Prepared By: XII – PHYSICS

Sir Danish Ahmed 118 CH – 20

NUCLEAR RADIATIONS
Q 1: Write down the construction and working of Wilson cloud chamber.
[1990][93][96][97][1998][2000][2001][2003P.E][2003P.M][2006][2008][2010][2013][2015][2018]
WILSON CLOUD CHAMBER:
Wilson cloud chamber is a device which is used for making visible the path of ionizing particles.
CONSTRUCTION:
It consists of a closed cylindrical chamber with
transparent glass top and a movable piston at the bottom.
On the sides near the top, a cylinder is provided with
a glass window for illuminating light and an inlet for
the ionizing particles. The piston can be moved up or
down by a lever attached to it.
WORKING:
The chamber is filled with a mixture of alcohol
and water. The air chamber is formed between the
movable piston and glass top contains saturated vapors.
The piston is suddenly pulled down with the help of the
lever so that the vapors in the chamber cool down adiabatically. Saturated vapors present above
the piston now become supersaturated. If an ionizing particle or radiation passes through the super
saturated vapor it leaves positive and negative ions along its track. Tiny fog droplets condense
immediately on each ion. Hence if the chamber is free of dust particles and the piston is pulled
down when the ionizing particles passing from it then fog droplets are formed all along its track
which can be photographed.
ALPHA – PARTICLES:
There track is a continuous and thick line because it’s ionizing power is high.
BETA PARTICLES:
There track is a thin and a broken line because it’s ionizing power is low.
GAMMA RAYS:
There track is a scattered dots and small lines. It is not give a line track because they do not
produce ionization. They interact with atoms to eject electrons which produce irregular cloud
tracks of their own which branch out from the direction of gamma rays.

RELATED QUESTIONS
[2012]
1. In a Cloud chamber photograph the path of an alpha particles is a thick and continuous line whereas
that of a beta particles is a thin and broken line, why?
2. Why do γ rays not give a line track in the cloud chamber photograph?
3. A Cloud chamber photograph of an α – particles is usually straight. Sometime as abrupt bend
accompanied by a small branched track. What could possibly be the cause of this forked track?
[2000]
4. Write a short note Wilson cloud chamber.
[2001][2003P.E][2008][2010][2013]
5. Give the construction and working of Wilson Cloud Chamber.
[2003P.M]
6. Give the construction, working and use of Wilson Cloud Chamber

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Gulshan – e – Iqbal , Karachi. Call : 02134173717, WhatsApp : 0332390006
Prepared By: XII – PHYSICS
Sir Danish Ahmed 119 CH – 20
Q 2: Describe the construction and working of Geiger counter. [2002P.E][2002P.M][2004][2007][2016]

GEIGER COUNTER:
INTRODUCTION:
G.M counter is a portable device which is used for detection of nuclear radiation. It was
discovered by Geiger and Mauler.
CONSTRUCTION:
G.M tube consists of a hollow metal cylinder one end of which is closed by an insulating cap.
At the center of cap is fixed a stuff straight wire along the axis of the cylinder. A thin mass or glass
disc closes the other end which also serves as the entrance window for nuclear radiation. The tube
usually contains a special mixture of air, argon and alcohol etc. A P.D of the order of one to three
thousands volt is applied between the metal cylinder and a wire through a suitable series resistance
is used.

WORKING:
When ionizing particles enters the tube through the window, it ionizes the gaseous mixture. A few
electrons and ions are produced. These positive and negative ions travel through tube towards the
electrodes. The accelerated ions collide with the gases molecules and produce further ionization.
These ions are accelerated towards the respective electrodes. As result current flows between the
wire and the cylinder and through the resistor ‘R’ producing potential difference across R. The
ends of R are connected to a load speaker or electronic counter.

Q. A neutron can produce little ionization. Is there any sure chance of getting a cloud camber
track for it or a count in the Geiger counter?

Neutrons are unable to ionize a gas. Ionization can also produce when a neutron directly
strikes to a nucleus. In G.M counter the knocked out proton produces ionization

RELATED QUESTIONS
1. A neutron can produce little ionization. Is there any sure chance of getting a cloud camber track for
it or a count in the Geiger counter?
[2002P.E][2002P.M][2007]
2. Describe the construction and working of Geiger counter.
[2004]
3. Explain the working of Geiger counter.

THE MASTERS’ COACHING CENTRE (Gulshan Campus), B – 48 Block – 3 Near New Dhoraji Market ,
Gulshan – e – Iqbal , Karachi. Call : 02134173717, WhatsApp : 0332390006
Prepared By: XII – PHYSICS
Sir Danish Ahmed 120 CH – 20
Q. A Cloud chamber photograph of an α – particles is usually straight. Sometime as abrupt
bend accompanied by a small branched track. What could possibly be the cause of this
forked track?
A Cloud chamber photograph of an α – particles is usually straight. Sometime as abrupt
bend accompanied by a small branched track because when alpha particle strikes a nucleus,
the recoiling leaves a track. This is cause of this forked track.
Q. Explain how you would test whether the radiation from a radiation from a radioactive
source α, β or γ radiations with the simplest equipment?
When α, β and γ rays are allowed to pass through a magnetic or electric field, the alpha
particles deflected towards negative plate, beta particles deflected towards positive plate
and gamma rays shows no deflection. In this manner we can identify the radiations.
[2011]
Q. In how many ways can γ rays produce ionization of the atom? Explain.
Gamma rays can produce ionization in three ways.
1. It may lose all of its energy in a single collision with the electron of an atom. Such as
photoelectric effect.
2. It may lose only a part of its energy in a collision such as Compton’s Effect.
3. It may be stopped by a heavy nucleus giving rise to electron positron pair such as pair
production.
Q. In what way does a neutron produce ionization of an atom?
A neutron collides with a substance containing a large number of hydrogen atoms and
knocks out a proton. In this way neutron produce ionization.
Q. Why recommended maximum dose for radiation a bit higher for women beyond the child
bearing age that for younger women?
It has found that ovary and grown follicular cells are most sensitive cells for radiation. But
primordial follicles and Occitan are more radiation repellent and they grown ever after the
irradiation. Also the fertility of ovary is much affected when the whole body is irradiating
by a specific dose of radiation than when ovary alone is irradiated by the same dose.
Q. Which of the trays would you advise for the treatment of,
(a) Skin cancer
(b) The cancer flesh just under the skin
(c) A cancerous tumor deep inside the body
 Use alpha particles for the treatment of skin cancer because of its small penetration power.
 Use beta particles for the treatment of cancer flesh just under the skin because of its
moderate penetration power.
 Use gamma rays for the treatment of cancerous tumor deep inside the body because of its
small penetration power.
Q. Two radioisotopes of an element are available one of long half life and the other of short
half life? Which isotope is advisable for the treatment of patient and why?
For the treatment radioisotopes of short half life should be used so that any material
remaining in the body quickly decays away.
Q. Why are many artificially prepared radioisotopes of elements rare in nature?
Many artificially prepared radioisotopes of elements rare in nature because of their
extremely small half life.

THE MASTERS’ COACHING CENTRE (Gulshan Campus), B – 48 Block – 3 Near New Dhoraji Market ,
Gulshan – e – Iqbal , Karachi. Call : 02134173717, WhatsApp : 0332390006
Prepared By: XII – PHYSICS
Sir Danish Ahmed 121 CH – 20

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

[2001]
1. Balmer series is obtained when all the transactions of electron terminate on
(a) Third orbit (b) Fourth orbit (c) Second orbit (d) First orbit
[2001]
2. The LASER is a device which can produce
(a) An intense beam of light (b) A coherent beam of light
(c) A monochromatic beam of light (d) All of the above
[2001]
3. The nuclei having the same mass number but different atomic numbers are called
(a) Isotopes (b) Isobars (c) Isotones (d) Isomers
[2002P.M]
4. The fast moving electron stopped by heavy target in an evacuated glass tube, give rise to the
production of
(a) Alpha particles (b) Beta particles (c) X – Rays (d) Protons
[2002P.M][2007]
5. In radioactive decay law N = Noe-λt , λ represent
(a) Wave length (b) Half life
(c) Mass of radioactive substance (d) Decay constant
[2002P.M]
6. Wilson Cloud chamber is used
(a) For the study of clouds (b) To produce X- rays
(c) To produced beta particles (d) To take photograph of track of high velocity ions
[2002P.M]
7. Breeder reactor is used to convert
(a) 92U235 into 92U236 (b) 92 U 238 into 92 Pu 239
(c) 92U235 into 56Ba144 and 36Kr89 (d) 92U235 into 92U237
[2002P.M]
8. The process in which heavier nucleus is formed from the combination of lighter nuclei is called
(a) Fission (b) Fusion (c) Radioactivity (d) Mass defect
[2003P.E]
9. In a hydrogen atom Balmer series lines are emitted as the electron falls to the orbit having
(a) n = 1 (b) n = 2 (c) n = 3 (d) n = 4
[2003P.E][2006]
10. In the nuclear reaction 7 N 14 + 2 He 4 8O
17
+ , the missing particle is
(a) Proton (b) Electron (c) Neutron (d) α particles
[2003P.E][2012]
11. The LASER is a device which can produce
(a) An electro beam of light (b) A coherent beam of light
(c) A neutron beam of light (d) All of these
[2003P.M]
12. The process of beta particle emission from a nucleus involve the changen in
(a) Mass number (b) Charge number (c) Mass & Z number (d) No change
[2003P.M]
13. If a small quantity of radioactive iodine 53 I 131 is taken in food , most of it deposit in
(a) Kidneys (b) Brain (c) Thyroid glands (d) All glands

THE MASTERS’ COACHING CENTRE (Gulshan Campus), B – 48 Block – 3 Near New Dhoraji Market ,
Gulshan – e – Iqbal , Karachi. Call : 02134173717, WhatsApp : 0332390006
Prepared By: XII – PHYSICS
Sir Danish Ahmed 122 CH – 20

[2003P.M]
14. The process of splitting of a heavy nucleus into smaller fragment is called
(a) Fusion (b) Fission (c) Pair production (d) Annihilation
[2003P.M]
15. According to Bohr’s postulates the electron revolving around the nucleus in a fixed orbit radiates
(a) Energy (b) No energy (c) Gamma rays (d) Alpha rays
[2003P.M][2006][2012]
16. In treating a localized cancerous tumor a narrow beam of
(a) Alpha rays of cobalt 60 is used (b) Beta rays from cobalt 60 is used
(c) Electron from cobalt 60 is used (d) Gamma rays from cobalt 80 is used
[2004]
17. The track formed in Wilson cloud chamber due to gamma rays is a thick and continuous line
(a) True (b) False
[2004]
18. The ratio of mass of proton to mass of electron is
(a) 1835 (b) 1000 (c) 1500 (d) None
[2005]
19. The energy equivalent to the mass reduced in the formation of a nucleus is called
(a) Nuclear energy (b) Binding energy (c) Fusion energy (d) P.E
[2006]
20. The atomic number of radioactive element is increased as a result of
(a) Alpha particles (b) Beta radiation (c) Gamma radiation (d) Pair production
[2006]
21. The frequencies in spectral lines emitted in Lyman series in the region
(a) Visible (b) Infrared (c) X rays (d) Ultraviolet
[2008]
22. The rate of decay of radioactive substance
(a) Increase with increase time (b) Remain constant with increase of time
(c) Decrease exponentially with increasing time (d) None
[2008]
23. Hydrogen atom spectrum consist of lines in
(a) Ultraviolet region (b) Infrared region (c) Visible region (d) All
[2009]
24. A Geiger Muller counter contains
(a) Argon and alcohol (b) Alcohol only (c) Ions (d) Super cooled water
[2009]
25. The half life is radium is 1600 years. After 6400 years the sample of the surviving radium would be
(a) 1/4 (b) 1/8 (c) 1/16 (d) 1/2
[2009]
26. When a nucleus emits a beta particles its atomic number
(a) Increases (b) Decreases (c) Remain constant (d) None
[2010]
27. Bracket series of hydrogen atom spectrum lies in
(a) Ultraviolet region (b) Infrared region (c) Visible region (d) All
[2010]
28. The radioactive decay law is
(a) -μ
(b) -μ
(c) N = Noeμ (d) No = ▲Ne-μ
[2012]
29. After alpha decay, the bucleus has its
(a) Charge number decrease by four (b) Charge number increase by four
(c) Mass number decrease by four (d) Mass number increase by four

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Gulshan – e – Iqbal , Karachi. Call : 02134173717, WhatsApp : 0332390006