27

12 (a) Radioactive decay is both spontaneous and random.

State what is meant by:

1. spontaneous decay ...........................................................................................................

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

2. random decay. ...................................................................................................................

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

(b) Strontium-90 ( 90
38 Sr) is an unstable nuclide.

The activity of a sample of 1.0 × 10–9 kg of strontium-90 is 5.2 MBq.

(i) Determine the decay constant λ of strontium-90.

λ = ................................................... s–1 [3]

(ii) The activity of the sample after a time of 1.0 half lives is found to be greater than the
expected 2.6 MBq.

Suggest a possible reason for this.

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

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

[Total: 6]

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6 (a) An isolated metal sphere of radius r is charged so that the electric field strength at its surface
is E0.

On Fig. 6.1, sketch the variation of the electric field strength E with distance x from the centre
of the sphere. Your sketch should extend from x = 0 to x = 3r.

E0

field
strength E

0
0 r 2r 3r
distance x

Fig. 6.1
[3]

(b) The de Broglie wavelength of a particle is λ 0 when its momentum is p0.

On Fig. 6.2, sketch the variation with momentum p of the de Broglie wavelength λ of the
p
particle for values of momentum from 0 to p0.
2

2λ 0

wavelength λ

λ0

0
0 p0 p0
2
momentum p

Fig. 6.2
[2]
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(c) A radioactive isotope decays with a half-life of 15 s to form a stable product.

A fresh sample of the radioactive isotope at time t = 0 contains N0 nuclei and no nuclei of the
stable product.

On Fig. 6.3, sketch the variation with t of the number n of nuclei of the stable product for time
t = 0 to time t = 45 s.

N0

number n

0.5 N0

0
0 15 30 45
time t / s

Fig. 6.3
[3]

[Total: 8]

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5 (a) An isolated metal sphere of radius r is charged so that the electric potential at its surface is
V0.

On Fig. 5.1, sketch the variation with distance x from the centre of the sphere of the electric
potential. Your graph should extend from x = 0 to x = 3r.

1.0 V0

electric
potential

0.5 V0

0
0 r 2r 3r
x

Fig. 5.1
[3]

(b) Photons having wavelength λ are incident on a metal surface.

The maximum wavelength for which there is emission of electrons is λ 0.
λ
For photons of wavelength 0 , the maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electrons is EMAX.
2

On Fig. 5.2, sketch the variation with wavelength λ of the maximum kinetic energy for values
λ
of wavelength between λ = 0 and λ = λ 0.
3
3 EMAX

energy

2 EMAX

EMAX

0
0 λ0 λ0 λ0
3 2 λ

Fig. 5.2
[3]

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(c) A pure sample of a radioactive isotope contains N0 nuclei. The half-life of the isotope is T . 1
2

The product of the radioactive decay is stable.

The variation with time t of the number N of nuclei of the radioactive isotope is shown in
Fig. 5.3.

N0

number

N0
2

0
0 T
time t

Fig. 5.3

On Fig. 5.3:

● label, on the time axis, the time t = 1.0T and the time t = 2.0T
1
2
1
2

● sketch the variation with time t of the number of nuclei of the decay product for time t = 0
to time t = T.
[3]

[Total: 9]

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12 (a) Define radioactive decay constant.

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

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

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

(b) A sample of radioactive iodine-131 (131

53 I) of mass 5.87 × 10
–10 kg has an activity of
9
2.92 × 10 Bq.

Determine the decay constant of iodine-131.

decay constant = ................................................... s–1 [3]

(c) Suggest two reasons why a detector placed near to the sample in (b) would record a count
rate much less than 2.92 × 109 counts per second.

1. ...............................................................................................................................................

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

2. ...............................................................................................................................................

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

[Total: 7]

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12 (a) Radioactive decay is both random and spontaneous.

State what is meant by:

(i) random

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

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

(ii) spontaneous.

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

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

(b) A sample of radioactive material contains atoms of an unstable nuclide X. The activity of the
sample due to the atoms of X is A. The variation with time t of ln A is shown in Fig. 12.1.

36.6

In (A / Bq)

36.2

35.8

35.4

35.0
0 5 10 15 20 25
t / min

Fig. 12.1

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(i) Use Fig. 12.1 to determine the half-life, in minutes, of nuclide X.

half-life = .................................................. min [3]

(ii) At time t = 0, the mass of the atoms of X in the sample is 5.66 × 10–7 kg.

Determine the nucleon number of X.

nucleon number = ......................................................... [3]

[Total: 8]

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9 Polonium-211 ( 211
84Po) decays by alpha emission to form a stable isotope of lead (Pb).

(a) Complete the equation for this decay.

211Po ........ ........

84 Pb + α
........ ........
[2]

(b) The variation with time t of the number of unstable nuclei N in a sample of polonium-211 is
shown in Fig. 9.1.

24

22

20
N / 1012
18

16

14

12

10

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2
t/s

Fig. 9.1

At time t = 0, the sample contains only polonium-211.

(i) Use Fig. 9.1 to determine the decay constant λ of polonium-211. Give a unit with your
answer.

λ = .............................. unit .................. [2]

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(ii) Use your answer in (b)(i) to calculate the activity at time t = 0 of the sample of
polonium-211.

activity = .................................................... Bq [1]

(iii) On Fig. 9.1, sketch a line to show the variation with t of the number of lead nuclei in the
sample. [2]

(c) Each decay releases an alpha particle with energy 6900 keV.

(i) Calculate, in J, the total amount of energy given to alpha particles that are emitted
between time t = 0.30 s and time t = 0.90 s.

energy = ....................................................... J [3]

(ii) Suggest why the total amount of energy released by the decay process between time
t = 0.30 s and time t = 0.90 s is greater than your answer in (c)(i).

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

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

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

[Total: 11]

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

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

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

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

(ii) On Fig. 8.1, sketch a line to show the variation with nucleon number A of the binding
energy per nucleon E of a nucleus.

0
0 250
A

Fig. 8.1
[2]

(b) In one type of nuclear process, deuterium (21H) undergoes the reaction

2H + 21H 3He + 10n.

1 2

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

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

(ii) Explain, with reference to your line in (a)(ii), why this reaction results in the release of
energy.

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

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

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

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(c) Table 8.1 shows the masses of the particles involved in the reaction in (b).

Table 8.1

particle mass / u
1n 1.008 665
0

2H 2.014 102
1

3He 3.016 029

2

Calculate the energy released when 1.00 mol of deuterium undergoes the reaction.

energy = ...................................................... J [5]

[Total: 12]

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10 (a) State what is meant by radioactive decay.

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

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

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

(b) A radioactive sample consists of an isotope X of half-life T that decays to form a stable
product. Only X and the stable product are present in the sample.

At time t = 0, the sample has an activity of A0 and contains N0 nuclei of X.

(i) On Fig. 10.1, sketch the variation with t of the number N of nuclei of X present in the
sample. Your line should extend from time t = 0 to time t = 3T.

1.00N0

0.75N0

0.50N0

0.25N0

0
0 T 2T 3T
t

Fig. 10.1
[3]

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(ii) On Fig. 10.2, sketch the variation with N of the activity A of the sample for values of N
between N = 0 and N = N0.

1.0A0

0.5A0

0
0 0.5N0 1.0N0
N

Fig. 10.2
[2]

(c) State the name of the quantity represented by the gradient of your line in:

(i) Fig. 10.1

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

(ii) Fig. 10.2.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]
N
(d) For the sample in (b), calculate the fraction N at time t = 1.70T.
0

N
N0 = ......................................................... [2]
[Total: 11]

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10 Carbon-15 (156C) is an isotope of carbon that undergoes radioactive decay to nitrogen-15 (157 N),
which is a stable isotope of nitrogen.

Radioactive decay is both a random and a spontaneous process.

(a) State what is meant by:

(i) random

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

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

(ii) spontaneous.

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

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

(b) A small sample of carbon-15 decays. The mass M of carbon-15 in the sample decreases with
time t.

Fig. 10.1 shows the variation with t of the value of ln (M / 10–16 g).

–4
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
t/s

–5

In (M / 10–16 g)

–6

–7

–8

Fig. 10.1

(i) State how Fig. 10.1 demonstrates that radioactive decay is random.

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

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

(ii) On Fig. 10.1, draw the straight line of best fit. [1]

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(iii) Show that the decay constant λ of carbon-15 is given by the magnitude of the gradient of
your line in (b)(ii).

[1]

(iv) Use your line in (b)(ii) to determine λ. Give a unit with your answer.

λ = ....................................................... unit .......................... [2]

(v) Use your answer in (b)(iv) to calculate the half-life of carbon-15.

half-life = ...................................................... s [1]

(c) The equation for the decay of carbon-15 can be written as

15C 15N + 0 + 0ν.

6 7 –1β 0

State and explain how the mass of the products of the decay must compare with the mass of
the carbon-15 nucleus.

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

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

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

[Total: 10]

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8 Plutonium-238 (238
94Pu) is unstable and undergoes alpha decay.

(a) Complete the equation to show the decay of plutonium-238.

238Pu ........ ........

94 U + α
........ ........
[2]

(b) The power source in a space probe contains 0.874 kg of plutonium-238. Each nucleus of
plutonium-238 that decays emits 5.59 MeV of energy. The half-life of plutonium-238 is
87.7 years.

(i) Calculate the initial number No of nuclei of plutonium-238 in the power source.

No = ......................................................... [1]

(ii) Determine the initial activity of the source. Give a unit with your answer.

activity = .................................. unit .................. [2]

(iii) Use your answer in (b)(ii) to determine the initial power output from the source due to
the decay of plutonium-238.

power output = ..................................................... W [2]

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(iv) The space probe will continue to function until the power output from the plutonium in the
source decreases to 65.3% of its initial value.

Calculate the time, in years, for which the space probe will function.

time = ............................................... years [2]

(c) An alternative power source uses energy generated from the radioactive decay of
polonium-210. This isotope has a half-life of 0.378 years. The mass of the isotope needed for
the same initial power output as in (b) is 3.37 g.

Suggest one advantage and one disadvantage of using polonium-210 as the source of
energy.

advantage .................................................................................................................................

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

disadvantage ............................................................................................................................

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

[Total: 11]

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9 Carbon-11 is radioactive and decays by β+ emission to form boron-11. Carbon-11 has a half-life of
20 minutes. Boron-11 is stable.

(a) Define half-life.

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

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

(b) A sample contains N0 nuclei of carbon-11 and no other nuclei at time t = 0.

On Fig. 9.1, sketch the variation with t of the number of nuclei of boron-11 in the sample.

1.0 N0

number of nuclei

0.5 N0

0
0 20 40 60 80
t / min

Fig. 9.1
[3]

(c) (i) Explain, with reference to the random nature of radioactive decay, why the activity of the
carbon-11 sample in (b) decreases with time.

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

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

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

(ii) State, with reasons, whether a radiation detector placed near to the sample of carbon-11
indicates a measured count rate from the sample that is less than, the same as or greater
than the activity of the sample.

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

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

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

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

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

[Total: 9]

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9 (a) State what is meant by nuclear fusion.

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

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

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

(b) On Fig. 9.1, sketch the variation of binding energy per nucleon with nucleon number A for
values of A between 1 and 250.

binding energy
per nucleon

0
1 250
A

Fig. 9.1
[2]

(c) On your line in Fig. 9.1, label:

(i) a point X that could represent a nucleus that undergoes alpha-decay [1]

(ii) a point Y that could represent a nucleus that undergoes nuclear fusion. [1]

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(d) A nucleus Z undergoes nuclear fission to form strontium-93 ( 93 139

38Sr) and xenon-139 ( 54Xe)
according to

1n + Z 93Sr + 139Xe + 210n.

0 38 54

Table 9.1 shows the binding energies of the strontium-93 and xenon-139 nuclei.

Table 9.1

nucleus binding energy / J

93Sr 1.25 × 10–10
38
139Xe 1.81 × 10–10
54

The fission of 1.00 mol of Z releases 1.77 × 1013 J of energy.

Determine the binding energy per nucleon, in MeV, of Z.

binding energy per nucleon = ................................................. MeV [4]

[Total: 10]

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