.c

Type of radiation

om

......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

ctiv

Reason (one line)

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

ma

(c) Describe how radioactivity can be used to sterilise medical equipment.

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

ww
w.c

he

......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]

TOTAL / 6

GCSE PHYSICS

RADIOACTIVITY

Low Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 18

Nuclear power stations generate electricity

(a) Name a fuel that is used in a nuclear power station.
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

om

(b)When the Russian nuclear power station at Chernobyl suffered damage some years ago, there
was a leakage of radiation into the environment.
People in the UK were advised not to drink milk.
(i) Complete the flow chart to show how the radiation could have got into UK milk.
Choose phrases from the list below.

[3]

ctiv

e.c

cows have calves

blown to UK
leaks into sea
settles on grass
cows produce milk

C
Cows
eat
grass

ma

Radioactive
gas
leaks

he

(ii) State two other possible harmful effects of the radiation from Chernobyl.
..............................................................................................................................................................................

ww
w.c

......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(iii) Why has the area around the Chernobyl power station been cleared for a very long time?
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

TOTAL / 7

GCSE PHYSICS

RADIOACTIVITY

Low Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 19

Stephen is moving house. He would like to live in an area with low background radiation.. He looked at a table
showing the average radiation levels from radon gas in air in different areas of the country.
The table is shown below.
units of radiation
dose per year
60
15
65
36
9

area

Display the data in a bar chart.

[3]

ww
w.c

he

ma

ctiv

e.c

(a) (i)

om

Cornwall
Sussex
Derbyshire
Scottish Highlands
North Yorkshire

(ii) Where would he obtain the lowest dose?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(iii) Why is radon gas present in air?
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(b) Stephen had a holiday in the United States. His return flight gave him a radiation dose of 6 units.
How many return flights would he have to make to receive the equivalent of living in Cornwall for a year?
......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
TOTAL / 7

GCSE PHYSICS

RADIOACTIVITY

Low Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 20

There is radiation all around us. Some is artificial, but the greater proportion is natural.
(a) (i)

Give two sources of natural radiation.

..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(ii) Give one source of artificial radiation.

Nuclear reactors provide only a small amount of the energy used in this country, yet many people
are worried about them.
(i)

Give two arguments against the setting up of more nuclear power plants.

e.c

(b)

om

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

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

ctiv

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

ma

......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(ii) Give two arguments in favour of setting up more nuclear power plants.
..............................................................................................................................................................................

he

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

ww
w.c

..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(c)

What two important uses do radioactive isotopes have in medicine?

..............................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]

TOTAL / 9