SubjectCover

Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) · PHYSICS · Unit

Radioactivity and Particles

123 practice questions

Start practising (59 questions)

Topics covered

Practice questions

1–10 of 59 · Normal

  1. Question 1

    1 mark · Normal

    State the unit of activity for a radioactive source.

    Answer and see the solution →

  2. Question 2

    1 mark · Normal

    Which unit would be used to measure the thickness of a sheet of material when investigating the penetration power of different types of radiation?

    Answer and see the solution →

  3. Question 3

    1 mark · Normal

    A Geiger-Müller tube records 90 decays in 3 minutes. Which option correctly expresses this quantity as an activity in SI units?

    1. A.30 Bq
    2. B.90 Bq
    3. C.270 Bq
    4. D.3 Bq
    Answer and check →

  4. Question 4

    2 marks · Normal

    A radioactive source emits 150 decays in 2.5 minutes. Calculate its activity in Bq.

    Answer and see the solution →

  5. Question 5

    1 mark · Normal

    State the unit used for measuring time when recording radioactive decay in practical investigations.

    Answer and see the solution →

  6. Question 6

    3 marks · Normal

    A class is measuring background radiation. The table shows the counts measured in each of three 60-second intervals:

    Background radiation counts
    IntervalCounts
    112
    214
    310
    (a)

    Calculate the average count per interval.

    [1 mark]
    (b)

    Calculate the average activity in Bq (counts per second).

    [2 marks]
    Answer and see the solution →

  7. Question 7

    2 marks · Normal

    Describe how you would measure the activity of a radioactive source in the laboratory, naming all units used.

    Answer and see the solution →

  8. Question 8

    1 mark · Normal

    Which of the following combinations is correct for measuring the rate at which a radioactive sample decays?

    1. A.Counts per second (Bq)
    2. B.Centimetres per minute (cm/min)
    3. C.Seconds per decay (s)
    4. D.Counts per centimetre (Bq/cm)
    Answer and check →

  9. Question 9

    4 marks · Normal

    Figure 1 shows a simplified model of a lithium atom.

    (a)

    State the charge on each of the following sub-atomic particles:

    [2 marks]
    (b)

    Complete the table for a lithium atom, which has atomic number 3 and mass number 7.

    ParticleNumber in atom
    Proton
    Neutron
    Electron
    [2 marks]
    Answer and see the solution →

  10. Question 10

    1 mark · Normal

    Alpha particles are distinguished from beta and gamma radiation by their:

    1. A.low penetrating power and high ionising ability
    2. B.high penetrating power and no mass
    3. C.being electromagnetic waves
    4. D.negligible ionising ability
    Answer and check →