STRUCTURE – PAPER 2 SECTION A

1. The folowing equation shows the radioactive decay of a nuclide X.

X  Y  0
-1 e  Energy

(a) What is the meaning of radioactive decay?

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

(b) Name the radioactive radiation released in this radioactive decay.

..............................................................................................................................
[1 mark]
(c) Compare the stability of nuclide X and nuclide Y.

..............................................................................................................................
[1 mark]
(c) What happen to proton number and the nucleon number of nuclide X after the
decaying process?

Proton number ...............................................

Nucleon number.............................................
[2 marks]

2. Diagram 1 shows a nuclide Thorium-234, 234

90Th is placed in a container. Thorium-234 nuclide
decays to a nuclide Radium-226, 226
88 Ra by emitting α particle and β particle.

Diagram 1

(a) Mark with (√) for the correct answer in the box provided.

The box in Diagram 1 made of

Aluminium

Lead
[ 1 mark ]
 (b) Calculate the number of α particle and β particle that emitted in the Thorium-
234 decays.

[2 marks]
(c) Thorium-234 has half-life of 20 days and initial mass of 48 g.
Calculate the mass of undecayed Thorium-234 after 60 days.

[2 marks]

3. A doctor conducts an investigation on a patient’s kidney by injecting Iodine-131 radioisotope, that

has a half-life of 8 days, into blood circulation.
A normal kidney can expel the radioisotope in 20 minutes.
The presence of radioisotope in the left and right patient’s kidneys is shown in the graphs as
Diagram 2.

Diagram 2

(a) What is meaning of half-life?

…………………………………………………………………………………
[1 mark]

(b) Based on Diagram 2,

(i) Which kidney does not function normally?

…………………………………………………………………………
[1 mark]

(ii) Give one reason for your answer in 3 b(i).

…………………………………………………………………………………..
[1 mark]
 (c) The initial activity of Iodine-131 is 1,600 counts per second.
Calculate the time taken for the Iodine-131 activity to reduce.

(i) To 100 counts per second.

[ 2 marks]

(ii) 1/8 of its initial activity.

[1 mark]

4. Diagram 3 shows the rate of decay of radioisotopes K and L respectively. The radioisotopes were
placed in front of a detector and the count rates were recorded every two minutes.

Diagram 3
(a) What is meant by a series of decays of radioactive sources?
………………………………………………………………………………………
[1 mark]
(b) Name the suitable detector to be used.
…………………………………………………………………………………………..[1 mark]

(c) Based on Diagram 3,

(i) Which radioisotope has a longer half-life?
…………………………………………………………………………………
[1 mark]
 (ii) Find the half-life for the radioisotope in (c)(i).
Show on the graph how the half-life is determined.
T1/2 = ……………………………
[2 marks]
(d) Calculate the rate of decay of K after 20 minutes.

[2 marks]

5. Diagram 4 shows a part of Uranium-238 decay series with its half-life respectively.

Diagram 4

(a) What is meant by half life?

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

(b) The age of a rock is determined by the U-238 decay series.

(i) Why the age of the rock is determined by using the half-life of U-238.

..................................................................................................................
[1 mark]
 (ii) Explain how the age of the rock is measured.

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

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

..................................................................................................................
[3 marks]

(c) The half-life of carbon-14 is 5600 years. In a sample of living wood, 20.0g carbon-14
has activity 400 per minute. The sample of 40 g of ancient wood has activity 100 per
minute.

Calculate

(i) The number of life the sample of living wood decay

[ 3 marks ]
(ii) The age of the ancient wood.

[ 2 marks ]

6. A nuclear reaction is represented by the following equation:

2 H 3 H X He  1n  Energy
1 1 2 0
(a) Based on the equation, X is the nucleon number of Helium.

(i) What is the meaning of nucleon number?

..................................................................
[1 mark]
(ii) Determine the value of X.

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

(b) State

(i) the type of the nuclear reaction.

..................................................................
[1 mark]
 (ii) one condition for the nuclear reaction in (b)(i) to occur.

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

(c) The nuclear reaction releases a large amount of energy due to mass defect.
Table 1 shows the mass of each nuclide stated in atomic mass unit, a.m.u.

Nuclide Atomic Mass Unit(a.m.u)

2
1H 2.013553
3
1H 3.016049
X
2 He 4.001506
1
0n 1.008665
-27
1 a.m.u = 1.66 x 10 kg,
1 eV = 1.6 x10-19 J
speed of light =3xl08 m s-1
Table 1

Calculate

(i) the mass defect

[2 marks]
(ii) the energy released in J and eV

[4 marks]
(iii) the power generated in 5 µs

[2 marks]
7. Diagram 5.1 shows the nuclear reaction involving the nucleus of uranium-235 in a nuclear reactor.

Diagram 5.1

(a) Name the process in Diagram 5.1.

…………………………………………………………………………………
[1 mark]

(b) The nuclear reaction can be represented by the equation below:

235 141
92𝑈 + 10𝑛 → 56𝐵𝑎 + 𝑥
𝑦𝐾𝑟 + 3 10𝑛 + 𝐸

Total mass: 236.0329 a.m.u. Total mass: 235.86653 a.m.u.

Before reaction After reaction

(i) Determine the value of x and y.

x = ………………………… y = …………………………
[2 marks]
(ii) Calculate the mass defect in kg.

[2 marks]
(c) Diagram 5.2 below shows airport baggage screening system in a quarantine area.

Diagram 5.2
The radioactive source and detector are used to detect prohibited metal in the luggage. The
radioactive source contains radioisotope material.

Table 2
Based on the information in Table 2, state the suitable characteristics of radioactive source
used to detect prohibited metals in the luggage.
Give reason for the suitability of the characteristics.

(i) State of matter

……………………………………………………………………………
Reason
……………………………………………………………………………
[2 marks]
 (ii) Type of radiation
……………………………………………………………………………
Reason
……………………………………………………………………………
[2 marks]
(iii) Half-life
…………………………………………………………………………...
Reason
…………………………………………………………………………..
[2 marks]

(d) Based on the answer in 7(c), determine the most suitable radioisotope to detect
prohibited metals in the luggage.
…………………………………………………………………………………
[1 mark]
8. Diagram 6.1 shows a process that involves a uranium being hit by one neutron.

Diagram 6.1
(a) Name the process as shown in Diagram 6.1

…………………………………………………………………………………………
[1 mark]
(b) Diagram 6.2 shows an incomplete nuclear equation for the reaction process shown in
Diagram 6.1. Complete the equation in the box provided.

Diagram 6.2
[2 marks]
(c) The worker who works in the nuclear plant noticed that he suffered hair loss, fatigue
and nausea. He suspected that the symptoms are caused by the negative effect of
radiation. Suggest the safety precautions that should be taken when handlingradioactive
materials. The suggestions are based on the following aspects:
(i) The equipment to be used in handling the radioactive source.
………………………………………………………………………………........
Sebab / Reason
…..………………………………………………………………………………...
[2 marks]
(ii) Safety precaution that can be apply by the worker

………………………………………………………………………………........
Sebab / Reason
…..……………………………………………………………………………….
[2 marks]
(iii) The method of disposal of the radioactive waste

………………………………………………………………………………............
Sebab / Reason
……………………..…………………………………………………………….
[2 marks]
9. Table 3.1 shows an equation of a reaction and total atomic mass before and after anuclear
fission.

Nuclear fission
Before reaction After reaction

239 145
Equation 94𝑃𝑢 + 10𝑛 93
56Ba + 38𝑆𝑟 + 2 10𝑛 + 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦

Total atomic mass 240.06082 u 239.85830 u

Table 3.1
Table 3.2 shows an equation of a reaction and total atomic mass before and after a
nuclear fusion.

Nuclear fusion
Before reaction After reaction

Equation 2
1𝐻 + 31𝐻 4
2 He + 1
0 𝑛 + 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦

Total atomic mass 5.03013 u 5.01043 u

Table 3.2

(a) (i) What is meant by nuclear fission?

[1 mark]

(ii) Using only the information given in Table 3.1 and 3.2, compare
nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. Hence state the relationship between
mass and energy involved.

[5 marks]
(b) Nuclear fission produces a chain reaction. Describe how the chain reaction
happens in anuclear fission of an atom of uranium.
[4 marks]

(c) Diagram 7 shows metal plates is being transported on a conveyer belt. A factory
wants to develop a thickness detection system to ensure that the thickness of each
metal plate is within a standard range. If the thickness of each metal plate is more or
less than the standard range, the metal plate will be automatically separated.

Diagram 7
Using theinformation and Diagram 7, explain:
(i) The state of matter of the radioactive isotope and the type of
radiation.
(ii) The half-life of the radioactive isotope
(iii) The penetrating power and suitable detectors.
[10 marks
SLOT 11: NUCLEAR PHYSICS JOM SKOR A+ PHYSIC’S WEBINAR

10. Diagram 8 shows a nuclear-powered submarine.

Diagram 8

A nuclear-powered submarine is to be built. Table 4 shows the characteristic of four

submarine models, W, X, Y and Z, with different specification.

The fuel of the Half-life of fuel A chemical reaction Shield of

Submarine
nuclear reactor to produce gas for nuclear reactor
breathing

Uranium-235 Long Water electrolysis Concrete

W
Neutralisation of
Krypton Short acid Concrete
X
and alkaline
Neutralisation of
Y Uranium-235 Short acid Steel
and alkaline

Z Krypton Long Water electrolysis Steel

Table 4
Determine the most suitable nuclear-powered submarine model to function for a long
time in the ocean and efficiently. Justify your answer.
[10 marks]
SLOT 11: NUCLEAR PHYSICS JOM SKOR A+ PHYSIC’S WEBINAR

11. A nuclear power station will be built in a country.

In the planning process for the construction of this nuclear power station, several things
must be considered. Table 5 shows some characteristic to be consider as well as
recommendations for each of them.

Table 5
As a nuclear scientist involved in this nuclear power station construction project,
determine the power station that meets safety features and does not pose a threat to
the environment and radioactive waste management issues. Justify your answer.
[10 marks]
SLOT 11: NUCLEAR PHYSICS JOM SKOR A+ PHYSIC’S WEBINAR

12. Diagram 9 shows a reactor nuclear used to generate energy.

Diagram 9

You are required to design a nuclear reactor that can produce controlled and safe nuclear
energy..
State and explain the designing based on the following aspects:
- Fuel
- Material for moderator
- Material for control rod
- Material for cooler
- Thickness of concrete shield
[ 10 marks ]