Radioactivity Questions and Answers - Physics Form 4 Topical Revision

Questions

1.  
   1. What is meant by the following terms: 
      
      1. Radioactive decay
      2. isotope.
   2. The table shows how the activity (disintegrations per minute) of a sample of carbon-14 varies with time (in years).
      

      Time (grs)	0	2500	5000	7500	10000	12500	17250	20000
      Disintegration/min	15	11	8	5	4.0	3.2	1.6	1.2

      1. Plot a graph of activity against time (x-axis).
      2. Estimate the half-life of carbon-14 from the graph.
   3.  
      1. Draw a labeled diagram of a Geiger- Muller tube.
      2. Explain how it detects radioactive particles/rays.
   4. State one use of radioactivity in each of the following;
      1. Medicine
      2. Agriculture.
      3. Radon gas ²²² ₈₆Rn decays by emission of α particles. Show by use of an equation the transformation of the gas.
      4. Give two uses of cobalt - 60 as a Radioactive source.
2. One of the isotopes of Uranium has a half life of 576 hours.
   1. Complete the table to show how the mass varies with time from an initial mass of 1280 mg.
      

      Time (Hours)	576	1152	1728	2304
      Mass (mg)

   2. Explain whether the mass of the isotope will eventually reduce to zero.
3. State two factors that determine the extent of the damage to the body cell caused by the radiation from radioactive substances.
4. How many neutrons does the nuclide ²³⁵ ₉₂U contain?
5. Name the quantities, which must be measured so as to determine the half-life of a radioactive sample whose half-life is known to be a few hours.
6. Explain why α particles are more ionizing than β particles.
7. A radioactive carbon -14 decays to Nitrogen by beta emissions as shown. 
   
   Determine the values of x and y in the equation.
8. Alpha particles are more ionizing than Beta particles. Give one reason for this.
9. In a sample there are 5.12 x 10²⁰ atoms of Krypton 92 initially. If the half-life of Krypton is 3.0s, determine the number of atoms that will have decayed after 6s
10. Cobalt 60 is a radioisotope that has a half-life of 5.25 years. What fraction of the original atoms in a sample will remain after 21 years.
11. A nucleus is represented by ¹⁰⁷ ₃₂x
    State the number of neutrons in a nucleus.
12.  
    1. The figure below shows the path of radiation from a radioactive source after entering a magnetic field. The magnetic field is directed into the paper and is perpendicular to the place of the paper shown in the figure below.
       
       
       1. Identify the radiation.
       2. Give a reason for your answer in (i) above
    2. Below is a nuclear reaction
       
       
       1. Identify the radiation K.
       2. Determine the values of X and Y.
    3. The figure below shows a device for producing metal foils of constant thickness. Any change in the thickness can be detected by the Geiger tube and recorded by the Geiger cooler. The pressure exerted by the roller is then adjusted to keep the thickness constant.
       
       
       1. State the change in the metal foil that will lead to a decrease in the Geiger counter reading.
       2. Give a reason for your answer in (c) (i) above.
       3. State the change in the roller pressure that should be made as a result of this decrease in the Geiger counter reading.
       4. Give a reason for your answer in (c) (iii) above.
       5. Explain why a source emitting (alpha) particles only would not be suitable for this device.
       6. Explain why a radioactive source of a half-life of 1,600 years is more suitable for use in this device than one of half-life of 8 minutes.
13. The following is part of a radioactive decay series.
    
    Determine the values of a and b.
14.  
    1. A nucleus of an element X of atomic mass 238 and atomic number 92 decays by emitting 8 alpha particles and 10 beta particles and finally forms a nucleus of an element y. Write the equation of the reaction.
    2. Each of the following sentences describes a particular radiation from different radioactive source. In each case name the type of radiation described and give a reason to support your choice.
       1. The radiation is not affected by either a magnetic or electrostatic field.
          Type or radiation.............
          Reason..........................
       2. The radiation is emitted from 238 - U when it decays to ²³⁴ ₉₀U 
          Type or radiation.............
          Reason..........................
       3. The radiation is very strongly deflected by a weak magnetic field.
          Type of radiation.............
          Reason..........................
15. The half-life of a certain radioactive substance is 57 days. Explain the meaning of this statement.
16. The figure below shows a Geiger Muller (G.M.) tube.
    
    
    1. Give the reason why the mica window is made thin.
    2. Explain how the radiation entering the tube through the window is detected by the tube.
    3. What is the purpose of the halogen vapour?
17. Balance the nuclear reaction equation below.
    
18. Given that 5g of cobalt-60 is kept in a laboratory and it has a half-life of 5 years.
    Calculate its mass after 15 years.

Answers

1.  
   1.  
      1. Radioactive Decay – spontaneous disintegration of the molecules and atom or emission of or α or β accompanied by release of energy and readjustment of the nuclide.
      2. Isotope: Is a nuclide, which has same no. of proton but different atomic mass, same atomic number but different mass number, same chemical behavior but different properties.
   2.  
   3.  
      1.  
         
      2. -When an alpha or beta particle or gamma ray enters the tube through the mica window, they ionize the gas inside the tube.
         -The electrons produced are accelerated by the central electrode and in turn they produce more electrons by collision. 
         -This avalanche of electrons forms a pulse of current, which, after amplification, is used to operate a rate meter or counter.
         -If a small loud speaker is connected a click will be heard every time a particle or gamma photon enters the tube.
   4.  
      1. Medicine: Deep penetrating gamma rays are used in the treatment of cancerous growth.
      2. Agriculture: To determine the age of plant material and the movement of minerals implants.
2.  
   1.  
      

      Time (Hours)	576	1152	1728	2304
      Mass (mg)	640	320	160	80

   2. It will be zero
3. -Dosage
   -Type of radiation
   -Penetrating power
   -Part of body exposed
4. 235 – 92 = 143 Neutrons
5. -Mass of that radioactive material
   -Time taken to reduce to half
6. α Particles doubly charged and attracted electrons more.
   α More massive i.e more momentum and not easily deflected
7. 
   
   14 = x + 0 thus x = 14
   6 = 7 + y thus y = -1
   
   
   
8. α - particles doubly charged and attract electrons more.
   α more massive i/e more momentum and not easily deflected.
9. After 3s number decayed
   ½ x 5.12 x 10²⁰ = 2. 56 x 10²⁰
   Next 3s number decayed
   = ½ x 5.12 x 10²⁰ = 2.56 x 10²⁰
   ∴ Total number decayed
   = (1.28 + 2.56) x 10²⁰
   = 3.84 x 10²⁰
10. No of T_½ = 4
    Thus fraction = (¹/₂)4 = ¹/₁₆
11. Number of neutrons = 107 – 32 = 65
12.  
    1.  
       1. Beta particle (β – particle)
       2. A force is to the center of the circle implying negatively charged (Fleming’s L HR (etc)
    2.  
       1. Alpha particle ( particle)
       2. X- 88
          Y – 228
    3.  
       1. Increase in thickness
       2. Increase in thickness reduces the number of radiations reaching the Geiger tube.
       3. Increase roller pressure
       4. Increase in roller pressure squeezes/ presses/ compresses metal sheet more reducing thickness of the foil coming out of them.
       5. Alpha particles have low penetration power and so will not pass/ very few will pass though sheet.
       6. If a half life is short, decay rate reduces very fast with time and so this sudden change may be mistaken a shaving resulted from increase in thickness OR would be detecting as change in thickness of foil, so longer half- life is more suitable 
13. a= 234
    b= 82
14.  
    1.  
       
    2.  
       1. Gamma rays- not charges
       2. Alpha particles: mass number decreases by 4 and atomic number decreases by 2
       3. Beta particles: easily deflected because they are light and carries little charge.
15. The substance takes 57 days to reduce its remaining mass by half.
16.  
    1. Alpha particles are weak in penetrating solid. So it has to be thin to allow enough alpha particles to enter for ionization to take place.
    2. It causes ionization of the gas inside. The +ve ions move to the –ve plate and –ve ions move to the +ve terminal. This causes a flow of charge which is amplified and then fed to the counter.
    3. It controls the extent of ionization without causing avalanche flow of charge.
17.  
    
18. Year          Amount
    0                    5
    5                   2.5
    10                 1.25
    15                 0.625
    The mass will be 0.625g