CHAPTER 10: RADIOACTIVITY Figure 8 shows a nuclear reactor where nuclear fission reaction

occurs to generate electricity in a nuclear power station.

226
Ra
222
Rn + P i) What is meant by nuclear fission ?
88 86

………………………………………………………(2 marks)
1. The equation above shows the reaction which occurs when P particle
is emitted during the radioactive decay. ii) Referring to figure 8 ,what is the function of
a) i) What is meant by radioactive decay? a) the graphite core

……………………………………………………(1 mark ) ………………………………………………….(1 mark )

ii) Name the P particle ? b) the Boron/ cadmium rod

………………………………………………………( 1 mark ) ………………………………………………….( 1 mark )

d) The equation below represents the fission of a uranium-235 nucleus
when
bombarded by a neutron.

235 1 93 141 1
Figure 7 U + n Rb + Cs + 2 n + energy
b) Figure 7 shows the track of beta particles produced in a cloud 92 0 37 55 0
chamber.
i) Why are the tracks thin and not straight ? Given that the atomic mass unit (a.m.u) of

………………………………………………………………… U-235 = 235.0492,

neutron = 1.00867,
…………………………………………………………………. Rb -93 = 93.92157 ,
( 2 marks ) Cs – 141 = 140.91963
ii) State one usage of beta particles. c = 3 x 10 8 m s −1
1 a.m.u = 1.66 x 10 −27 kg
……….. …………………………………………( 1 mark)
c) Determine the energy released by fission. ( 3 marks)

Figure 8
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2. Diagram 8.1 is part of the decay curve for a sample of an α- The results of this experiment are shown in Table 8.
emitting radioactive isotope.

TABLE 8
(i) Name one suitable detector to detect α-particles in air.

.............................................................................................
[1 mark]
(ii) State the cause of the count rate at a distance of 9 cm
from the source.
DIAGRAM 8.1
................................................................................................
[1 mark]
(a) What is meant by isotope?
(iii) Estimate the count rate that is only due to the source
at a distance of 2 cm.
.................................................................................................
[1 mark]
(b) Based on Diagram 8.1: ………………………………………………
(i) Determine the half-life of the isotope. ………………
[1 mark]
........................................................................................... (iv) Using Table 8, what is the maximum distance α-
[2 marks] particles can travel in air?
(ii) Complete the curve in Diagram 8.1 as far as time =
20 days. Plot the exact corresponding values of the …………………………………………………………
percentage activity and time. [1
[3 marks] mark]
In an experiment to find the range of α-particles in air, the (v) Justify your answer to c(iv).
apparatus in Diagram 8.2 is set-up.
.............................................................................................
.............
[2 marks]

DIAGRAM 8.2
2
 ( i) What is beta particle? …………………………
…………………………………………
[1mark]
3. Diagram 3.1 shows the rate of decay of radioactive substance, Iodine- (ii) Complete the following equation for the decay of Iodine-131.
131.

[1 mark]

4. Radioisotope has many uses in non destructive testing in industry. One

of the uses is to detect leakage in underground water pipes.
Radioactive salt is dissolved into the water at the treatment plants.
Table 7.1 shows a reading collected from a source.

Time/hours 0 20 40 60 80
Radioactivity/ 2000 860 480 280 200
counts per minute
TABLE 7.1
(a)(i) Sketch a graph of radioactivity against time.
[2 marks]

DIAGRAM 3.1
a). What is meant by ‘half – life’?

……………………………………………………………………
[1mark]
b) Based on Diagram 3.1, what is the half – life of Iodine?

……………………………………………………………………
[1mark]
c) What happen to the activity of Iodine-131 after 24 days?
(ii)Using the graph in a(i), determine the half-life of the radioactive
salt used.
……………………………………………………………………
[1mark]
(b)(i)Determine the most suitable radiation can be used to detect
c) When Iodine-131 decays, it produces a beta particle and
the leakage.
Xenon-131(Xe).
………………………………………………………………………..
[1 mark]
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 (ii) Name the instrument to detect the radiation in b(i). (a) Name the material of container X.
………………………………………
…………[1 mark] ..………………………………………………………....
(ii) Explain how would a worker operating the detector [ 1 mark ]
to determine the (b) (i) Complete this sentence by underlining one
leakage in the pipe. correct phrase in the box.

………. ………………………………………………… an alpha particle

………………………………………………………… a beta particle

… Ray P is
………………………………………………………… a gamma ray
…
[2 marks] [1 mark ]
(ii) Give the reason for your answer in (a)(i).
(c) The water is safe to drink when the radioactivity is one
eighth (⅛) of its initial value. What is the minimum …..…………………………………………………………..
period of time that should be taken before anyone drinks [1 mark ]
the water . (c) Why the size of deflection of ray P is greater than
ray Q?

…………………………………………………………
…
[1 mark ]
6. Diagram 8.1 shows a method used to detect leakage of pipes laid
underground. A little radioisotope substance is dissolved in the
water that flows in the pipes. A Geiger Muller which connected to
the ratemeter is then moved over the pipes according to the layout
[2 marks] plan of the underground pipes.
5. A radioactive source emits two rays P and Q is placed in front of an to ratemeter
electric field and the radioactive path is shown in Diagram 1.

A B C E F
underground D
water pipe
DIAGRAM 1

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 DIAGRAM 8.1 [2 marks]
(ii) calculate the half life for every radioisotope.
Table 8.1 shows the readings of the ratemeter at the different
location.
Location of Geiger-
A B C D E F
Muller tube [4 marks]
Reading of the
ratemeter / counts per 300 295 284 372 290 216 (d) Based on your answer in (c) (ii) and Table 8.2, suggest the
minute suitable radioisotope to detect the leakages of pipes.
TABLE 8.1 Give two reasons for your answer.
(a) What is meant by radioisotope?
…………………………..…………………………….………
……………………….........…………………………………
[1 mark] ……………………………………..……………….…………
(b) Base on Table 8.1, state the location on the pipe where the [3 marks]
leakage takes place.
State reason for your answer.

……………………….………………………………………..

……………………….………………………………………
[2 marks] A Polonium nucleus emits alpha particles and gamma ray
(c) Table 8.2 shows the time taken for radioisotope of Sodium- to become a Plumbum nucleus.
24, Cobalt-60 and Radium-226 to decay to 12.5% from initial (a) Complete the decay equation for Polonium nucleus by
activity and radioactive emission. writing the appropriate number in the boxes provided.

Time taken to Radioactive (b) The Polonium nucleus is placed infront of electric field
Radioisotope
decay to 12.5% emission as shown in Diagram 4.1.
Sodium -24 45 hours Beta
Cobalt-60 15.9 years Gamma
Radium-226 4860 years Alpha
TABLE 8.2
Base on Table 8.2,

226
(i) Write the decay equation for Radium-226 ( 88 Ra ) if it
222
decays to Radon ( 86 Rn ).

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 DIAGRAM 4.1

(i) Draw path of ray for alpha particle and gamma ray in …………………………………………………………………
diagram 4.1. ………..
[2 marks] …………………………………………………………………
(ii) Explain why the rays follow the path as you drawn in …………..
Diagram 4.1 …………………………………………………………………..
Alpha :………..………………………………………………………….. [2 marks]
……..

Gamma :………………..………………....………………………..… (b) The radioisotope P has been removed but there is still a
….. small reading on the counter ratemeter. What causes this
reading?
[2 marks] …………………………………………………………………
(c) A sample of polonium of mass 120 g has a half-life of ….
45 s. Determine the mass of polonium [1
that has decayed after 180 second. mark]
[2 marks] Diagram 4.2 shows a graph of radioactive activity, N, for
radioisotope P against time, t.

Diagram 4.1 shows a Geiger-Muller tube connected to a counter rate

meter to detect
radioactive rays from a radioisotope P.

Diagram 4.1
(a) (i) Name one radioactive ray which can be detect by a Geiger-
Muller tube?
………………………………………………………………..[1 mark]
(ii) Explain how the radioactive rays is detected by the tube

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Diagram 4.2
(c) Determine the half life of radioisotope P.
[2 marks]

(d) State one application of the radioisotope

..........................................................................................................
[1 mark]