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Date November 2018 Marks available 2 Reference code 18N.2.HL.TZ0.6
Level Higher level Paper Paper 2 Time zone 0 - no time zone
Command term Explain Question number 6 Adapted from N/A

Question

15 32 P is formed when a nucleus of deuterium ( 1 2 H ) collides with a nucleus of 15 31 P . The radius of a deuterium nucleus is 1.5 fm.

State how the density of a nucleus varies with the number of nucleons in the nucleus.

[1]
a.i.

Show that the nuclear radius of phosphorus-31 ( 15 31 P ) is about 4 fm.

[1]
a.ii.

State the maximum distance between the centres of the nuclei for which the production of 15 32 P is likely to occur.

[1]
b.i.

Determine, in J, the minimum initial kinetic energy that the deuterium nucleus must have in order to produce 15 32 P . Assume that the phosphorus nucleus is stationary throughout the interaction and that only electrostatic forces act.

[2]
b.ii.

15 32 P  undergoes beta-minus (β) decay. Explain why the energy gained by the emitted beta particles in this decay is not the same for every beta particle.

[2]
c.

State what is meant by decay constant.

[2]
d.i.

In a fresh pure sample of  15 32 P  the activity of the sample is 24 Bq. After one week the activity has become 17 Bq. Calculate, in s–1, the decay constant of  15 32 P .

[3]
d.ii.

Markscheme

it is constant ✔

a.i.

R = 1 .20 × 10 15 × 31 1 3 = 3.8 × 10 15 «m» ✔

Must see working and answer to at least 2SF

a.ii.

separation for interaction = 5.3 or 5.5 «fm» ✔

b.i.

energy required = 15 e 2 4 π ε 0 × 5.3 × 10 15  ✔

= 6.5 / 6.6 ×10−13 OR 6.3 ×10−13 «J» ✔

 

Allow ecf from (b)(i)

b.ii.

«electron» antineutrino also emitted ✔

energy split between electron and «anti»neutrino ✔

c.

probability of decay of a nucleus ✔

OR

the fraction of the number of nuclei that decay

in one/the next second

OR

per unit time ✔

d.i.

1 week = 6.05 × 105 «s»

17 = 24 e λ × 6.1 × 10 5  ✔

5.7 × 10−7 «s–1» ✔

Award [2 max] if answer is not in seconds

If answer not in seconds and no unit quoted award [1 max] for correct substitution into equation (MP2)

d.ii.

Examiners report

[N/A]
a.i.
[N/A]
a.ii.
[N/A]
b.i.
[N/A]
b.ii.
[N/A]
c.
[N/A]
d.i.
[N/A]
d.ii.

Syllabus sections

Core » Topic 7: Atomic, nuclear and particle physics » 7.1 – Discrete energy and radioactivity
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