Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) · PHYSICS · Chapter
Radioactivity
46 practice questions
Topics covered
Practice questions
11–20 of 46
Question 11
4 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →A student investigates the penetration powers of alpha, beta, and gamma radiation using suitable equipment.
(a)[1 mark]Name the device used to detect ionising radiation in such an experiment.
(b)The student places different materials between the source and the detector. Describe what would be observed for:
(i)[1 mark](i) Alpha radiation with a sheet of paper
(ii)[1 mark](ii) Beta radiation with 5 mm of aluminium
(iii)[1 mark](iii) Gamma radiation with 2 cm of lead
Question 12
3 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →A radioactive isotope of beryllium, , decays by emitting a beta particle.
(a)[2 marks]Write the nuclear equation for this decay, showing the daughter nucleus and all radiation emitted.
(b)[1 mark]Describe what happens to the atomic and mass numbers of beryllium in this process.
Question 13
2 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →Describe two sources of natural background radiation that people are likely to experience.
Question 14
3 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →A radioactive sample has an initial activity of . After 16 hours, its activity is .
Calculate the half-life of this isotope.
Question 15
3 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →Explain what is meant by the half-life of a radioactive isotope, and why the activity of a radioactive source cannot fall to zero instantly.
Question 16
2 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →Give one use of radioactivity in medicine and explain how its properties make it suitable for this use.
Question 17
1 mark · Easy
Answer and see the solution →State what the atomic number (Z) of an atom tells you about its nucleus.
Question 18
3 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →(a)[1 mark]Define what an isotope is.
(b)[1 mark]The most common isotope of oxygen is written as . How many neutrons does it have in its nucleus?
(c)[1 mark]Explain, in terms of neutrons and protons, how isotopes of the same element are similar and how they differ.
Question 19
2 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →Describe what happens to the stability of a nucleus if the number of neutrons is much higher than the number of protons.
Question 20
2 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →(a)[1 mark]State the total number of nucleons in the nucleus of carbon-13.
(b)[1 mark]Identify the subatomic particles counted as nucleons.