RADIOACTIVITY SOLUTIONS

Multiple Choice
1. Answer: C
Characteristic α-particle is most ionising & least penetrating
meanwhile
characteristic γ-ray is least ionising & most penetrating

2. Answer: B
B X → X shows elements/nuclei
A

A shows nucleon number or mass number of

elements/nuclei
B shows atomic number/number of protons/number of
electrons of elements/nuclei
A minus B shows number of neutrons
The decay equation from problem:
21
11 Na → 1210 X + +10e + 00υ
0
−1 is positron/β+
e
0υ is neutrino
0

Both are
3. Answer: C
The decay equation from problem:
1
0 n → 11 p + −10e + 00ύ
1
0 nis neutron
1 p is proton
1

−1e is electron/β
0 -

0 ύ is antineutrino
0

The equation can be re-written by:

d →u+ −10e + 00ύ
d means the quark of DOWN
u menas the quark of UP
 Quark structures of neutron is ud d which means “up down
down”
Quark structures of proton is uud which means “up up down”
Thus if neutron decays become proton there is 1 change from
DOWN quark to UP quark

4. Answer:
Isotope is a nucleus from same element, same number of
protons but different number of neutrons
So, from the problem let’s say initial nucleus is 20080 X
The 1st decay equation:
200
80 X → 42α + 200−4=196
80−2=78Y

The 2nd decay equation:

196
Y → −10 β + 78−(−1)=79
196
78 Z
The 3rd decay equation:
196
Z → −10 β + 79−(−1)=80
196
79 A
Then,
196
with minimum 3 particles
200
80 A is the isotope of 80 X

emitted (1 alpha particle & 2 beta particles)

5. Answer: D
Neptunium-236 with 93 protons → 23693Ne
1st decay equation from problem:
236
93 Ne → 42 α + 236−4=232
93−2=91 X

So the 1st nucleus is 23291 X with (232 – 91 = 141 neutrons) & 91

protons
2nd decay equation from problem:
232
91 X → −10e + 9 232−0=232
1−(−1)=9 2 Y

So the 2nd nucleus is 2329 2Y with (232 – 92 = 140 neutrons) & 92

protons

6. Answer: A
Same with No.3 where both proton and neutron are HADRON
with strong interaction
7. Answer: D
+e = 2(2/3 e) + (-1/3 e) = 4/3e – 1/3e = 3/3e = +1e
u = 2/3e e = 1,6 x 10-19 C/electrons
d = -1/3 e
s = -1/3 e

8. Answer: B
200
80 X neutrons = 120

9. Answer: D
Clear enough

10. Answer: C
Same with No.3

11. Answer: D
231
Th → −10e + 90231−0 =23 1
90 −(−1)=9 1 Pa

β-

12. Anwer: A
Clear enough

13. Answer: D
UP UP UP = 2/3e + 2/3e + 2/3e = 2e

14. Answer: C
β+decay equation:
1
1 p → 10n + +10e + 00υ
1
0 is neutron
n
1 p is proton
1

+1 e is positron/β
0 +

0ύ is neutrino
0

The equation can be re-written by:

u → d+ +10 e + 00υ
 15. Answer: D
Clear enough

Essay:
1. (a)
This experiment called Rutherford experiment and led to the
atom model of Rutherford. The model said that an atom
comprised of proton and electron.

}
(b)
(i) Charge = -1/3e
(ii) +e = 2/3e + 2/3e + (-1/3e)

UP QUARKS

2. (a)
α-particle is a particle of matter which is a nucleus of Helium
(He) with symbol of 42α
β-particle is a particle of matter which is simply an electron
with symbol of −10 β
γ-ray is a photon of electromagnetic radiation with no mass &
no charge
(b)
(i) α-particle: AB X → 42α + AB−2
−4
Y
(ii) β-particle: B X → −1 β + B−(−1)AY
A 0

(iii) γ-ray: AB X → 00γ + ABY

3.
4.

Hadron: baryon meson

Lepton
Electrostatic force (COULOMB FORCE)
+ + REPEL
+ - ATTRACT
BRAKING

Q = It
Q = ne
W = QV

1 eV = 1,6 x 10-19 J