2APHY: Nuclear Physics Mid Unit Test
Name: __________________________________________________ (33 marks + overall = 34 marks)
OVERALL: Additional 1 mark for units and significant figures.
1. Complete the table below: (2 marks)
Element Nuclide Atomic Number Number of Mass Number
Neutrons
Nitrogen - 14 7
2 2
6 14
2. Fully explain what an isotope is using examples. (3 marks) _________________________________
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3. For each of the following, name the radiation emitted, its symbol and what the radiation is and what
will stop it. [Level 4] (3 marks)
Nuclear Equation Nuclide Radiation Symbol What is the radiation made of?
name
4. A radiographer wants to investigate blood circulation in a patient. There are a number of
radioisotopes available. What properties would you look for to select one? Give three reasons.
(3 marks)
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5. Within a nuclear reactor, uranium-235 is bombarded by a neutron to split into two daughter products
also emitting three neutrons. Part of the nuclear equation is shown below.
a. Write the nuclide for the missing daughter product labelled X. __________________ (1 mark)
b. What is the atomic and mass numbers of the daughter product X:
Mass no. ____________ (1 mark) Atomic no. _____________ (1 mark)
6. A physics student has three radioactive sources, X, Y and Z. One is a pure emitter, one is a pure
emitter and one is a pure emitter. He uses the following apparatus to decide which is which.
The apparatus consists of a holder for the source, a sheet of thin aluminium foil placed in front of the
source, a region of magnetic field directed into the page, and three detectors, 1, 2 and 3, arranged as
shown below. The student is also told that charged particles will be deflected to the left or to the
right when passing through a magnetic field.
With source X there is no signal from any detector. With source Y there is a signal from detector 3
only. With source Z there is a signal from detector 2 only.
a. Which source (X, Y or Z) is the emitter? (1 mark) _______________
b. Which source (X, Y or Z) is the emitter? (1 mark) _______________
c. Which detector (1, 2 or 3) would most likely detect radiation? (1 mark) _____________
5. A student is measuring the decay of a nuclear source. She finds that the source has a count of
8.30 x 103 decays in a one hour period. Calculate the activity of the source. (2 marks)
7. The forming of a new element during radioactive decay is called transmutation. Explain why
emitting alpha and beta radiation causes a transmutation but emitting gamma radiation does not.
(3 marks)
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4. From the graph, determine the half life of the radioactive isotope. (1 mark)
Show on the graph how you did this. (1 mark
Half-life = ______________________________
5. In the following reaction X + an particle; the nuclide X is: (1 mark)
A. B. C. D. E.
Answer: ____________
6. If a radioactive sample has a half-life of 1.50 hours. If the activity of the sample was originally
15.0 kBq, what would the activity be exactly one day later? (2 marks)
7. The radio isotope has a half-life of approximately 5.00 years. Gamma radiation from a
source is used to treat cancer. Hospitals using such sources for therapy usually replace the source
when its activity has fallen to 25% of its original value. After how many years must a source be
replaced? All working must be shown. (2 marks)
8. Household smoke detectors contain a radioactive Americium-241 source. Emitted radiation ionizes
air inside a chamber that allows a small current to flow. Smoke particles entering the chamber
interrupt the current flow, which sets off the alarm. Americium-241 is an emitter with a half life of
433 years.
a. Using the information above, briefly discuss why is ideal for use in smoke detectors.
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b. What would you say to a person who is anxious about having a smoke detector containing a
radiation source in their home? (2 marks)
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