TESTS Name:

11  Atoms and radioactivity

Answer all questions and show your working out for maximum credit
Time allowed : 30 mins
Total points available : 33

Core curriculum
1 The following table includes some of the properties of alpha, beta and gamma radiations.
 Complete the table by filling in the missing properties.

alpha beta gamma

nature 2 protons +
[2]
2 neutrons
approximate mass 1 unit [2]
charge positive [2]
ability to penetrate very penetrating
[2]
solids
 [Total: 8]
 Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 Paper 2 Q12 June 2009

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2

2 A radioactive material, X, has a half-life of 2 minutes.

 At the beginning of an experiment, a sample of the material produces a count-rate of 800 counts/s.
 Fig. 2.1 shows the count-rate readings at the start of the experiment and after one half-life
has elapsed.

Fig. 2.1
a Complete the plot of the decay curve, for times up to t = 12 minutes. Draw the best curve
through your points. [3]
b From your graph find
i the count-rate from the sample after 9 minutes,
 count-rate = counts/s [1]
ii the time it takes for the count-rate to fall from 700 counts/s to 350 counts/s.
 time = minutes [1]

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3

c A second sample of this radioactive material X gives an initial count-rate of 400 counts/s.
 What will be the half-life of this sample?
 half-life = minutes [1]
d A river contains fine particles of mud. The mud builds up on the bottom of the river and
prevents the movement of large ships. To solve this problem, the authorities remove the mud
and dump it at sea. To check where the mud goes after it is dumped, a radioactive material is
mixed with it and tracked with radioactivity detectors.
i Explain why the radioactive material X is not suitable to trace the movement of the
dumped mud.

[1]
ii State two other properties that a radioactive material must have to make it suitable for
tracking the mud.
1 
2 
 [2]
 [Total: 9]
 Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 Paper 2 Q12 November 2009
3 The nucleus of one of the different nuclides of polonium can be represented by the symbol

 
218
​ 84 ​P
 o
a State the proton number of this nuclide.  [1]
b State the nucleon number of this nuclide.  [1]
c The nucleus decays according to the following equation.
 
218
​ 84​P
   o  
→ 214
​ 82​P
   b + emitted particle

i State the proton number of the emitted particle.  [1]

ii State the nucleon number of the emitted particle.  [1]
iii Name the emitted particle. Tick one box.

a-particle

b-particle

neutron

proton [1]

 [Total: 5]
 Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 Paper 2 Q12 November 2008

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4

Extended curriculum
4 A beam of ionising radiation, containing a-particles, -particles and g-rays, is travelling left to right
across the page. A magnetic field acts perpendicularly into the page.
a In the table below, tick the boxes that describe the deflection of each of the types of radiation as
it passes through the magnetic field. One line has been completed, to help you.

not deflected deflected large small

deflected towards top towards deflection deflection
of page bottom of page
a-particles � �
b-particles
g-rays
 [3]
b An electric field is now applied, in the same region as the magnetic field and at the same time
as the magnetic field.
 What is the direction of the electric field in order to cancel out the deflection of the a-particles?
[2]
 [Total: 5]
 Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 Paper 3 Q11 June 2009
5 a Chlorine has two isotopes, one of nucleon number 35 and one of nucleon number 37.
 The proton number of chlorine is 17.
 Table 5.1 refers to neutral atoms of chlorine.
 Complete Table 5.1.

nucleon number 35 nucleon number 37

number of
protons
number of
neutrons
number of
electrons
 [3]
Table 5.1
b Some isotopes are radioactive.
 State the three types of radiation that may be emitted from radioactive isotopes.
 1 
 2 
 3  [1]

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5

c i State one practical use of a radioactive isotope.

[1]
ii Outline how it is used.




[1]
 [Total: 6]
 Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 Paper 3 Q11 June 2008

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