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Date November 2019 Marks available 2 Reference code 19N.2.SL.TZ0.7
Level Standard level Paper Paper 2 Time zone 0 - no time zone
Command term Outline Question number 7 Adapted from N/A

Question

A stationary nucleus of uranium-238 undergoes alpha decay to form thorium-234.

The following data are available.

Energy released in decay                         4.27 MeV
Binding energy per nucleon for helium      7.07 MeV
Binding energy per nucleon for thorium    7.60 MeV

Radioactive decay is said to be “random” and “spontaneous”. Outline what is meant by each of these terms.

Random: 

Spontaneous:

[2]
a.

Calculate the binding energy per nucleon for uranium-238.

[3]
b(i).

Calculate the ratio kinetic energy of alpha particlekinetic energy of thorium nucleus.

[2]
b(ii).

Markscheme

random:
it cannot be predicted which nucleus will decay
OR
it cannot be predicted when a nucleus will decay ✔

NOTE: OWTTE

 

spontaneous:
the decay cannot be influenced/modified in any way ✔

NOTE: OWTTE

a.

234 × 7.6  OR  4 × 7.07 ✔

BEU =« 234 × 7.6 + 4 × 7.07 – 4.27 =» 1802 « MeV » ✔

BEUA=«1802238=» 7.57 « MeV » ✔

NOTE: Allow ECF from MP2
Award [3] for bald correct answer
Allow conversion to J, final answer is 1.2 × 10–12

b(i).

states or applies conservation of momentum ✔

ratio is «EkαEkTh=p22mαp22mTh=2344» 58.5 

NOTE: Award [2] for bald correct answer

b(ii).

Examiners report

[N/A]
a.
[N/A]
b(i).
[N/A]
b(ii).

Syllabus sections

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