2APHY Nuclear Physics Test One Mid Unit 2009

2APHY: Nuclear Physics Mid Unit Test
Name: __________________________________________________ (33 marks + overall = 34 marks)

OVERALL: Additional 1 mark for units and significant figures.
1. Complete the table below: (2 marks)
Element Nuclide Atomic Number Number of Mass Number

Neutrons
Nitrogen - 14 7
2 2
6 14
2. Fully explain what an isotope is using examples. (3 marks) _________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
3. For each of the following, name the radiation emitted, its symbol and what the radiation is and what
will stop it. [Level 4] (3 marks)
Nuclear Equation Nuclide Radiation Symbol What is the radiation made of?
name
4. A radiographer wants to investigate blood circulation in a patient. There are a number of

radioisotopes available. What properties would you look for to select one? Give three reasons.
(3 marks)
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
5. Within a nuclear reactor, uranium-235 is bombarded by a neutron to split into two daughter products
also emitting three neutrons. Part of the nuclear equation is shown below.
a. Write the nuclide for the missing daughter product labelled X. __________________ (1 mark)
b. What is the atomic and mass numbers of the daughter product X:
Mass no. ____________ (1 mark) Atomic no. _____________ (1 mark)
6. A physics student has three radioactive sources, X, Y and Z. One is a pure emitter, one is a pure
emitter and one is a pure emitter. He uses the following apparatus to decide which is which.
The apparatus consists of a holder for the source, a sheet of thin aluminium foil placed in front of the
source, a region of magnetic field directed into the page, and three detectors, 1, 2 and 3, arranged as
shown below. The student is also told that charged particles will be deflected to the left or to the
right when passing through a magnetic field.
With source X there is no signal from any detector. With source Y there is a signal from detector 3
only. With source Z there is a signal from detector 2 only.
a. Which source (X, Y or Z) is the emitter? (1 mark) _______________
b. Which source (X, Y or Z) is the emitter? (1 mark) _______________
c. Which detector (1, 2 or 3) would most likely detect  radiation? (1 mark) _____________
5. A student is measuring the decay of a nuclear source. She finds that the source has a count of
8.30 x 103 decays in a one hour period. Calculate the activity of the source. (2 marks)
7. The forming of a new element during radioactive decay is called transmutation. Explain why
emitting alpha and beta radiation causes a transmutation but emitting gamma radiation does not.
(3 marks)
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
4. From the graph, determine the half life of the radioactive isotope. (1 mark)
Show on the graph how you did this. (1 mark
Half-life = ______________________________
5. In the following reaction  X + an  particle; the nuclide X is: (1 mark)
A. B. C. D. E.
Answer: ____________
6. If a radioactive sample has a half-life of 1.50 hours. If the activity of the sample was originally
15.0 kBq, what would the activity be exactly one day later? (2 marks)
7. The radio isotope has a half-life of approximately 5.00 years. Gamma radiation from a
source is used to treat cancer. Hospitals using such sources for therapy usually replace the source
when its activity has fallen to 25% of its original value. After how many years must a source be
replaced? All working must be shown. (2 marks)
8. Household smoke detectors contain a radioactive Americium-241 source. Emitted radiation ionizes
air inside a chamber that allows a small current to flow. Smoke particles entering the chamber
interrupt the current flow, which sets off the alarm. Americium-241 is an  emitter with a half life of
433 years.
a. Using the information above, briefly discuss why is ideal for use in smoke detectors.
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________(2 marks)
b. What would you say to a person who is anxious about having a smoke detector containing a
radiation source in their home? (2 marks)
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

2APHY Nuclear Physics Test One Mid Unit 2009

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

2APHY Nuclear Physics Test One Mid Unit 2009

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

2APHY Nuclear Physics Test One Mid Unit 2009

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

2APHY: Nuclear Physics Mid Unit Test

Name: __________________________________________________ (33 marks + overall = 34 marks)

Element Nuclide Atomic Number Number of Mass Number

2. Fully explain what an isotope is using examples. (3 marks) _________________________________

4. A radiographer wants to investigate blood circulation in a patient. There are a number of

Mass no. (1 mark) Atomic no. _ (1 mark)

b. Which source (X, Y or Z) is the emitter? (1 mark) _______________

5. In the following reaction  X + an  particle; the nuclide X is: (1 mark)

You might also like