Question 1
decays to thorium-234 by emitting an alpha particle and two gamma rays. Thorium-234 then decays into protactinium via beta decay.
Which point on the N-Z graph below represents the position of the granddaughter nucleus, protactinium?
decays to thorium-234 by emitting an alpha particle and two gamma rays. Thorium-234 then decays into protactinium via beta decay.
Which point on the N-Z graph below represents the position of the granddaughter nucleus, protactinium?
The half-life of carbon-14 is 6000 years.
An ancient elephant tusk has been uncovered and its age is unknown. A 20 g sample of the tusk has an activity of 1.25 Bq due to carbon-14.
A 80 g sample of tusk taken from a living elephant has an activity of 20 Bq.
Use this information to determine the age of the ancient tusk.
3000 years
12 000 years
18 000 years
24 000 years
Fluorodeoxyglucose is a compound used as a tracer in medical imaging. The isotope fluorine-18 is used, which is a positron emitter.
The way these positrons interact with electrons in the body allows PET (positron emission tomography) scanners to determine the rate of respiration certain cells are performing.
Fluorine-18 decays into an isotope of oxygen.
Which equation below represents the correct nuclear equation for this decay?
Protactinium-231 () is a radioactive element, it decays by alpha radiation and then beta-minus decay as shown below:
What proton number and mass number will element B have?
Proton Number |
Mass Number |
|
A. |
89 |
229 |
B. |
90 |
229 |
C. |
89 |
227 |
D. |
90 |
227 |
The energy levels of an atom are shown in the diagram below.
Which transition will emit the photon with the shortest wavelength?
n = 4 to n = 1
n = 2 to n = 1
n = 2 to n = 1
n = 4 to n = 3
A radioactive source is known to emit radiation. A Geiger-Muller tube is used to measure the count rate at increasing distances from the source.
Which graph correctly represents the variation in count rate over these distances for radiation?
Unstable nuclei make up 10% of a sample’s mass. The count rate of the sample is measured over a time period of 8 hours.
After some time has passed, the percentage of the sample which is unstable reduces to 2.5%. What is the count rate of the source at this time?
90 cpm
60 cpm
45 cpm
30 cpm
A source is known to be radioactive but the type of radiation being emitted is unknown.
A Geiger-Müller tube is placed close to the source and different materials are placed between the two. A table of the count rates recorded for each material is shown below. The background count rate is 15 counts per minute.
Material |
Count rate recorded / counts per minute |
Paper |
528 |
Nothing |
1064 |
Thick lead |
17 |
Aluminium |
524 |
What types of radiation are being emitted by the source?
and
only
and
and
Hydrogen atoms feature energy levels as shown below.
Which photon energy will not cause an electron to be excited or ionised in a ground state hydrogen atom?
10.2 eV
12.29 eV
12.75 eV
15.0 eV
Three of the four isotopes below are the same element. Which isotope represents a different element?
Nucleon number |
Neutron number |
|
A. |
233 |
141 |
B. |
235 |
143 |
C. |
238 |
146 |
D. |
239 |
146 |