1. This question is about the production of nuclear energy and its transfer to electrical energy.

(a) When a neutron “collides” with a nucleus of uranium-235 ( 235

92 U) the following reaction
can occur.

235
92 U + 1
0n  144
56 Ba + 90
36 Kr + 2 01 n

(i) State the name given to this type of nuclear reaction.

...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii) Energy is liberated in this reaction. In what form does this energy appear?

...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(b) Describe how the neutrons produced in this reaction may initiate a chain reaction.

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
(1)

1
The purpose of a nuclear power station is to produce electrical energy from nuclear energy. The
diagram below is a schematic representation of the principle components of a nuclear reactor
“pile” used in a certain type of nuclear power station.

control rods

graphite block
uranium ore fuel rods (moderator)

The function of the moderator is to slow down neutrons produced in a reaction such as that
described in part (a) above.

(c) (i) Explain why it is necessary to slow down the neutrons.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(3)

(ii) Explain the function of the control rods.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

2
 (d) Describe briefly how the energy produced by the nuclear reactions is extracted from the
reactor pile and then transferred to electrical energy.

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
(4)
(Total 12 marks)

2. This question is about nuclear reactions.

(a) Complete the table below, by placing a tick ( ) in the relevant columns, to show how an
increase in each of the following properties affects the rate of decay of a sample of
radioactive material.

Effect on rate of decay

Property
increase decrease stays the same
temperature of sample
pressure on sample
amount of sample
(2)

Radium-226 ( 22688 Ra) undergoes natural radioactive decay to disintegrate spontaneously with the
emission of an alpha particle (α-particle) to form radon (Rn). The decay constant for this reaction
is 4.30 × 10–4 yr–1. The masses of the particles involved in the reaction are

radium: 226.0254 u
radon: 222.0176 u
α-particle: 4.0026 u

3
(b) (i) Explain what is meant by the statement that the decay constant is 4.30 × 10–4 yr–1.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(ii) Calculate the energy released in the reaction.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(3)

(c) The radium nucleus was stationary before the reaction.

(i) Explain, in terms of the momentum of the particles, why the radon nucleus and the
α-particle move off in opposite directions after the reaction.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(3)

(ii) The speed of the radon nucleus after the reaction is vR and that of the α-particle is vα.
v
Determine the ratio .
vR

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(3)

A college has been using a sample of radium-226 as an α-particle source for 30 years. Initially, the
mass of radium was 15.0 μg.

4
(d) Determine

(i) the initial number of atoms of radium-226 in the sample;

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

(ii) the number of atoms of radium-226 in the sample after 30 years;

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

(iii) the average activity of the sample during the 30 year period.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(6)

(e) The α-particle is composed of protons and neutrons. Describe, by reference to the structure
of the proton and the neutron, why they are not classed as fundamental particles.

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
(3)

Another type of nuclear reaction is a fusion reaction. This reaction is the main source of the Sun’s
radiant energy.

(f) (i) State what is meant by a fusion reaction.

...........................................................................................................................

5
 ...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(3)

(ii) Explain why the temperature and pressure of the gases in the Sun’s core must both be
very high for it to produce its radiant energy.

High temperature: ............................................................................................

............................................................................................

............................................................................................

............................................................................................

High pressure: ............................................................................................

............................................................................................

............................................................................................

............................................................................................
(5)
(Total 30 marks)

3. This question is about the radioactive decay of potassium-40.

40 40
A nucleus of the nuclide 19 K (potassium-40) decays to a stable nucleus of the nuclide 18 Ar
(argon-40).

(a) State the names of the two particles emitted in this decay.

.....................................................................................................................................
(2)

6
 (b) A sample of the isotope potassium-40 initially contains 1.5 × 1016 atoms. On average, 16
nuclei in this sample of the isotope undergo radioactive decay every minute.

Deduce that the decay constant for potassium-40 is 1.8 × 10−17 s−1.

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
(3)

(c) Determine the half-life of potassium-40.

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 6 marks)

4. This question is about nuclear reactions.

(a) (i) Distinguish between fission and radioactive decay.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(4)

7
 235
A nucleus of uranium-235 90 ( 92 U ) may absorb 142
a neutron and then undergo fission to produce
38
Sr 54
Xe
nuclei of strontium-90 ( ) and xenon-142 ( ) and some neutrons.

The strontium-90 and the xenon-142 nuclei both undergo radioactive decay with the emission of
β– particles.

(ii) Write down the nuclear equation for this fission reaction.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(iii) State the effect, if any, on the mass number (nucleon number) and on the atomic
number (proton number) of a nucleus when the nucleus undergoes β– decay.

Mass number: ...................................................................................................

Atomic number: ................................................................................................

(2)

The uranium-235 nucleus is stationary at the time that the fission reaction occurs. In this fission
reaction, 198 MeV of energy is released. Of this total energy, 102 MeV and 65 MeV are the
kinetic energies of the strontium-90 and xenon-142 nuclei respectively.

(b) (i) Suggest what has happened to the remaining 31 MeV of energy.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(ii) Calculate the magnitude of the momentum of the strontium-90 nucleus.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(4)

8
 (iii) Explain why the magnitude of the momentum of the strontium-90 nucleus is not
exactly equal in magnitude to that of the xenon-142 nucleus.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

On the diagram below, the circle represents the position of a uranium-235 nucleus before fission.
The momentum of the strontium-90 nucleus after fission is represented by the arrow.

strontium-90

(iv) On the diagram above, draw an arrow to represent the momentum of the xenon-142
nucleus after the fission.
(2)

(c) (i) Define the decay constant for radioactive decay.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(ii) The half-life of strontium-90 is 28.0 years. Deduce that the decay constant of
strontium-90 is 7.85 × 10–10 s–1.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(d) The decay constant of xenon-142 is 0.462 s–1. Initially, a sample of radioactive waste
material contains equal numbers of strontium-90 and xenon-142 nuclei.

9
 (i) Use the values of the decay constants in (c) and (d) to calculate the time taken for the
ratio

number of strontium - 90 nuclei

number of xenon - 142 nuclei

to become equal to 1.20 × 106.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(3)

(ii) Suggest why, in the long-term, strontium-90 presents a greater problem then
xenon-142 as radioactive waste.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 26 marks)

5. This question is about radioactive decay.

Cerium-145 is a radioactive isotope with a half-life of 3.0 minutes. It emits β– particles and also
anti-neutrinos.

(a) Give one reason why the existence of the neutrino was postulated in order to explain
β-decay.

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
(1)

10
 (b) State the class of particle to which the neutrino belongs.

.....................................................................................................................................
(1)

(c) Determine the probability for the decay of a Cerium-145 nucleus in a time of 1.0 minute.

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
(2)

(d) Determine the time taken for the activity of a particular sample of Cerium-145 to be
1
reduced to a fraction of its initial activity.
10

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 6 marks)

6. A sample of cobalt-60 has an activity of 3.0 × 105 Bq. The half-life of cobalt-60 is 5.3 years.

(a) Define half-life.

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
(1)

(b) Determine the decay constant of cobalt-60.

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
(2)

(c) Calculate the time taken for the activity of the cobalt-60 to be reduced to 1.0 × 105 Bq.

11
 .....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 5 marks)

7. This question is in about radioactivity and nuclear energy levels.

(a) Define the following terms.

(i) Radioactive half-life ( T1 )

2

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii) Decay constant (λ)

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(b) Deduce that the relationship between T1 and λ is

2

λ T1 = ln2.
2

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
(2)

12
Thorium-227 (Th-227) undergoes -decay with a half-life of 18 days to form radium-223
(Ra-223). A sample of Th-227 has an initial activity of 3.2 × 105 Bq.

(c) Determine the activity of the remaining thorium after 50 days.

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
(2)

In the decay of a Th-227 nucleus, a -ray photon is also emitted.

(d) (i) Use the following data to deduce that the energy of the γ-ray photon is 0.667 MeV.

mass of Th-227 nucleus = 227.0278 u

mass of Ra-223 nucleus = 223.0186 u
mass of helium nucleus = 4.0026 u
energy of α-particle emitted = 5.481 MeV
unified atomic mass unit (u) = 931.5 MeVc–2

You may assume that the Th-227 nucleus is stationary before decay and that the
Ra-223 nucleus has negligible kinetic energy.
(3)

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

(ii) Calculate the frequency of the γ-ray photon.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(3)

Although in the decay of a Th-227 nucleus, an α-particle and a γ-ray photon are emitted, they may
have different energies to those in (d)(i). However, all the α-particles emitted in the decay of
Th-227 have discrete energies as do the associated -ray photons. This provides evidence for the

13
existence of nuclear energy levels. The diagram below represents some of the energy levels of a
nucleus of Ra-223 relative to Th-227.

Th–227

energy

energy levels of Ra–223

(e) On the diagram above label

(i) the arrows associated with α-particles (with the letter A).
(1)

(ii) the arrows associated with γ-ray photons (with the letter G).
(1)

(iii) the ground state energy level of Ra-223 (with the letter R).
(1)

(f) Use data from (d), to suggest a value for the energy difference between the ground states of
a nucleus of Th-227 and the ground state of a nucleus of Ra-223.

.....................................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 16 marks)

14
8. This question is about nuclear power and thermodynamics.

A fission reaction taking place in the core of a nuclear power reactor is

1
0n  92 U  56 Ba  36 Kr
235 144 89
 301 n.

(i) State one form in which energy is released in this reaction.

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii) Explain why, for fission reactions to be maintained, the mass of the uranium fuel must be
above a certain minimum amount.

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
(2)

(iii) The neutrons produced in the fission reaction are fast moving. In order for a neutron to
fission U-235 the neutron must be slow moving. Name the part of the nuclear reactor in
which neutrons are slowed down.

.....................................................................................................................................
(1)

(iv) In a particular reactor approximately 8.0 × 1019 fissions per second take place. Deduce the
mass of U-235 that undergoes fission per year.

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 7 marks)

15
9. This question is about radioactive decay.

A nucleus of the isotope xenon, Xe-131, is produced when a nucleus of the radioactive isotope
iodine I-13 decays.

(a) Explain the term isotopes.

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
(2)

(b) Fill in the boxes below in order to complete the nuclear reaction equation for this decay.

131 131
I Xe + – +
54
(2)

16
The activity A of a freshly prepared sample of the iodine isotope is 6.4 × 105 Bq and its half-life is
8.0 days.

(c) Using the axes, draw a graph to illustrate the decay of this sample.

A / Bq

6.4×105

0
0 5.0 10 15 20 25
time / days
(3)

(d) Determine the decay constant of the isotope I-131

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
(2)

17
 The sample is to be used to treat a growth in the thyroid of a patient. The isotope should not be
used until its activity is equal to 0.5 × 105 Bq.

(e) Calculate the time it takes for the activity of a freshly prepared sample to be reduced to an
activity of 0.5 × 105 Bq

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 11 marks)

10. This question is about radioactive decay and the age of rocks.

A nucleus of the radioactive isotope potassium-40 decays into a stable nucleus of argon-40.

(a) Complete the equation below for the decay of a potassium-40 nucleus.

19 K  18 Ar 
40 40

(2)

A certain sample of rocks contains 1.2 × 10–6 g of potassium-40 and 7.0 × 10–6 g of trapped
argon-40 gas.

(b) Assuming that all the argon originated from the decay of potassium-40 and that none has
escaped from the rocks, calculate what mass of potassium was present when the rocks were
first formed.

.....................................................................................................................................
(1)

18
 The half-life of potassium-40 is 1.3 × 109 years.

(c) Determine

(i) the decay constant of potassium-40;

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(ii) the age of the rocks.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 7 marks)

11. This question is about collisions and radioactive decay.

(a) (i) Define linear momentum and impulse.

Linear momentum: ..........................................................................................

..........................................................................................

Impulse: ..........................................................................................

..........................................................................................
(2)

19
 (ii) State the law of conservation of momentum.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(iii) Using your definitions in (a)(i), deduce that linear momentum is constant for an
object in equilibrium.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

86 Rn ) nucleus undergoes α-decay to form a nucleus of polonium (Po).

A stationary radon-220 ( 220
The α-particle has kinetic energy of 6.29 MeV.

(b) (i) Complete the nuclear equation for this decay.

220
86 Rn  Po +
(2)

(ii) Calculate the kinetic energy, in joules, of the α-particle.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(iii) Deduce that the speed of the α-particle is 1.74 × 107 m s–1.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(1)

The diagram below shows the α-particle and the polonium nucleus immediately after the decay.
The direction of the velocity of the α-particle is indicated.

20
 -particle
polonium nucleus

(c) (i) On the diagram above, draw an arrow to show the initial direction of motion of the
polonium nucleus immediately after the decay.
(1)

(ii) Determine the speed of the polonium nucleus immediately after the decay.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(3)

(iii) In the decay of another radon nucleus, the nucleus is moving before the decay.
Without any further calculation, suggest the effect, if any, of this initial speed on the
paths shown in (c)(i).

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

21
The half-life of the decay of radon-222 is 3.8 days and radon-220 has a half-life of 55 s.

(d) (i) Suggest three ways in which nuclei of radon-222 differ from those of radon-220.

1. .................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................

2. .................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................

3. .................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................
(3)

(ii) Define half-life.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(iii) State the expression that relates the activity At at time t of a sample of a radioactive
material to its initial activity A0 at time t = 0 and to the decay constant λ. Use this
expression to derive the relationship between the decay constant λ and the half-life
T1 .
2

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(3)

22
 (iv) Radon-222 emits α-particles. The activity of radon gas in a sample of 1.0 m3 of air is
4.6 Bq. Given that 1.0 m3 of the air contains 2.6 × 1025 molecules, determine the
ratio

number of radon - 222 atoms in 1.0 m 3 of air

number of molecules in 1.0 m 3 of air

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(4)

(e) Suggest whether radon-222 or radon-220 presents the greater hazard to people over a long
period of time.

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 30 marks)

12. Nuclear binding energy and nuclear decay

(a) State what is meant by a nucleon.

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................
(1)

23
(b) Define what is meant by the binding energy of a nucleus.

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................
(1)

24
The graph below shows the variation with nucleon (mass) number of the binding energy per
nucleon.

10
56
9 Fe
138
16
Ba
O 208
Pb
8 235
U
Binding energy per nucleon / MeV

7
9
Be
6
6
Li
5

4
3
3 H

2
2
H
1

0
0 50 100 150 200 250
Nucleon number

(c) Use the graph to explain why energy can be released in both the fission and the fusion
processes.

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................
(3)

25
 (d) A sample of carbon-11 has an initial mass of 4.0  10–15 kg. Carbon-11 has a half-life of
approximately 20 minutes. Calculate the mass of carbon-11 remaining after one hour has
elapsed.

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................
(2)

Uranium-238, 92 U, undergoes -decay to form an isotope of thorium. Write down the

238
(e)
nuclear equation for this decay.

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 9 marks)

13. Radioactive decay

(a) Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope with a half-life of 5500 years. It is produced in the
atmosphere by neutron bombardment of nitrogen. The equation for this reaction is

14
7 N  01 n  146 C  X.

(i) Explain what are meant by isotopes.

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii) Define the term radioactive half-life.

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
(1)

26
 (iii) Identify the particle X.

.........................................................................................................................
(1)

(b) Living trees contain atoms of carbon-14. The activity per gram of carbon from a living tree
is higher than that per gram of carbon-14 from burnt wood (charcoal) found at an ancient
campsite.

(i) A living tree continuously takes in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Suggst why
the activity of the carbon from the charcoal is less than that of the living wood.

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
(3)

(ii) Each gram of a living tree contains approximately 1  10–12 g of the isotope
carbon-14. Deduce that each gram of carbon in living wood contains approximately
4  1010 atoms of carbon-14.

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
(2)

27
(c) On the grid below, draw a graph to show the variation with time of the number of
carbon-14 atoms in one gram of wood from a tree. Your graph should indicate the number
of atoms for a period of 1.8  104 years after the tree has died. (Half-life of carbon-14 =
5500 years)

number of 2
atoms 10 10

0
0 0.40 0.80 1.2 1.6 2.0
4
time / years 10
(3)

(d) The activity of a radioactive sample is proportional to the number of atoms in the sample.
The activity per gram of carbon from a living tree is 9.6 disintegrations per minute. The
activity per gram of carbon in burnt wood found at the ancient campsite is 1.9
disintegrations per minute.

(i) Estimate the number of atoms of carbon-14 in the burnt wood.

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii) From the graph you have drawn in (c), estimate the age of the burnt wood.

.........................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 13 marks)

28
14. This question is about nuclear binding energy.

The table below gives the mass defect per nucleon of deuterium  H  and helium-4  He.
2
1
4
2

Mass defect per nucleon / u

 H
2
1 0.00120

 He
4
2
0.00760

(a) Explain the term mass defect.

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................
(2)

(b) Calculate the energy, in joule, that is released when two deuterium nuclei fuse to form a
helium-4 nucleus.

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................
(4)
(Total 6 marks)

29
15. This question is about radioactivity.

(a) The nuclear decay equation for the radioactive isotope carbon-14 is shown below.

14
6 C  147 N  0
1 eX

State the name of

(i) particle X;

.........................................................................................................................
(1)

0
(ii) the class of fundamental particle to which 1 e belongs.

.........................................................................................................................
(1)

(b) Wood in a living tree contains the isotope carbon-14. When the tree dies the amount of
carbon-14 in the wood from the tree decreases.

(i) The half-life of carbon-14 is 5700 year. Deduce that the decay constant of carbon-14
is 1.2  10–4 year–1.

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii) The activity of carbon-14 in 1.0 g of living wood is 0.24 Bq. The activity of an
ancient bowl made from the same type of wood is 0.075 Bq per gram.

Determine the age of the bowl.

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
(3)

30
 (c) Outline how the half-life of carbon-14 may be determined experimentally.

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 9 marks)

16. This question is about nuclear decay.

(a) (i) Describe the phenomenon of natural radioactive decay.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(3)

(ii) Ionizing radiation is emitted during radioactive decay. Explain what is meant by the
term ionizing.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

31
(b) The sketch graph below shows the variation with mass number (nucleon number) A of the
binding energy per nucleon E of nuclei.

One possible nuclear reaction that occurs when uranium-235 is bombarded by a neutron to
form xenon-142 and strontium-90 is represented as

92 U 0 n  54 Xe  38 Sr 4 01 N .
235 1 142 90

(i) Identify the type of nuclear reaction represented above.

...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii) On the sketch graph above, identify with their symbols the approximate positions of
the uranium (U), the xenon (Xe) and the strontium (Sr) nuclei.
(2)

(iii) Data for the binding energies of xenon-142 and strontium-90 are given below.

isotope binding energy / MeV

xenon-142 1189
strontium-90 784.8

The total energy released during the reaction is 187.9 MeV. Determine the binding
energy per nucleon of uranium-235.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(3)

32
(iv) State why binding energy of the neutrons formed in the reaction is not quoted.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 12 marks)

33