CHAPTER 10: RADIOACTIVITY

1. Question 1: Trengganu 07
A radioactive source emits two rays P and Q is placed in front of an electric field and
the radioactive path is shown in Diagram 1.

DIAGRAM 1

a. Name the material of container X.

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

(b)(i) Complete this sentence by underlining one correct phrase in the box.
Ray P is

an alpha particle

a beta particle

a gamma ray

[1 mark ]
(ii) Give the reason for your answer
in (a)(i).

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

(c) Why the size of deflection of ray P is greater than ray Q?

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

2. Question 4: Trengganu 08
A Polonium nucleus emits alpha particles and gamma ray to become a Plumbum nucleus.
a. Complete the decay equation for Polonium nucleus by writing the appropriate number in
the boxes provided.
 [1 mark]

b. The Polonium nucleus is placed in front of electric field as shown in 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: .....................................................

Gamma: ..................................................
[2 marks]

c. A sample of polonium of mass 120 g has a half-life of 45 s. Determine the mass

of polonium
that has decayed after 180 second.
[2 marks]

3. Question 3: MRSM 08
Radioisotope uranium-238 decays to become thorium-224 as shown in the equation
below.

(a)(i) What is meant by radioisotope?

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

(a)(ii) What is radiation P?

..........................................................
[1 mark]
b. If the mass defect in the above radioactive decay is 3.35 x 10 -27 kg, calculate the
energy released in joule.
(Speed of light, c = 3.0 x 108 m/s)

[2 marks]
c. A radioactive source which emits radiation P is placed near an electric field as
shown in Diagram 3.

i. On Diagram 3, draw the path of radiation P in the electric field.

[1 mark]

ii. Explain your answer in (c)(i).

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

4. Question 4: Melaka 07
a. P, Q and R are three descriptions of the main types of nuclear radiation.
P: A fast moving electron
Q: Short wave length
electromagnetic radiation
R: A particle consisting of two
protons and two neutrons.
Which lettered statement is the description of:
i. An alpha particle: .......
ii. A beta particle: .........
iii. Gamma radiation: ......
[3 marks]
b. Diagram 4 shows a radioactive detector to detect radioactive emissions.

Radon-220 is placed as radioactive source in this detector and it decays by emitting

alpha particles and it has a half-life of 52 s.
 i. State the name of the radioactive detector shown in Diagram 4.

...................................................
[1 mark]
ii. On Diagram 4, sketch the misty track formed by these alpha particles.
[1 mark]
c. The activity of a sample of Radon-220 is measured to be 520 counts/s.
Calculate the activity of the Radon-220 after 156 s.

[2 marks]

5. Question 2: Kelantan 07
Diagram 3.1 shows the rate of decay of radioactive substance, Iodine-131.

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?

…………………………………………
[1mark]
d) When Iodine-131 decays, it produces a beta particle and Xenon-131(Xe).
(i) What is beta particle?
…………………………………………
[1mark]

(ii) Complete the following

equation for the decay of Iodine-131.

[1 mark]

6. Question 4: Melaka 08
Diagram 4.1 shows a Geiger-Muller tube connected to a counter rate meter to detect
radioactive rays from a radioisotope P.

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.

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

..........................................................
[2 marks]
b. The radioisotope P has been removed but there is still a small reading on the
counter rate
meter. What causes this reading?