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QUESTIONS & EXERCISES

P3
P3

Topic 2
Topic 3

X-rays & ECGs

Radioactivity and its uses

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FORMULAE
You may find theses formulae useful
intensity 

power of incident radiation

area

power of lens 

I=

P
A

1
focal length

The relationship between focal length, object and image distance

1 1 1
= +
f u v

current = number of particles per second charge on each particle

I=Nq

kinetic energy = electronic charge accelerating potential difference

KE =

momentum = mass velocity

p=mv

frequency =

1
period

f=

1
m v2 = e V
2

1
T
V2 T1
T2

The relationship between temperature and volume for a gas

V1 =

The relationship between volume and pressure for a gas

V1 P1 = V2 P2

The relationship between the volume, pressure and temperature for a gas

P1 V1 P2 V2
=
T1
T2

Snell's law: refractive index =

sine i
sine r

Do not forget to include units in all your answers.

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1.

(a)

The graph below shows the percentage intensity of X-rays transmitted through tissue and
bone.
100
80

% Intensity 60
of X-rays
40

Bone
Tissue

20
0
0

2
Thickness (cm)

(i)

Bone:

The Half-Value Layer (HVL) is the thickness of the material that absorbs 50 % of
radiation.
What is the HVL for bone and tissue?
[2 marks]

Tissue:
(ii)

The picture below shows an X-ray scan of a hand. Bones appear whiter than tissue.
Using the graph above explain how X-rays work.
[3 marks]

(iii)

The graph above is for X-rays of energy 50 keV.

For X-rays of energy 100 keV the HVL for bone is 2.3 cm and tissue is 3.9 cm.
Explain an advantage and a disadvantage of using higher energy X-rays.
[4 marks]

Advantage:

Disadvantage:

(b)

Some patients require a CAT scan that gives a series of images of an organ.

(i)

Give an advantage of CAT scans compared to normal X-ray scans.

[1 mark]

Archaeologists use CAT scans to produce 3D images of mummies.

(ii)

Explain how a CAT scan can form a 3D image.

[2 marks]

(iii)

Explain why the doctors will make a CAT scan of specific organs but not of the
whole body of a patient.
[2 marks]

(iv)

Another technique is fluoroscopy. What is it and what is its advantage?

[2 marks]

[Total for Question 1 = 16 marks]

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2.

(a)

Below you can see a simplified diagram of an X-ray tube.

(i)

Explain why the release of electrons from C is called thermionic emission.

[2 marks]

(ii)

Electrons move from C to A. Complete the sentence below.

Conventional current moves from
[1 mark]

(iii)

The picture shows water in and out of the tube.

Explain why this is necessary and describe another way to achieve the same effect.
[4 marks]

(iv)

Put a cross (

) in the box next to the correct answer.

[1 mark]

The inside of the tube is

A

filled with air

filled with electrons

filled with metal

vacuum

(b)

The X-ray tube produces a current 0f 0.024 A.

It is on for 6 sec.
(i)

Calculate the total number of electrons that move from C to A in that time interval.
Charge of electron = 1.6 1019 C
[4 marks]

Number of electrons =
(ii)

The voltage between C and A is 10 kV.

Calculate the speed with electrons hit A.
Mass of electron = 9.1 1031 kg
[4 marks]

Speed of electrons =
(c)

(i)

Below you can see an ECG.

Identify the main parts of the ECG with normal heart action.
[3 marks]
P:
QRS:
T:

(ii)

Explain why it is possible to get an ECG and how this is used by a pacemaker.
[4 marks]

Below you can see the ECG of a patient.

0.8 sec
(iii)

Identify one difference compared to a normal ECG.

[1 mark]

(iv)

Calculate the beats per min for this patient.

[3 marks]

Beats per min =

(d)

(i)

Below you can see how OxyHb and DeoxyHb react to radiation.
Describe their absorption characteristics.
[2 marks]
DeoxyHb

Absorption
of radiation

OxyHb

Red

Infrared

Wavelength
(ii)

Below you can see the pulse oximetry waveform for two different individuals.
Explain which one do you think has a normal heart beat.
[2 marks]

[Total for Question 2 = 31 marks]

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3.

(a)

Scientists use many types of radiation.

Some radiations are particles, others are waves.
Draw one straight line from each of the following radiations to its description.
[5 marks]

Radiation

gamma

proton

A particle that makes up neutrons

positively charged

positively charged particles

with the same mass as an electron

A particle that makes up protons

negatively charged

positively charged particles with nearly

the same mass as a neutron

electromagnetic wave
with greater frequency than X-rays

negatively charged particles

with the same mass as an electron

positron

up quark

down quark

(b)

Description

The symbol for a nucleus of Radium-226 is

226
88Ra
Radium-226 is unstable.
What feature of the nucleus makes it likely to decay by alpha emission?
[2 marks]

(c)

Carbon-14 and Carbon-12 are isotopes of carbon.

(i)

Explain what is meant by isotopes.

[1 mark]

C-14 decays by emitting a particle.

(ii)

What is a particle?
[1 mark]

(iii)

Complete the reaction below that describes the decay of C-14.

Use a periodic table to find which element is X.
[3 marks]

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6

X is the element
Below you can see the N Z stability curve for nuclei.
D
No of n0s
N
C
A
B
No of p+s, Z
(iv)

Put a cross (

) in the box next to the correct answer.

[1 mark]

In which of the 4 positions (A D) is C-14 likely to be found relative to the stability curve?

B
(v)

Explain your choice in terms of transformations of particles during -decay.

[5 marks]

[Total for Question 3 = 18 marks]

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4.

(a)

Protons and neutrons are not fundamental particles.

(i)

Explain why protons and neutrons are not fundamental particles.

[1 mark]

The table below shows the properties of particles making up protons and neutrons.

(ii)

particle

symbol

up

down

charge (e)
2
+
3
1
3

What do we call these particles?

[1 mark]

(iii)

What is the composition of protons and neutrons?

Explain your answer.
[4 marks]

p =

n =

(b)

One of the possible nuclear changes is the one shown below.

p
(i)

Write the charge and nucleon numbers in the reaction above.

[3 marks]

(ii)

Identify the particle.

[1 mark]

(iii)

Name two fundamental particles involved in the change above.

[2 marks]

1.
2.

(c)

The graph below shows nuclei on the stability belt.

(i)

Mark on the graph where you would expect to find a nucleus that undergoes
the change quoted in (b). Explain your choice.
[3 marks]

(ii)

Explain the effect on the atomic and nucleon numbers during the change quoted in (b).
[2 marks]

(iii)

Sometimes a particle is emitted as well.

Explain what a particle is and the effect its emission has on the nucleus.
[2 marks]

[Total for Question 4 = 19 marks]

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5.

(a)

Below you see the emission of and radiation by a nucleus of Ra-226.

226
88

Ra
R
(i)

Complete the proton and nucleon numbers in the reaction above.

[3 marks]

(ii)

Use the periodic table to identify element Y.

[1 mark]

(iii)

What is the difference between an particle and a Helium atom?

[1 mark]

(iv)

Compare the charge and mass of an particle to that of a proton. Explain.

[4 marks]

Below you can see the N Z stability curve for nuclei.

D

No of n0s
N
C
A
B
No of p+s, Z
(v)

Put a cross (

) in the box next to the correct answer.

[1 mark]

In which of the 4 positions (A D) is Ra-226 likely to be found relative to the stability curve?

11

(b)

Cameron has prostate cancer.

Doctors could use palliative care.
(i)

What is palliative care?

[1 mark]

The tests show that Camerons tumour is small.

One possible treatment is the following.
bladder

Radioactive seeds, the size of rice grains are

placed into the tumour and left there.
This method has been in use for over 15 years.

radioactive seed

tumour
prostate
(ii)

Which of these radiation source types are suitable to use for the seeds?
Tick two boxes.
[2 marks]
source type

suitable for seed

alpha
beta
gamma
neutron
photon
(iii)

Explain the reason for your choices.

[2 marks]

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(c)

A new treatment for cancer uses certain proteins that target cancer cells.
A radioactive isotope is attached onto these proteins.
The proteins are then injected into patients.
Suggest a benefit of this method compared to external methods of cancer treatment.
[2 marks]

(d)

Radioactive isotopes can be used to trace the spread of bone tumours.

The patient is injected with an isotope that collects in areas where bone cells are active.
The patient is monitored over the next 8 hours.
(i)

Give two reasons why isotopes which emit gamma radiation are used as tracers.
[2 marks]

1.
2.
The table gives data on isotopes which emit gamma radiation.
isotope
Barium-137
Iodine-125
Iridium-192
Technetium-99
(ii)

half-life
2.55 min
59.4 days
73.8 days
6.01 hour

energy of each gamma ray in keV

662
35
704
143

From the table, choose an isotope that can be used as a tracer for bone cancer.
[1 mark]

(iii)

Give two reasons for your choice.

[2 marks]

1.

2.

[Total for Question 5 = 22 marks]

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