Radioactivity: Edexcel International GCSE Physics questions
Every Edexcel International GCSE Physics exam question on Radioactivity (specification points 7.2–7.16), 2019–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
Paper
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Calculations
Q4(d)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q4(d)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q9(a)
The whole paper ↗Q9(b)
The whole paper ↗Q9(c)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q9(c)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q6(a)
The whole paper ↗Q6(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q6(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q5(a)
The whole paper ↗Q5(b)
The whole paper ↗Q5(c)
The whole paper ↗Q5(d)
The whole paper ↗Q2(a)
The whole paper ↗Q2(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q2(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q2(c)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q2(c)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q4(a)
The whole paper ↗Q4(b)
The whole paper ↗
All 150 questions on Radioactivity, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q4(d)(i) (1 mark): State what is meant by the term ionising radiation. (1)
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q4(d)(ii) (1 mark): State what is meant by the term random process. (1)
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q9(a) (1 mark): The teacher uses a radiation detector to detect the radiation emitted from the protactinium‑234m. Give the name of a suitable radiation detector. (1)
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q9(b) (2 marks): Give two safety precautions to minimise the risk of harm to the teacher from the radiation emitted by the protactinium generator. (2) 1 2
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q9(c)(i) (2 marks): The initial count rate is 840 counts per second. Calculate the expected count rate after 140 seconds. (2) count rate = counts per second
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q9(c)(ii) (3 marks): The activity of an isotope is the total amount of radiation emitted each second. The teacher estimates that only 5% of the total radiation emitted is detected b
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q6(a) (1 mark): Which of these statements is correct for gamma radiation? (1) A gamma radiation has a weaker penetrating ability than alpha radiation B gamma radiation is emitt
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q6(b)(i) (1 mark): Give a reason why the student takes repeat readings. (1)
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q6(b)(ii) (3 marks): The graph shows the student’s results. 14 000 12 000 10 000 8000 Mean count 6000 4000 2000 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Distance in cm The student claims that the data
- June 2025 (R), Paper 1, Q5(a) (2 marks): Describe the structure of an alpha particle. (2)
- June 2025 (R), Paper 1, Q5(b) (3 marks): The source used in the cloud chamber contains the isotope radium-226. The incomplete nuclear equation shows the decay of radium-226 into an isotope of radon. Co
- June 2025 (R), Paper 1, Q5(c) (2 marks): The tracks in the cloud chamber can be seen through the glass viewing window. Explain why the radioactive source is not a hazard to the person viewing the cloud
- June 2025 (R), Paper 1, Q5(d) (3 marks): When radiation is emitted from the source a white line is produced in the cloud chamber. The white line is known as a track. The diagram shows the tracks produc
- June 2025 (R), Paper 2, Q2(a) (2 marks): State what is meant by the term isotopes. (2)
- June 2025 (R), Paper 2, Q2(b)(i) (1 mark): How many protons are in the nucleus of an atom of uranium‑239? (1) A 92 B 147 C 239 D 331
- June 2025 (R), Paper 2, Q2(b)(ii) (1 mark): Give the name of the other particle found in the nucleus of an atom of uranium‑239. (1)
- June 2025 (R), Paper 2, Q2(c)(i) (2 marks): A sample of uranium‑239 has an initial mass of 60 g. Calculate the mass of uranium‑239 remaining after 46 minutes. (2) mass = g
- June 2025 (R), Paper 2, Q2(c)(ii) (1 mark): When uranium‑239 undergoes beta decay, an isotope of the element neptunium, Np, is produced. Which of these is the correct symbol for the neptunium nucleus prod
- November 2024, Paper 1, Q4(a) (1 mark): On the graph, give the unit for activity. (1)
- November 2024, Paper 1, Q4(b) (2 marks): Describe what is meant by the term background radiation. (2)
- November 2024, Paper 1, Q4(c)(i) (2 marks): Describe what is meant by the term half‑life. (2)
- November 2024, Paper 1, Q4(c)(ii) (2 marks): Use the graph to determine the half‑life of this radioactive sample. (2) half‑life = minutes
- November 2024, Paper 1, Q4(d) (4 marks): The teacher suggests that this formula shows the relationship between activity and time taken. activity × time taken = constant Use data from the graph to deter
- November 2024, Paper 2, Q1(a) (1 mark): Which of these is the same as a beta particle? (1) A electromagnetic wave B electron C helium nucleus D neutron
- November 2024, Paper 2, Q1(b) (1 mark): Which of these is the same as an alpha particle? (1) A electromagnetic wave B helium nucleus C neutron D proton
- November 2024, Paper 2, Q1(c) (3 marks): Complete the nuclear equation for an alpha decay. (3) α 95Am → 237 241 Np +
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q2(a) (1 mark): The nucleus of an atom of carbon has 6 protons and 8 neutrons. Which row of the table shows the nucleus of an atom that is a different isotope of carbon? (1) Nu
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q2(b) (1 mark): Which type of radiation is a high-energy electron? (1) A alpha B beta C gamma D neutron
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q2(c) (1 mark): A nucleus emits radiation. This causes the mass number to decrease by one. The atomic number stays the same. Which type of radiation does the nucleus emit? (1)
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q2(d) (1 mark): The nucleus of an isotope of uranium can be represented using this symbol. 92U 238 The nucleus forms part of a positively charged ion. How many electrons could
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q2(e) (1 mark): A radioactive isotope has an initial activity of 400 Bq. The half-life of the isotope is 8 hours. What is the activity of the isotope after 16 hours? (1) A 25 B
- June 2024 (R), Paper 1, Q8(a)(i) (1 mark): How many neutrons are in the nucleus of an atom of iodine-131? (1) A 53 B 78 C 131 D 184
- June 2024 (R), Paper 1, Q8(a)(ii) (2 marks): Iodine-131 is radioactive and decays with a half-life of 8 days. State what is meant by the term half-life. (2)
- June 2024 (R), Paper 1, Q8(a)(iii) (3 marks): The cross (×) on the graph shows the initial number of atoms in a sample of iodine-131. Draw three more crosses (×) on the graph to show how the number of atoms
- June 2024 (R), Paper 1, Q8(a)(iv) (2 marks): Use a curve of best fit on the graph to estimate the time taken for the number of atoms in the sample to decrease to 5000. (2) time taken = days
- June 2024 (R), Paper 1, Q8(b)(i) (1 mark): State the name of a piece of equipment that can detect the radiation emitted by iodine-131. (1)
- June 2024 (R), Paper 1, Q8(b)(ii) (1 mark): Give a reason why gamma radiation is more likely to be detected outside the body than beta radiation. (1)
- June 2024 (R), Paper 1, Q8(c) (3 marks): Technetium-99m is another radioactive isotope. Iodine-131 and technetium-99m are both used as medical tracers. Medical tracers use radiation detected outside th
- November 2023, Paper 1, Q7(a)(i) (1 mark): State the name of particle X. (1)
- November 2023, Paper 1, Q7(a)(ii) (2 marks): Carbon-14 decays by beta decay. State what happens to the number of protons and the number of neutrons in a carbon-14 nucleus when it decays. (2)
- November 2023, Paper 1, Q7(b)(i) (3 marks): Plot the scientist’s data on the grid. (3)
- November 2023, Paper 1, Q7(b)(ii) (1 mark): Draw the curve of best fit. (1)
- November 2023, Paper 1, Q7(b)(iii) (2 marks): Use the graph to determine the age of a sample of wood that has 36% of its carbon-14 remaining. (2) age = years
- November 2023, Paper 1, Q7(c)(i) (1 mark): A tree absorbs carbon-14 during its lifetime. A student suggests that trees grown after 1950 are contaminated with carbon-14. Give a reason why the student’s su
- November 2023, Paper 1, Q7(c)(ii) (2 marks): Explain how nuclear weapons testing affects the determination of the age of a sample of wood produced after 1950. (2)
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q1(a) (1 mark): Which of these is the unit of activity? (1) A becquerel B kilogram C newton D pascal
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q1(b) (1 mark): Which of these is the correct description of the term half-life? (1) A time taken for the activity of a substance to halve B half of the time taken for the mass
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q1(c)(i) (2 marks): The box gives the names of different pieces of equipment. ruler stopwatch balance newton meter protractor GM tube voltmeter ammeter Complete the sentences using
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q1(c)(ii) (1 mark): The graph shows the teacher’s results. 50 40 30 Count rate in counts / s 20 10 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 Time in s Draw a circle around the anomalous result. (1)
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q1(c)(iii) (2 marks): Use the graph to determine the half-life of the radioactive sample. (2) half-life = s
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q1(c)(iv) (1 mark): Give a reason why the teacher should not expect the data points to lie exactly on the curve of best fit. (1)
- June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q7(a)(i) (1 mark): Give a suitable unit for activity. (1)
- June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q7(a)(ii) (3 marks): On the axes below, sketch a graph for the decay of the sample of protactinium‑234 during its first three half‑lives. (3) 800 600 Activity 400 in 200 0 0 5 10 15
- June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q7(a)(iii) (2 marks): When protactinium‑234 undergoes beta (β–) decay it becomes uranium‑234. The incomplete nuclear equation shows this process. 234Pa 234 β 92U + Complete the nucle
- June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q7(b)(i) (1 mark): Which of these is the dependent variable in the investigation? (1) A count measured by the detector B distance between source and detector C material between so
- June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q7(b)(ii) (3 marks): The student’s method does not allow for background radiation. Describe how the student’s method should be modified to allow for background radiation. (3)
- June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q7(b)(iii) (2 marks): Describe how the student’s method could be modified to improve the reliability of the results. (2)
- June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q7(b)(iv) (3 marks): Evaluate the data from the experiment to conclude the type of radiation emitted by protactinium‑231. (3)
- January 2023, Paper 1, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): State one source of background radiation. (1)
- January 2023, Paper 1, Q4(a)(ii) (4 marks): Describe how the teacher could measure the count rate from a radioactive source and correct the count rate for background radiation. (4)
- January 2023, Paper 1, Q4(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the mean count rate when the thickness of lead is 6.0 mm. (2) mean count rate = Bq
- January 2023, Paper 1, Q4(b)(ii) (3 marks): Plot a graph of mean count rate against thickness of lead. (3)
- January 2023, Paper 1, Q4(b)(iii) (1 mark): Draw the curve of best fit. (1)
- January 2023, Paper 1, Q4(b)(iv) (2 marks): When there is not a sheet of lead between the radioactive source and the radiation detector, the mean count rate is 484 Bq. Use the graph to determine the thick
- January 2023, Paper 1, Q4(c) (2 marks): The radioactive source emits only one type of radiation. Explain which type of radiation this radioactive source emits. (2)
- January 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q5(c) (3 marks): The half-life of a radioactive isotope is 12 years. The activity of a sample of this isotope is 120 kBq. Calculate the activity of this sample after 48 years. (
- January 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q9(a)(i) (1 mark): State a precaution the teacher should take to make sure they are working safely with the radioactive sources. (1)
- January 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q9(a)(ii) (1 mark): State the name of a detector the teacher could use to detect the radiation from each source. (1)
- January 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q9(b) (3 marks): Draw crosses (× ) in the table to show which type of radiation cannot penetrate each material in the table. (3) Material Type of radiation 10 cm of air 2 cm of
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q2(a) (1 mark): Which statement describes the term atomic number for a nucleus? (1) A number of electrons in the nucleus B number of neutrons in the nucleus C number of protons
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q2(b) (1 mark): Which statement describes the term mass number for a nucleus? (1) A number of electrons in the nucleus B number of neutrons in the nucleus C number of protons i
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q2(c) (1 mark): Which statement describes the term isotopes? (1) A atoms with the same number of electrons but a different number of protons B atoms with the same number of n
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q2(d) (1 mark): An atom contains 8 protons, 8 neutrons and 8 electrons. Which of these would result in a negatively charged ion of the same element? (1) A adding an electron B
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q2(e) (1 mark): It is not possible to predict exactly when a radioactive nucleus will decay. Which feature of radioactive decay best explains this observation? (1) A radioactiv
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q2(f) (1 mark): Which of these is the correct unit for measuring the activity of a radioactive sample? (1) A becquerel (Bq) B coulomb (C) C joule (J) D watt (W)
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q5(a) (1 mark): Granite is formed naturally and contains radioactive isotopes. The granite work surface contributes to the background radiation in the kitchen. Give another nat
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q5(b)(i) (2 marks): State two differences between alpha radiation and beta radiation. (2) 1 2
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q5(b)(ii) (3 marks): The incomplete nuclear decay equation summarises the decay sequence of thorium-232 into radon‑220. 2 α + 0 β 90Th 220 86Rn + 4 −1 232 Calculate the number of al
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q5(c) (3 marks): Thorium‑232 is a solid and remains in the work surface. Radon‑220 is a gas and is emitted from the work surface. Thorium‑232 and radon‑220 both emit alpha radia
- June 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q7(a) (2 marks): Describe what is meant by the term background radiation. (2)
- June 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q7(b)(i) (2 marks): State what is meant by the term half‑life. (2)
- June 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q7(b)(ii) (2 marks): Use the graph to determine the half‑life of radon‑222. (2) half‑life = days
- June 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q7(c) (3 marks): Radon‑222 is formed by multiple alpha decays of uranium‑234. Complete the nuclear equation by giving the missing information. (3) 92U → 222Rn + 3 α 234
- June 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q7(d) (2 marks): Radon‑222 also emits alpha radiation. Explain the hazard to humans of breathing in air contaminated with radon‑222. (2)
- June 2022 (R), Paper 2, Q3(a) (2 marks): Neutral sulfur particles can become positively charged sulfur particles. Describe the difference between a neutral sulfur particle and a positively charged sulf
- January 2022, Paper 1, Q2(a) (1 mark): State how the scientist should correct the count rate for background radiation. (1)
- January 2022, Paper 1, Q2(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain what is meant by the term half-life. (2)
- January 2022, Paper 1, Q2(b)(ii) (2 marks): Use the graph to determine the half-life of this isotope. (2) half-life = minutes
- January 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q1(a) (1 mark): Bismuth‑207 is a gamma emitter and is represented by the symbol 207 83Bi How many neutrons are in the nucleus of an atom of bismuth‑207? (1) A 83 B 124 C 207 D
- January 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q1(b) (1 mark): Which of these gives the best description of gamma radiation? (1) A a helium nucleus B a high energy electron C a high frequency electromagnetic wave D a subato
- January 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q1(c) (3 marks): A technician uses this method to investigate the penetration power of gamma radiation. • place a gamma emitting source at a fixed distance from a radiation dete
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q4(a) (1 mark): Give a suitable unit for activity. (1)
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q4(b)(i) (1 mark): Label both axes. (1)
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q4(b)(ii) (1 mark): Draw the curve of best fit. (1)
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q4(b)(iii) (2 marks): Use the graph to determine the half‑life of cobalt‑60. (2) half‑life = years
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q4(b)(iv) (2 marks): Estimate the time taken for the activity to decrease to 1 8 of its initial value. (2) time = years
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q4(c) (2 marks): Cobalt‑60 is produced when a neutron is absorbed by the nucleus of a stable atom of cobalt‑59. The nuclei of these two isotopes can be represented as 60 59 27Co
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q4(d) (2 marks): Cobalt‑60 decays by beta emission. Describe what happens to the nucleus of a cobalt‑60 atom during beta decay. (2)
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q4(e) (4 marks): Cobalt‑60 also emits gamma radiation. Cobalt‑60 is produced in a nuclear reactor. Discuss the hazards involved and the precautions taken when disposing of cobal
- June 2021, Paper 1, Q7(a) (2 marks): The diagram shows tracks produced by radiation in a device called a cloud chamber. The tracks are formed when particles ionise the material in the cloud chamber
- June 2021, Paper 1, Q7(b)(i) (2 marks): Describe what is meant by the term isotope. (2)
- June 2021, Paper 1, Q7(b)(ii) (2 marks): Complete the equation for the decay of uranium-235 (2) 2α 92U → 231Th + 235
- June 2021, Paper 1, Q7(b)(iii) (5 marks): Uranium-235 decays to thorium-231 with a half-life of 700 million years. When a rock was formed, it contained 6400 million uranium-235 nuclei and no thorium-231
- January 2021, Paper 1, Q5(a) (1 mark): Give a safety precaution that would reduce the teacher’s exposure to radiation when working with the radioactive source. (1)
- January 2021, Paper 1, Q5(b) (1 mark): Radium-226 can be represented using the symbol 226 Ra 88 How many neutrons are in the nucleus of an atom of radium-226? (1) A 88 B 138 C 226 D 314
- January 2021, Paper 1, Q5(c)(i) (1 mark): Give the name of a piece of apparatus that detects ionising radiation. (1)
- January 2021, Paper 1, Q5(c)(ii) (1 mark): The teacher finds that the radiation emitted from the radioactive source is not detected when the detector is more than 5 cm away from the source. State the typ
- January 2021, Paper 1, Q5(d)(i) (2 marks): State what is meant by the term half-life. (2)
- January 2021, Paper 1, Q5(d)(ii) (1 mark): The radioactive source contains 2.66 × 1021 atoms of radium-226. Approximately how many atoms of radium-226 will remain in the source after 800 years? (1) A 0.6
- January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q10(c) (3 marks): Iodine-129 is an isotope found in radioactive waste from nuclear power stations. Iodine-129 has a half-life of approximately 15 million years. A sample of iodin
- January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q10(d) (5 marks): Some radioactive waste from nuclear power stations has a very long half-life. Discuss precautions that must be taken when disposing of this radioactive waste. (
- January 2021 (R), Paper 2, Q5(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain what is meant by background radiation. (2)
- January 2021 (R), Paper 2, Q5(b)(ii) (3 marks): Suggest why there is a limit to the number of hours that an airline pilot can fly at maximum height. (3)
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q10(a)(i) (2 marks): Describe the difference between the nuclei of technetium-98 and technetium-99 (2)
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q10(a)(ii) (2 marks): Technetium-99 is formed when the element molybdenum-99 decays. Complete the nuclear equation for the decay of molybdenum into technetium-99 (2) 99 Mo → 99 Tc +
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q10(b) (5 marks): Describe an experiment that a scientist could use to demonstrate that the emission from technetium-99 is gamma radiation. Include details of a safety precaution
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q10(c) (4 marks): A scientist measures the count rate at different distances from the technetium source. The graph shows how the count rate changes with distance from the technet
- November 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q2(c) (1 mark): Uranium-235 is radioactive and emits alpha radiation. Which of these statements describes alpha radiation? (1) A an electromagnetic wave B a helium nucleus C a
- November 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q2(d) (1 mark): Some of the products of nuclear fission are radioactive because their nuclei have too many neutrons. These nuclei become more stable when a neutron changes into
- November 2020 (R), Paper 2, Q7(c)(i) (2 marks): State what is meant by the term half-life. (2)
- November 2020 (R), Paper 2, Q7(c)(ii) (2 marks): In 1990, the SC stopped being used at CERN, a research centre. In 1990, the largest number of barium-133 atoms were found 40 cm deep in the concrete walls. Sinc
- January 2020, Paper 1, Q9(a) (1 mark): Name a suitable radiation detector that the teacher could use. (1)
- January 2020, Paper 1, Q9(b) (1 mark): State the independent variable in the teacher’s investigation. (1)
- January 2020, Paper 1, Q9(c) (2 marks): Explain why every absorbing material used in the investigation has a thickness of 1 cm. (2)
- January 2020, Paper 1, Q9(d) (1 mark): Suggest one improvement the teacher could make to this method. (1)
- January 2020, Paper 1, Q9(e)(i) (3 marks): On the grid, plot a bar chart of the mean count rate for each absorbing material. (3)
- January 2020, Paper 1, Q9(e)(ii) (1 mark): Why is a bar chart the correct way to display the results? (1) A absorbing material is a continuous variable B absorbing material is not a continuous variable C
- January 2020, Paper 1, Q9(e)(iii) (2 marks): A student concludes that plastic is the best absorber of gamma radiation because plastic gives the largest mean count rate. Evaluate the student’s conclusion. (
- January 2020, Paper 1, Q11(a) (3 marks): Technetium-99m has a half-life of 6 hours. A sample of technetium-99m has an initial activity of 160 Bq. Complete the graph to show how the activity of this sam
- January 2020, Paper 1, Q11(b)(i) (1 mark): Technetium-99m does not exist naturally. Suggest why technetium-99m is usually made at the hospital where it is used. (1)
- January 2020, Paper 1, Q11(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why technetium-99m is an effective isotope to use as a medical tracer. (2)
- January 2020, Paper 1, Q11(c) (3 marks): The gamma radiation emitted by technetium-99m is potentially harmful to humans. Discuss the risks of using technetium-99m to doctors and to patients. (3)
- January 2020, Paper 2, Q7(a)(i) (2 marks): State what information the numbers 92 and 238 give about the nucleus of this isotope of uranium. (2) 92. 238
- January 2020, Paper 2, Q7(a)(ii) (2 marks): Uranium‑238 decays by alpha emission. Describe how the nucleus of a uranium‑238 atom changes as a result of alpha emission. (2)
- January 2020, Paper 2, Q7(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the number of uranium‑238 atoms in the plate. (2) number of atoms =
- January 2020, Paper 2, Q7(b)(ii) (3 marks): Uranium‑238 is an alpha emitter and has a half‑life of 4.5 billion years. Explain why it is safe to eat food from the uranium glass plate. (3)
- January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q9(a)(i) (2 marks): Complete the equation that shows the alpha decay of polonium-210 into lead-206. (2) 210 206 84Po → α 82Pb +
- January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q9(a)(ii) (1 mark): The alpha particle ionises air molecules in the room. State what is meant by the term ionisation. (1)
- January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q9(a)(iii) (2 marks): Explain why workers in the same room as the deioniser are not at risk from the alpha radiation it emits. (2)
- January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q9(b)(i) (2 marks): State what is meant by the term half-life. (2)
- January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q9(b)(ii) (3 marks): The initial activity of the polonium-210 source in the deioniser is 70 kBq. Calculate the activity of the source after 420 days. (3) activity = kBq
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q3(a) (2 marks): The diagram shows how gamma radiation is used to irradiate fruit stored in a wooden box. The radiation kills bacteria on the fruit. wooden box containing fruit
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q3(b) (2 marks): The wooden box has this label. these fruits have been irradiated Explain why fruit irradiated with gamma radiation is safe to eat. (2)
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q9(b)(i) (2 marks): State the meaning of the term isotope. (2)
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q4(a) (1 mark): Describe the nature of an alpha particle. (1)
- June 2019 (R), Paper 1, Q2(a)(iii) (2 marks): The daughter nuclei can cause contamination and irradiation. Describe the difference between contamination and irradiation. (2)
- June 2019 (R), Paper 1, Q3(a) (2 marks): State what is meant by the term isotope. (2)
- June 2019 (R), Paper 1, Q3(b) (1 mark): How many protons are in the nucleus of lead-210? (1) A 82 B 128 C 210 D 292
- June 2019 (R), Paper 1, Q3(c)(i) (2 marks): A sample of lead-210 has an initial activity of 240 Bq. After 66 years, the activity of the sample is 30 Bq. Calculate the half-life of lead-210. (2) half-life
- June 2019 (R), Paper 1, Q3(c)(ii) (2 marks): Lead-210 decays into lead-206 through a number of stages. This involves one alpha decay and a number of beta decays. This incomplete equation summarises these s
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