NUCLEAR PHYSICS

16

8 (a) Explain why the mass of an α-particle is less than the total mass of two individual For
protons and two individual neutrons. Examiner’s
Use

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

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

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

(b) An equation for one possible nuclear reaction is

4He + 14N 17O + 1p.

2 7 8 1

Data for the masses of the nuclei are given in Fig. 8.1.

mass / u
proton 1p 1.00728
1
helium-4 4He 4.00260
2
nitrogen-14 14N 14.00307
7
oxygen-17 17O 16.99913
8

Fig. 8.1

(i) Calculate the mass change, in u, associated with this reaction.

mass change = .............................................. u [2]

(ii) Calculate the energy, in J, associated with the mass change in (i).

energy = ............................................... J [2]

© UCLES 2013 9702/42/M/J/13

 17

(iii) Suggest and explain why, for this reaction to occur, the helium-4 nucleus must have For
a minimum speed. Examiner’s
Use

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

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

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

© UCLES 2013 9702/42/M/J/13 [Turn over

 18

8 A positron (+10e ) is a particle that has the same mass as an electron and has a charge of For
+1.6 × 10–19 C. Examiner’s
A positron will interact with an electron to form two γ-ray photons. Use

0 + 0 → 2γ
+1e –1e

Assuming that the kinetic energy of the positron and the electron is negligible when they
interact,

(a) suggest why the two photons will move off in opposite directions with equal energies,

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

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

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

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

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

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

(b) calculate the energy, in MeV, of one of the γ-ray photons.

energy = ........................................... MeV [3]

© UCLES 2008 9702/04/M/J/08

 16

8 (a) State what is meant by nuclear binding energy. For

Examiner’s
.......................................................................................................................................... Use

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

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

(b) The variation with nucleon number A of the binding energy per nucleon BE is shown in
Fig. 8.1.

BE

0
0 A

Fig. 8.1

When uranium-235 ( 235

92U) absorbs a slow-moving neutron, one possible nuclear
reaction is

235U + 1n 95Mo + 139La + 2 10n + 7–10β + energy.

92 0 42 57

(i) State the name of this type of nuclear reaction.

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

(ii) On Fig. 8.1, mark the position of

1. the uranium-235 nucleus (label this position U), [1]

2. the molybdenum-95 ( 95
42Mo) nucleus (label this position Mo), [1]

3. the lanthanum-139 ( 139

57La) nucleus (label this position La). [1]

© UCLES 2013 9702/42/O/N/13

 17

(iii) The masses of some particles and nuclei are given in Fig. 8.2. For
Examiner’s
Use
mass / u
β-particle 5.5 × 10–4
neutron 1.009
proton 1.007
uranium-235 235.123
molybdenum-95 94.945
lanthanum-139 138.955

Fig. 8.2

Calculate, for this reaction,

1. the change, in u, of the rest mass,

change in mass = .............................................. u [2]

2. the energy released, in MeV, to three significant figures.

energy = ......................................... MeV [3]

© UCLES 2013 9702/42/O/N/13 [Turn over

 26

53I) is radioactive with a decay constant of 8.6 × 10 day .

12 The isotope iodine-131 ( 131 –2 –1
–
β particles are emitted with a maximum energy of 0.61 MeV.

(a) State what is meant by

(i) radioactive,

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

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

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

(ii) decay constant.

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

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

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

(b) Explain why the emitted β– particles have a range of energies.

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

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

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

(c) A sample of blood contains 1.2 × 10–9 g of iodine-131.

Determine, for this sample of blood,

(i) the activity of the iodine-131,

activity = .................................................... Bq [3]

© UCLES 2017 9702/42/O/N/17

 27

(ii) the time for the activity of the iodine-131 to be reduced to 1/50 of the activity calculated
in (i).

time = ................................................. days [2]

[Total: 11]

© UCLES 2017 9702/42/O/N/17

 A-2 NUCLEAR PHYSICS (CIE Past Paper Questions)

Data & Formulae provided in CAIE paper:

Q.1 /{Q.12/June 2020/41}

Q.2 {Q.12/June 2020/42}
Q.3 {Q.12/March 2020/42}
Q.4{ Q.12/June 2019/41}
Q.5 {Q.12/June 2018/42}
Q.6 {Q.7/Nov. 2007/4}
Q.7
(a) Define the term radioactive decay constant.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………….……… [2]
 (b) State the relation between the activity A of a sample of a radioactive
isotope containing N atoms and the decay constant λ of the isotope.

………………………………………………………………………………………………[1]
(c) Radon is a radioactive gas with half-life 56s. For health reasons,the maximum permissible
level of radon in air in a building is set at 1 radon atom for every 1.5×10 21molecules of air.
1 mol of air in the building is contained in 0.024m3.
Calculate, for this building,
(i) the number of molecules of air in 1.0 m3,

number: …………………………….
(ii) the maximum permissible number of radon atoms in 1.0 m3of air,

number: …………………………….
(iii) the maximum permissible activity of radon per cubic metre of air.

Activity: …………………………… Bq [5]

Q.8 Strontium-90 decays with the emission of a β-particle to form Yttrium-90. The reaction is
represented by the equation

The decay constant is 0.025 year–1.

(a) Suggest, with a reason, which nucleus, has the greater binding energy.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………….……
……………………………………………………………………………………………………… [2]
(b) Explain what is meant by the decay constant.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………….……
……………………………………………………………………………………………………… [2]
(c) At the time of purchase of a Strontium-90 source, the activity
is 3.7×106 Bq.
(i) Calculate, for this sample of strontium,
1. the initial number of atoms,

number: ………………………….. [3]

2. the initial mass.

mass: …………………………………. Kg [2]

(ii) Determine the activity A of the sample 5.0 years after purchase, expressing the answer
as a fraction of the initial activity That is, calculate the ratio .

ratio = ………………………………….. [2]

ANSWER KEYS

Q.1 Q.12/June 2020/41

Q. 2 Q.12/June 2020/42

Q. 3 Q.12/March 2020/42
Q. 4 Q.12/June 2019/41

Q. 5 Q.12/June 2018/42

Q.6 Q.7/Nov. 2007/4