CHAPTER 4: QUESTIONS

EXERCISE 4.1:

1) Define the following terms

a) Radioactivity
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b) Atomic number
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c) Mass number
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2) Differentiate between isotopes and isobars
Isotope: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Isobar: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3) An element X has 6 protons and 7 neutrons.
a) What is its atomic number: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
b) What is its mass number: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
c) Write down the notation for this atom
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4) State two ways in which radioactivity can take place?
A)………………………………………………………………………..B)………………………………………………………………………………………
5) Using the three atoms given below, which two atoms are:
a) Isotopes
94 94 93
44 Q 43 P 44 R
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
b) Isobars
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Exercise 4.2:

1) Which type of radiation has

a) Negative charge: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
b) Positive charge: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
c) The speed of light: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
d) Stopped by a sheet of paper: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
e) Lowest ionization effect: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
2) Which type of radiation is:-
a) Not affected by a magnetic field: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
b) Made up of 2 protons and 2 neutrons: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………
c) An electron released from the nucleus of an unstable atom: ……………………………………….…………………………
3) Write nuclear equations to show the radioactive decay of :
99
a) Technetium ( 43 Tc) by loss of beta particles
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b) Thorium ( 232
90Th) by loss of alpha particle.

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4) What is meant by half-life?
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5) A radioactive sample has an initial count rate of 800 Bq with a half-life of 12 years. What count rate will be
after 60 years later?
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 6) In a practical exercise to measure a sample of phosphorus -32 (Half-life = 14 days). You forgot to do carry
out the exercise until 42 days later; on measuring its mass, it is found to be 8.75 grams. What was the
original mass of the phosphorus-32?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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Exercise 4.3:

1) Define the following terms:

a) Binding energy:
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b) Mass defect:
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
c) Nuclear fission:
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d) Nuclear fusion:
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2) What is the name given to the energy released during nuclear fusion?
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3) Thorium isotope Th-228 has an observed mass of 228.02874 amu. Calculate:
a) The mass defect
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 b) The binding energy
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Exercise 4.4:

1) The scientific process used to determine the age of prehistoric organisms is called ………………………………………
2) State two applications of radioactivity in each of the following
a) Medical
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b) Industrials
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3) The diagram below shows one application of radioactivity in real life:
a) What is the name of this application?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
b) Suggest the type of radiation (S) applicable for this
picture?
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c) Explain why alpha radiation is not applicable for the
thickness of controlling of metal sheets?
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 4) What effect would these radiations have on the human health if exposed for a long time?
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5) Suggest some applications to reduce the dangers of radioactivity on health?
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CHAPTER 4: REVIEW QUESTIONS

Part one: Multiple choice questions

1) A random 220
86 Ra decays an alpha particle to form an element whose symbol is:
216 234
a) 85 At c) 89AC
216 216
b) 86 Rn d) 84 Po

2) Thorium decays by emitting beta particles to form an element whose symbol is :

235 234
a) 90Th c) 89Ac
230 234
b) 88 Ac d) 91Pa

3) A radioactive source that has a half-life of 1 hr gives a count rate of 100 counts per second at the start of an
experiment and 25 c/s at the end. The time taken by the experiment was in hours:
a) 1 c) 3
b) 2 d) 4
4) Carbon-14 decays by emitting beta particles. Which statement is the best description of beta particles?
a) A fast moving proton
b) A fast moving neutron
c) A fast moving electron
d) A positively charged sub atomic particle
5) When the nucleus emits a gamma ray. The nucleus
a) Changed its mass number
b) Changes its atomic number
c) Keeps both atomic and mass number
d) Changes both mass number and atomic number

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Part Two: Structured Questions

1) The graph right shows how the activity of a radioactivity source changes with time.
a) What is the drop in the activity
over the first 20 hours?
………………………………………………
..............…………………………………
b) What is the half-life of the
source?
………………………………………………
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c) At what time is the activity
equal to 200 C/h
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d) What would the activity be at 60 hours?
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2) Cobalt-60 is a radioactive source that has a half-life of 5.25 years. A sample of cobalt-60 has a mass of
45 mg. calculate the mass of un-decayed cobalt-60 left after 21 years. Show your working?
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3) Give one reason why it important to dispose of radioactive waste safely?
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 4) When radioactive thorium-232 decays, a radium-228 is formed. The following equation represents part of
232 228
the decay process. 90Th 88 Ra +
Assume that only one charged particle is emitted.
a) What is the mass number of the particle?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
b) What is the relative charge of the particle?
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c) What type of particle is it?
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5) Explain what is meant by:
a) Half-life:
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b) Background radiation:
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
c) Radioactive isotopes:
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
6) Determine the values of P and Q and identify Y.

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7) Explain any two applications of radioactivity?
A ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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B …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
8) Name two detectors of radioactivity?
A …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
B ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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 9) The table below gives information about four radioactive isotopes:

Isotope Types of radiation emitted Half-life

Iridium- 192 Gamma ray 74 days
Polonium – 210 Alpha particle 138 days
Polonium – 213 Alpha particle Less than 1 second
Technetium – 99 Gamma ray 6 hours
a) Two isotopes of polonium (Polonium – 210 and Polonium – 213) are given in the table in terms of the
particles in the nucleus:
i) How are these two isotopes of Polonium the same?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
ii) How are these two isotopes of Polonium different?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
b) To monitor the blood flow of a patient’s heart, the doctor must inject the patient with a very small dose
of Technetium – 99. The gamma radiation detected outside of the patient’s body allows the doctor to
see if the heart is working correctly. Explain why:
i. Technetium – 99 is more suitable for this use than Iridium – 192
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
ii. Technetium – 99 is more suitable for this use than Polonium – 213
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