In the early 20th century, scientists developed an alpha particle scattering
1. experiment using gold foil.
The diagram shows the paths of some of the alpha particles in the alpha particle scattering
experiment.
(a) Explain how the paths of the alpha particles were used to develop the nuclear model of the
atom.
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(4)
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(b) Niels Bohr adapted the nuclear model by suggesting electrons orbited the
nucleus at specific distances.
Explain how the distance at which an electron orbits the nucleus may be changed.
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(3)
(Total 7 marks)
Alpha, beta and gamma are types of nuclear radiation.
2.
(a) Draw one line from each type of radiation to what the radiation consists of.
Type of radiation What radiation consists of
Electron from the nucleus
Alpha
Two protons and two neutrons
Beta
Electromagnetic radiation
Gamma
Neutron from the nucleus
(3)
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(b) A teacher demonstrates the penetration of alpha, beta and gamma radiation
through different materials.
The demonstration is shown in the figure below.
Complete the figure above by writing the name of the correct radiation in each box.
(2)
(c) Give two safety precautions the teacher should have taken in the demonstration.
1. _________________________________________________________________
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2. _________________________________________________________________
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(2)
(d) The table below shows how the count rate from a radioactive source changes with time.
Time in seconds 0 40 80 120 160
Count rate
400 283 200 141 100
in counts/second
Use the table to calculate the count rate after 200 seconds.
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(2)
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(e) The half-life of the radioactive source used was very short.
Give one reason why this radioactive source would be much less hazardous
after 800 seconds.
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(1)
(Total 10 marks)
Alpha particles, beta particles and gamma rays are types of nuclear radiation.
3.
(a) Describe the structure of an alpha particle.
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(1)
(b) Nuclear radiation can change atoms into ions by the process of ionisation.
(i) Which type of nuclear radiation is the least ionising?
Tick (✔) one box.
alpha particles
beta particles
gamma rays
(1)
(ii) What happens to the structure of an atom when the atom is ionised?
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(1)
(c) People working with sources of nuclear radiation risk damaging their health.
State one precaution these people should take to reduce the risk to their health.
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(1)
(Total 4 marks)
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Atoms are different sizes.
4.
One of the heaviest naturally occurring stable elements is lead.
Two of its isotopes are lead-206 ( ) and lead-208 ( ).
(a) (i) What is meant by ‘isotopes’?
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(2)
(ii) How many protons are in the nucleus of a atom?
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(1)
(iii) How many neutrons are in the nucleus of a atom?
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(1)
(b) A nucleus can be accelerated in a particle accelerator and directed at a large nucleus. This
produces a heavy nucleus that will decay after a short time.
This is shown in Figure 1.
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(i) In 1984, nuclei of iron (Fe) were directed at nuclei of lead (Pb). This
produced nuclei of hassium (Hs).
Complete the equation for this reaction by writing numbers in the empty boxes.
(3)
(ii) Use the correct answer from the box to complete the sentence.
an electron a proton a neutron
The particle X in part (b)(i) is _________________________________ .
(1)
(iii) After acceleration the iron nuclei travel at a steady speed of one-tenth of the speed of
light.
The speed of light is 3.00 × 108 m/s.
Calculate the time taken for the iron nuclei to travel a distance of 12 000 m.
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Time taken = ____________________ s
(2)
(iv) Linear accelerators, in which particles are accelerated in a straight line, are not used
for these experiments. Circular particle accelerators are used.
Suggest why.
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(3)
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(c) Hassium-265 ( ) decays by alpha emission with a half-life of 0.002 seconds.
(i) What is meant by ‘half-life’?
Tick ( ) two boxes.
Tick ( )
The average time for the number of nuclei to halve
The time for count rate to be equal to background count
The time for background count to halve
The time for count rate to halve
(2)
(ii) Complete the equation for the decay of Hs-265 by writing numbers in the empty
boxes.
(2)
(d) The table below shows how the atomic radius of some atoms varies with atomic number.
Atomic Atomic radius in
number picometres (pm)
15 100
35 115
50 130
70 150
95 170
1 pm = 10–12 m
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(i) On Figure 2, use the data from the table above to plot a graph of atomic radius
against atomic number and draw a line of best fit.
Two points have been plotted for you.
Figure 2
(2)
(ii) Scientists believe that the element with atomic number 126 can be produced and that
it will be stable.
Use your graph in Figure 2 to predict the atomic radius of an atom with atomic
number 126.
Atomic radius = ____________________ pm
(1)
(Total 20 marks)
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Atoms contain three types of particle.
5.
(a) Draw a ring around the correct answer to complete the sentence.
electrons and neutrons.
The particles in the nucleus of the atom are electrons and protons.
neutrons and protons.
(1)
(b) Complete the table to show the relative charges of the atomic particles.
Particle Relative charge
Electron –1
Neutron
Proton
(2)
(c) (i) A neutral atom has no overall charge.
Explain this in terms of its particles.
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(2)
(ii) Complete the sentence.
An atom that loses an electron is called an _____________________
and has an overall _________________________ charge.
(2)
(Total 7 marks)
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(a) The figure below shows a helium atom.
6.
(i) Which one of the particles in the atom is not charged?
Draw a ring around the correct answer.
electron neutron proton
(1)
(ii) Which two types of particle in the atom have the same mass?
__________________________ and __________________________
(1)
(iii) What is the atomic number of a helium atom?
Draw a ring around the correct answer.
2 4 6
Give a reason for your answer.
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(2)
(b) Alpha particles are one type of nuclear radiation.
(i) Name one other type of nuclear radiation.
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(1)
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(ii) Use the correct answer from the box to complete the sentence.
electrons neutrons protons
The difference between an alpha particle and a helium atom is that the alpha
particle does not have any _________________________ .
(1)
(iii) Which one of the following is a property of alpha particles?
Tick (✓) one box.
Have a long range in air
Are highly ionising
Will pass through metals
(1)
(c) Doctors may use nuclear radiation to treat certain types of illness.
Treating an illness with radiation may also harm a patient.
(i) Complete the following sentence.
The risk from treating a patient with radiation is that the radiation may
_________________________ healthy body cells.
(1)
(ii) Draw a ring around the correct answer to complete the sentence.
Radiation may be used to treat a patient if the risk from the
much bigger than
radiation is about the same as the possible benefit of having
much smaller than
the treatment.
(1)
(Total 9 marks)
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