7 Radioactivity and particles

■■7 Radioactivity and particles

Question Answers and guidance Marks
1 a) i) D 1

ii) 229
Th and 221
Fr 1, 1
90 87

b) i) alpha particle 1

ii) 213
Po → 209
Pb + 42He 2
84 82

c) i) B 1

ii) 225
Ra → 225
Ac + 0
88 89 −1e 2

d) Uranium appears twice because there are two different isotopes 1

Each isotope of an element has the same number of protons, but a 1
different number of neutrons

e) 8 α decays and 5 β decays 1

Total 12

Question Answers and guidance Marks

2 a) i) 6 1

ii) 8 1

b) C 1

c) i) The count rate is a quarter, so two half-lives have passed 2

age = 2 × 5700 = 11 400 years

ii) The background count is not part of the decay from the wood 1
so it must be taken away from the wood’s count
1

iii) You need to make sure that the two samples are equally close to 1
the detector
Total 8

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 Mark scheme

Question Answers and guidance Marks

3 a) You could breathe the gas in 1
All the energy from the alpha particles will be absorbed, 1
Your lungs will be damaged 1

b) Axes labelled 1
Points plotted accurately 2
Smooth curve drawn 1

c) 56 seconds 1
Construction lines drawn to show your working 1

d) ½ lives count rate 1

0 320
1 160
2 80
3 40
4 20
5 10
1
It takes 5 half-lives so 5 × 56 = 280 s

Total 11

Question Answers and guidance Marks

4 a) i) C 1

b) i) Nucleus contains two protons 1

and 1 neutron 1

particles are labelled 1

ii) 3 3 0
1H→ 2He + −1e 2

Total 6

Question Answers and guidance Mark

5 States most suitable isotope (silver) 1
Defines half-life (time for radioactivity of a sample to halve) 1

Links half-life with choice of isotope (want the activity to be 1

detectable after 1 year but to die away soon after a year)
Uses data from table (antimony’s half-life is 2 months so only 1/64 1
remains after a year)

Total 4

42 © Hodder & Stoughton 2017

 7 Radioactivity and particles

Question Answers and guidance Marks

6 Gamma radiation is more penetrating than alpha and beta 1
radiation, but cannot penetrate thick lead or concrete
It is not as ionising as beta or alpha radiation so is less damaging 1
to cells inside the body
It is used in medical tracers because it can be detected outside the
body 1

Total 3

Question Answers and guidance Marks

7 a) Two precautions for 1 mark each:
Keep the sources out of the box for as short a time as possible 1

Do not point sources at students 1

Do not let students come closer than 1 m (for example) or handle 1

sources

b) 1 mark for choosing precaution from:

using tongs to handle source; keep students a minimum distance 1
away; limit the exposure time

2 marks for a matching explanation:

Radiation exposure depends on duration of exposure/distance 1
from source
This precaution reduces radiation exposure [for the
1
teacher/student]

Total 5

Question Answers and guidance Marks

8 The dose of different types of radiation is regularly checked 1
They are easy to use so people are more likely to wear them/they 1
show the cumulative dose
Changes can be made to reduce exposure if readings are too high 1
If the badge is in the room, but the person isn’t then their dose 1
could be overestimated

Total 4

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 Mark scheme

Question Answers and guidance Marks

9 Thallium 1
The radioactivity does not die away too quickly/before tests are
completed – magnesium-27 has too short a half-life; yttrium is a 1
beta emitter which is more harmful than gamma radiation
The radioactivity dies away after a few days so is not lingering in
the body/chromium-51 has too long a half-life 1

It is a gamma emitter so less harmful for cells in the

body/chromium and magnesium emit alpha and beta radiation 1
which are more harmful than gamma radiation

Total 4

Question Answers and guidance Marks

10 a ) Rocks and steel absorb the radioactivity, reducing exposure 1
Radioactive materials cannot spread to the surroundings because 1
they are changed into glass that does not dissolve

b) Radioactivity for all isotopes gets less over a period of time as all 1
isotopes decay
1
Some isotopes have such short half-lives that there is hardly any
radioactivity in 100 years’ time

Total 4

Question Answers and guidance Marks

11 The plastic container does provide enough shielding 1
Alpha radiation cannot pass through plastic/cannot travel more 1
than 10 cm in air

Total 2

Question Answers and guidance Marks

12 Identifies harm from exposure to radiation (cancer, mutations) 1
Identifies how cosmic radiation causes harm (ionises molecules in 1
cells)
Identifies risk factor causing high exposure (high altitude, long 1
exposure time)
Links high exposure with activity (pilots and frequent fliers have
1
more exposure)
Identifies precautions (fly at lower altitude, reduce flying time)
1

Total 5

44 © Hodder & Stoughton 2017

 7 Radioactivity and particles

Question Answers and guidance Marks

13 a ) A: pass through; curve downwards 1
B: pass through; curve upwards 1

C: reflected 1
1
D: undeviated or slightly curve downwards

b) Four points for 1 mark each:

Alpha particles are positively charged 1

Conclusion: They are repelled by the nucleus so it is positively 1

charged.
Alpha particles have high energy 1
Conclusion: The nucleus must be massive for it not to be knocked 1
out of the way of the alpha particle
The nucleus is very small, which is why such a small number
bounce back 1

Total 8

Question Answers and guidance Marks

14 Three types of background radiation with the correct explanation of
how to reduce the risk (2 marks for each)
Cosmic rays
• people who fly frequently have higher exposure as cosmic 1
radiation is more intense at high altitudes
• take fewer flights; fly in planes that travel at low altitude (reduces
cosmic radiation) 1

Radon/gamma rays
• levels of radon gas vary in different parts of the world because of
the different isotopes in different rocks OR people living in regions 1
where rocks are radioactive/contain radioactive isotopes are
exposed to higher levels of gamma radiation
1
• move away from regions built on radioactive rocks (reduces
gamma rays, radon gas levels)
Medical exposure
• people have higher medical exposure if they have need more 1
medical X-rays/CAT scans have high exposure (no marks for
saying ‘scans’ or ‘ultrasound’ or ‘MRI scans’) or undergo
radiotherapy (no mark for saying ‘chemotherapy’)
• use alternatives to X-rays or CAT scans or radiotherapy (reduces 1
medical exposure)
Food and drink
• people who eat food grown in radioactive areas have higher 1
exposure as some radioactive isotopes are taken up from the soil
by plants
• check that your food has been grown in less radioactive regions 1

Total 6

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 Mark scheme

Question Answers and guidance Marks

15 Any five points needed for 5 marks:
Half-life of isotopes is known fairly accurately 1

Using half-life calculations is reliable as half-life is not affected by 1

physical conditions/cannot be changed
1
This technique dates rocks accurately
But some rocks do not contain radioactive isotopes 1
It can be hard to measure small amounts of isotopes in some
samples/not precise 1

It is not a precise method as the half-life is in billions of years 1

Total 5

Question Answers and guidance Marks

16 A 1

Total 1

46 © Hodder & Stoughton 2017