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NUCLEAR PHYSICS
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9702/4 O/N/02
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8 (a) Define the term radioactive decay constant.

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................[2]

(b) State the relation between the activity A of a sample of a radioactive isotope containing
N atoms and the decay constant λ of the isotope.

......................................................................................................................................[1]

(c) Radon is a radioactive gas with half-life 56 s. For health reasons, the maximum
permissible level of radon in air in a building is set at 1 radon atom for every 1.5 × 1021
molecules of air. 1 mol of air in the building is contained in 0.024 m3.

Calculate, for this building,

(i) the number of molecules of air in 1.0 m3,

number = ........................................

(ii) the maximum permissible number of radon atoms in 1.0 m3 of air,

number = ........................................
(iii) the maximum permissible activity of radon per cubic metre of air.

activity = ........................................ Bq
[5]
9702/4/M/J03 7
6 Strontium-90 decays with the emission of a β-particle to form Yttrium-90. The reaction is
represented by the equation
90 90 0
38 Sr → 39Y + –1e + 0.55 MeV.

The decay constant is 0.025 year –1.

90 90
(a) Suggest, with a reason, which nucleus, 38 Sr or 39Y, has the greater binding energy.

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(b) Explain what is meant by the decay constant.

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(c) At the time of purchase of a Strontium-90 source, the activity is 3.7 × 106 Bq.

(i) Calculate, for this sample of strontium,

1. the initial number of atoms,

number = ……………………………………. [3]

2. the initial mass.

mass = ………………………………. kg [2]

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(ii) Determine the activity A of the sample 5.0 years after purchase, expressing the
A
answer as a fraction of the initial activity A0. That is, calculate the ratio ––– .
A0

9702/04/M/J/04 ratio = ………………………………….. [2]

8 Fig. 8.1 shows the variation with nucleon number of the binding energy per nucleon of a
nucleus.

binding energy
per nucleon

0
0
nucleon number

Fig. 8.1

(a) On Fig. 8.1, mark with the letter S the position of the nucleus with the greatest stability.
[1]

(b) One possible fission reaction is

235 U
92 + 1n
0 → 144Ba
56 + 90 Kr
36 + 210n.

(i) On Fig. 8.1, mark possible positions for

1. the Uranium-235 (235

92U) nucleus (label this position U),

2. the Krypton-90 (90

36Kr) nucleus (label this position Kr). [1]

(ii) The binding energy per nucleon of each nucleus is as follows.

235 U:
92 1.2191 × 10–12 J
144Ba:
56 1.3341 × 10–12 J
90 Kr:
36 1.3864 × 10–12 J
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Use these data to calculate

1. the energy release in this fission reaction (give your answer to three significant
figures),

energy = ........................................ J [3]

2. the mass equivalent of this energy.

mass = ........................................ kg [2]

(iii) Suggest why the neutrons were not included in your calculation in (ii).

...................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................. [1]
9702/04/O/N/04
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6 The isotopes Radium-224 (224 226
88Ra) and Radium-226 ( 88Ra) both undergo spontaneous
α-particle decay. The energy of the α-particles emitted from Radium-224 is 5.68 MeV and
from Radium-226, 4.78 MeV.

(a) (i) State what is meant by the decay constant of a radioactive nucleus.

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................[2]

(ii) Suggest, with a reason, which of the two isotopes has the larger decay constant.

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................[3]

(b) Radium-224 has a half-life of 3.6 days.

(i) Calculate the decay constant of Radium-224, stating the unit in which it is
measured.

decay constant = ......................................................[2]

(ii) Determine the activity of a sample of Radium-224 of mass 2.24 mg .

activity = ............................................... Bq [4]

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(c) Calculate the number of half-lives that must elapse before the activity of a sample of a
radioactive isotope is reduced to one tenth of its initial value.

number of half-lives = ......................................................[2]

9702/04/M/J/05

7 The isotope Manganese-56 decays and undergoes β-particle emission to form the stable
isotope Iron-56. The half-life for this decay is 2.6 hours.
Initially, at time t = 0, a sample of Manganese-56 has a mass of 1.4 µg and there is no
Iron-56.

(a) Complete Fig. 7.1 to show the variation with time t of the mass of Iron-56 in the sample
for time t = 0 to time t = 11 hours.

mass of
Iron-56

0 2 4 6 8 10 12
t / hours
[2]
Fig. 7.1

(b) For the sample of Manganese-56, determine

(i) the initial number of Manganese-56 atoms in the sample,

number = ............................................[2]
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(ii) the initial activity.

9702/04/O/N/05 activity = ..................................... Bq [3]

7 Fig. 7.1 illustrates the variation with nucleon number A of the binding energy per nucleon E
of nuclei.

0
0 A

Fig. 7.1

(a) (i) Explain what is meant by the binding energy of a nucleus.

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................. [2]

(ii) On Fig. 7.1, mark with the letter S the region of the graph representing nuclei
having the greatest stability. [1]

(b) Uranium-235 may undergo fission when bombarded by a neutron to produce

Xenon-142 and Strontium-90 as shown below.
235 1 142 90
92 U + 0n → 54 Xe + 38 Sr + neutrons

(i) Determine the number of neutrons produced in this fission reaction.

number = ………………………….. [1]

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(ii) Data for binding energies per nucleon are given in Fig. 7.2.

binding energy per nucleon

isotope
/ MeV

Uranium-235 7.59
Xenon-142 8.37
Strontium-90 8.72

Fig. 7.2

Calculate

1. the energy, in MeV, released in this fission reaction,

energy = ………………………… MeV [3]

2. the mass equivalent of this energy.

mass = ……………….………….. kg [3]

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A/AS LEVEL EXAMINATIONS - JUNE 2003 9702 04

6 (a) greater binding energy gives rise to release of energy ................... M1

so must be yttrium ........................................................................... A1 [2]

(b) probability of decay ......................................................................... M1

of a nucleus per unit time................................................................. A1 [2]

(c) (i)1 A = lN..............................................................................................C1

3.7 x 106 x 365 x 24 x 3600 = 0.025N..............................................C1
N = 4.67 x 1015 ................................................................................. A1 [3]

(i)2 mass = 0.09 x (4.67 x 1015)/(6.02 x 1023) .........................................C1

= 6.98 x 10-10 kg...................................................................... A1 [2]

(ii) A = A0 e-lt
A/A0 = e-0.025t ....................................................................................C1
= 0.88...................................................................................... A1 [2]

A/AS LEVEL EXAMINATIONS - JUNE 2004 9702 04

8 (a) S shown at the peak B1 [1]

(b) (i) Kr and U on right of peak in correct relative positions B1 [1]

(ii)1 binding energy of U-235 = 2.8649 x 10-10 J
binding energy of Ba-144 = 1.9211 x 10-10 J
binding energy of Kr-90 = 1.2478 x 10-10 J C2
energy release = 3.04 x 10-11 J (-1 if 1 or 2 s.f.) A1 [3]
2 E = mc2 C1
m = (3.04 x 10 )/3.0 x 10 ) = 3.38 x 10-28 kg
-11 8 2
(ignore s.f.) A1 [2]
(iii) e.g. neutrons are single particles,
neutrons have no binding energy per nucleon B1 [1]
Total [8]

A LEVEL – NOVEMBER 2004 9702 4

6 (a) (i) either probability of decay or dN/dt = (-)λN OR A = (-)λN 1

per unit time with symbols explained 1 [2]

(ii) greater energy of α particle means 0

(parent) nucleus less stable 1
nucleus more likely to decay 1
hence Radium-224 1 [3]

(b) (i) either λ = In2/3.6 or λ = In2/3.6 x 24 x 3 600

= 0.193 = 2.23 x 10-6 1
-1
unit day s-1 1 [2]

(one sig.fig., -1, allow λ in hr-1)

(ii) N = {(2.24 x 10-3)/224} x 6.02 x 1023 1

= 6.02 x 1018 1
activity = λN
= 2.23 x 10-6 x 6.02 x 1018 1
= 1.3 x 1013 Bq 1 [4]
-ln2.tlT
(c) A = A0 e
0.1 = exp(-In2 . n) 1
n = 3.32 1 [2]
(n = 3 without working scores 1 mark)
 A LEVEL - JUNE 2005 9702 4
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7 (a) curve levelling out (at 1.4 µg) M1
correct shape judged by masses at nT½ A1 [2]
[for second mark, values must be marked on y-axis)

(b) (i) N0 = (1.4 × 10-6 × 6.02 × 1023)/56 C1

= 1.5 × 1016 A1 [2]

(ii) A = λN C1
λ = ln2/(2.6 × 3600) (= 7.4 × 10-5 s-1) C1
A = 1.11 × 1012 Bq A1 [3]

(c) 1/10 of original mass of Manganese remains C1

0.10 = exp(-ln2 × t/2.6)
t = 8.63 hours A1 [2]
[use of 1/9, giving answer 8.24 hrs scores 1 mark]

A LEVEL – NOVEMBER 2005 9702 4

7 (a) (i) energy required to separate the nucleons in a nucleus ..………..…….. M1

nucleons separated to infinity / completely …………..……………….. A1 [2]

(ii) S shown at peak …..……………………………………………………… B1 [1]

(b)(i) 4 ……...…………………………………………………………………… A1 [1]

(ii) 1. idea of energy as product of A and energy per nucleon …………… C1

energy = (8.37 × 142 + 8.72 × 90) – 235 × 7.59
= 1189 +785 – 178
= 190 MeV ………(–1 for each a.e.) ………………………… A2 [3]

2. energy = mc2 ……………………………………………………………. C1

1 MeV = 1.6 × 10–13 J …………………………………………………. C1
energy = (190 × 1.6 × 10–13) / (3.0 × 108)2
= 3.4 × 10–28 kg …………………………………………..…… A1 [3]

GCE A/AS LEVEL - OCT/NOV 2006 9702 04

23 –6
8 (a) (i) either number = 6.02 x 10 x ({2.65 x 10 }/234)
–9 –27
or number = (2.65 x 10 )/(234 x 1.66 x 10 ) C1
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= 6.82 x 10 A1 [2]

(ii) A= λN C1
15
604 = λ x 6.82 x 10
–14 –1
λ = 8.86 x 10 s A1 [2]

(iii) T½ = ln2/ λ
12
= 7.82 x 10 s C1
5
= 2.48 x 10 years A1 [2]

(b) half-life is (very) long (compared with time of counting) B1 [1]

(c) there would be appreciable decay of source during the taking of measurements B1 [1]

GCE A/AS LEVEL May/June 2007 9702 04

6 (a) probability of decay M1

of a nucleus per unit time A1 [2]
(allow 1 mark for A = λN, with symbols explained)

(b) (i) λ = ln2/(28 × 365 × 24 × 3600) C1

= 7.85 × 10–10 s–1 A1 [2]

(ii) A = (–)λN
N = (6.4 × 109)/(7.85 × 10–10) C1
= 8.15 × 1018 C1
mass = (8.15 × 1018 × 90)/(6.02 × 1023) (e.c.f. for value of N) C1
= 1.22 × 10–3 g A1 [4]
–3 –4 3
(iii) volume = (1.22 × 10 /2.54 =) 4.8 × 10 cm A1 [1]

(c) either very small volume of Strontium-90 has high activity

or dust can be highly radioactive B1
breathing in dust presents health hazard B1 [2]