GCSE AQA Physics Hazards & Uses of Radioactive Emissions & of Background Radiation: Radioactive isotopes emit differ

Question

Radioactive isotopes emit different types of nuclear radiation.

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

2 protons and 2 electrons

2 protons and 2 neutrons

4 protons

4 neutrons

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

An electron

A neutron

Electromagnetic radiation

**04.3** 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.

85Kr + 0e− → 85Rb

85Rb → 85Kr + 0e−

85Rb → 85Kr + −1e

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

Three different materials are used:
• a sheet of paper
• a 0.5 cm thick sheet of aluminium
• a 10 cm block of lead.

Each material is placed one at a time between the radioactive source and the GM tube. The GM tube and counter show whether the material has stopped the radiation. Complete Table 1 to show how alpha, beta and gamma radiation penetrate the materials in Figure 5.

**Table 1**  
 | Type of radiation | Most radiation is stopped by:  |  
 |------------------|-------------------------------|  
 | Alpha            | the sheet of paper            |  
 | Beta             | the sheet of aluminium         |  
 | Gamma            | the block of lead             |

**04.5** 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          |

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

**04.7** The average background radiation dose per year in the UK is 2.0 millisieverts. A dental X-ray gives a patient a radiation dose of 0.005 millisieverts. Calculate how many dental X-rays would be the same as the average background radiation dose per year.

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