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CHAPTER 5
RADIOACTIVITY
5.1 Understanding the nucleus of an atom
1
[ / 9 x 100 = .. % ]
A
Z
Z:___________________
X: __________________
Rn
218
84
Po
235
92
141
56
Ba
92
36
Kr
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
[ / 52 x 100 = .. % ]
2
Name of detectors
Radioactive substances may emit alpha, beta and gamma radiation .Fill in the
table to describe the characteristics of the three kinds of radiation. [6 M]
Types of radiation
Nature
Helium nuclei
Ionising effect
Moderate
Penetration
High
The equation below represents a nuclear reaction. What is the value of P,Q,R,S,T and U.
M]
1
4
2
i
+ P
0 n + Q He + energy
1H
1H
P : ___________________
ii
234
S
Th
R
91
Pa
Q : __________________________
+
0
1
R : ___________________
iii
214
82
Pb
T
U
Bi
S : __________________________
0
1
[6
3
T : ___________________
5
U : __________________________
are affected in
Radioactive source
(ii)
Radioactive source
Diagram shows a cloud chamber.
When a radioactive source is placed inside the chamber . The radiation produced passes
through the vapour thus forming tracks in the dense alcohol vapour due to the condensation
of the alcohol vapour on the ions formed. These tracks are seen through the transparent
plastic lid.
4
Fill in the balnks and complete the tracks produced and the nature of tracks in the table below
to show the detection of different types of radiation by the cloud chamber. [6 M]
Type of
Absorber
radiation
Tracks
Air produced
Paper
Nature Lead
of tracks
Aluminium 3 mm
10 cm
- Particles
Rate meter
reading
120
119
Particles
- rays
5
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
8
222
A nucleus of radioactive isotope 86Rn emits an - particles when it decays to a
nucleus of an element Polonium, Po. [4M]
a.
p :__________________ e:___________________
(a )
4
2
He
18
8
X.
___________________________________________________________________________
10 (a) Describe the difference in structure between
1
1
H,
2
1
and
3
1
H.
___________________________________________________________________________
(b) Name the isotopes
1
1
H : _____________
2
1
H: ____________
3
1
H: ___________
(c) Is there any difference in chemical properties ?. Give reason for your answer
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
11 Radium was one of the first substances known to show the property of radioactive
decay. Radium has along half-life
(a) What is meant by radioactive decay?
____________________________________________________________________
(b) What is meant by half-life?
6
_____________________________________________________________________
12 Diagram below is part of the decay curve for a sample of a radioactive isotope.
Half life of the isotope is 5 minute. [4M]
(ii)
(c) Predict what happen to the reading if the distance between detector and
the source increases?
___________________________________________________________________________
Half-life
28 years
1602 years
2 minutes
(a) If the samples of strontium-90 and radium-226 both has the same activity now
Which would have the lower activity in 10 years time. [3M]
___________________________________________________________________________
7
(b) i)
If the activity of iodine is 400 count/min what would be the activity after 6 minutes
___________________________________________________________________________
ii)
count/min ?
What is the time taken if the activity of iodine left is only 12.5
___________________________________________________________________________
[ / 19 x 100 = .. % ]
The nuclei of an element that has the same proton number but
________________________ are called as ______________________.
2.
3.
The top part of the diagram shows a section of steel plates which have been welded edge to
edge at A, B and C, to make a large steel sheet. A gamma ray source was placed on one side
of the sheet, pointing towards gamma ray detector on the other side. As the source and
detector were moved together along the steel sheet the output of the detector was measured
and is detector shown at monitor screen in the lower part of the output diagram.
(a) Explain what the detector output tells the engineer who did the welding about the joints
at A, B and C.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
(b) Explain how this procedure provides useful information about the steel sheet.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
The thickness of paper can be checked by putting a radioactive source on one side of the
paper and a detector on the other side.
(a)
____________________________________________________________________
How would the amount of radiation passing through the paper be changed if the
thickness of the paper increased?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
(c)
In such an experiment it was found that the number of counts per minute varied even
when the thickness of the paper was unchanged. Explain this observation.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
In a paper mill, paper pulp is squeezed between rollers to form a paper strip.
10
The pressure of the rollers is controlled by a signal from a radiation detector as shown
radiation in the diagram. A radioactive source is placed on the paper opposite side of the
paper to the detector.
Suggest how this arrangement produces paper of uniform thickness.
Explain why the radioactive source has to be handled with care.
Fill in the blank
If the radiation detector displays the same reading that is the expected reading when the
paper strip passes through the pulp, we conclude that the thickness of paper is
_________________.
If the radiation detector displays higher than the expected reading when the paper strip
passes through the pulp, we conclude that the thickness of paper is
__________________.
If the radiation detector displays lower than the expected reading when the paper strip
passes through the pulp, we conclude that the thickness of paper is
__________________.
[ / 12 x 100 = .. % ]
11
2
239
94
Pu +
1
0
After reaction
145
56
240.06082 a.m.u
Ba +
93
38
Sr + 2
Energy
1
0
n +
239.85830 a.m.u
TABLE 1
Table 2 shows an equation of a reaction and total atomic mass before and after a nuclear
fusion.
Nuclear fusion
Before reaction
Equation
Total atomic mass
2
1
H +
3
1
After reaction
4
2
He +
1
0
n + Energy
5.01043 a.m.u
5.03013 a.m.u
TABLE 2
a)
Similarities
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
ii)
Differences
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
b)
12
c)
6.
Advantage
i) _____________________________________________________________
ii) _____________________________________________________________
b)
Disadvantage
i) _____________________________________________________________
ii) _____________________________________________________________
13
Effect of radiation can be categorised into two that is somatic effect and genetic effect.
Explain the difference and name the symptoms.
a) i) Somatic effect :_________________________________________________________
ii) Symptoms :____________________________________________________________
b) i) Genetic effect :__________________________________________________________
ii) Symptoms :____________________________________________________________
3.
Mutu is carrying out an activity using solid and liquid radioactive sources. The radioactive
sources have long half lives. Among the apparatus used are forceps, rubber gloves, plastic
tray and apron.
i).
What are the precautionary procedure that need to be observed during the
activity.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
14
ii). Describe what steps should Mutu take after the activity to ensure his own safety
and the safety of other users of the laboratory.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________