GCSE AQA Physics Atoms & Nuclear Radiation: Radioactive isotopes emit differ

Question

Radioactive isotopes emit different types of nuclear radiation.

1. What does an alpha particle consist of? Tick (✓) one box.

2 protons and 2 electrons 
   2 protons and 2 neutrons 
   4 protons 
   4 neutrons

2. What is a beta particle? Tick (✓) one box.

An electron 
   A neutron 
   Electromagnetic radiation

3. A krypton (Kr) nucleus decays into a rubidium (Rb) nucleus by emitting a beta particle. What is the correct equation for this decay? Tick (✓) one box.

$^{85}_{36}Kr \rightarrow^{85}_{37}Rb + 0\,
   -1e$ 
   $^{85}_{36}Kr + 0\,
   -1e \rightarrow^{85}_{37}Rb $  
   $^{85}_{37}Rb \rightarrow^{85}_{36}Kr + 0\,
   -1e$

4. Figure 5 shows an experiment to demonstrate how alpha, beta and gamma radiation penetrate different materials. The experiment takes place in a vacuum.

Complete Table 1 to show how alpha, beta and gamma radiation penetrate the materials in Figure 5.

| Type of radiation | Most radiation is stopped by: |
   |------------------|-------------------------------|
   | Alpha            | the sheet of paper            |
   | Beta             | the sheet of aluminium        |
   | Gamma            | the block of lead             |

5. Alpha, beta and gamma radiation have different ionising powers. Draw one line from each radiation type to the correct ionising power.

| Radiation type | Ionising power |
   |----------------|----------------|
   | Alpha          | Zero           |
   | Beta           | Low            |
   | Gamma          | Medium         |

6. Some sources of background radiation are natural and other sources are man-made.

7. The average background radiation dose per year in the UK is 2.0 millisieverts.

Calculate how many dental X-rays would be the same as the average background radiation dose per year.

Number of dental X-rays =

Radioactive isotopes emit different types of nuclear radiation - AQA - GCSE Physics - Question 4 - 2022 - Paper 1

Worked Solution & Example Answer:Radioactive isotopes emit different types of nuclear radiation - AQA - GCSE Physics - Question 4 - 2022 - Paper 1

What does an alpha particle consist of?

What is a beta particle?

What is the correct equation for this decay?

Complete Table 1 to show how alpha, beta and gamma radiation penetrate the materials in Figure 5.

Draw one line from each radiation type to the correct ionising power.

Calculate how many dental X-rays would be the same as the average background radiation dose per year.

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Type of radiation	Most radiation is stopped by:
Alpha	the sheet of paper
Beta	the sheet of aluminium
Gamma	the block of lead