CHAPTER 10: RADIOACTIVITY

EXERCISE 10.1

1
The nucleon number of an atom is the number of

A
Neutrons in the nucleus

B
Protons in the nucleus

C
Neutrons and electrons in the nucleus

D
Proton and neutrons in the nucleus

2
A Uranium atom has 92 protons and 146 neutrons. What is the notation for this atom?

U
 D

3
A nucleus of an atom has 7 protons and 8 neutrons. What is the nucleon number of the atom?

A
1

B
7

C
8

D
15
4 Three nuclei X, Y and Z have proton numbers and nucleon numbers as shown in the table
below.

Nucleus Proton number Nucleon number.

X 43 93
Y 43 94
Z 44 94

Which nuclei are isotopes of the same element?

A X and Y only.
B X and Z only. .
C Y and Z only. .
D X, Y and Z.

5 Isotopes of an element have

A The same chemical properties
B The same physical properties
C The same number of neutrons
D The same number of electrons

EXERCISE 10.2
238
Nucleus 92 U decay through few stages until reach a stable nucleus.
1

Particles emitted in orders are α, β, β, α, α.

Which of the following nucleus is not the product from the decay series?

226
A
88 Ra
B 230
90 Th
234
C
91Pa
D 234
93 U

2 Radioactive unstable nucleus decay becomes a stable nucleus. Which of the following
graphs shows number of stable nucleus, N with time, t?
 [ Number of unstable nucleus is N0 ]

A N

No

0
t/s

B N

No

0
t/s

C N

No

0
t/s

D N

No

0
t/s

3 Diagram below shows the path of radioactive rays, S and T.

 Ray S
Sinar S

Ray T
Sinar T

Paper Aluminium foil Lead

Kertas Kerajang Plumbum
aluminium
Which of the following shows the type of ray S and ray T?
Ray S Ray T
A γ β
B α β
C β γ
D γ α

4 A radioactive sample has an initial activity of 1400 counts per minute. After 54 days, the
activity is 175 counts per minute.
What is the half life of the radioactive sample?

A 9 days
B 18 days
C 27 days
D 36 days

5 In a nuclear reaction, 5.265 × 10-10 J energy is released.

What is the mass defect of this reaction?

A 4.74 × 107 kg
B 1.58 × 10-2 kg
C 1.76 × 10-18 kg
D 5.85 × 10-27 kg

6 Diagram below shows an equation of a nuclear reaction.

 2 P Q
1 H + 1 H 0 n + 42 He + Energy/tenaga

What are the values of p and Q?

P Q
A 3 1
B 2 1
C 4 2
D 3 2

7 A rate meter of a G-M tube recorded a background reading 40 counts per minute. When a
radioactive element is put in front of the G-M tube, the rate meter reads 160 counts per
minute. After 6 hours, the rate meter becomes 55 counts per minute.

Determine the half life of the radioactive

A 2 hours
B 4 hours
C 6 hours
6 jam
D 12 hours
12 jam

8 Diagram below shows the path of particle p when it moves close to a nucleus.

Particle P
Zarah P

Nucleus
Nukleus

Identify the particle P.

A α-particle
B β-particle
C γ-ray
D neutron

9 The equation shows the nuclear fission of Uranium-235.

 235 1 P 94 1
92 U + 0n 54 Xe + Q Sr + 2 0 n

What are the values of P and Q?

P Q
A 142 36
B 141 38
C 140 38
D 139 36

10 Diagram below shows a series of radioactive decays for the nucleus of Uranium-238 to
that of Radium-226.

Nucleon
number (A)

238 U
Th Pa
234 U
Th
230
Ra
226

222
87 88 89 90 91 92
Proton
number (Z)

How many alpha and beta particles are emitted in this process?

Number of alpha particles Number of beta particles

A 3 2
B 2 3
C 4 1
D 1 1

11
The half-life of a radioactive substance is 3 days. How much time is required for 10 g of the
substance to decay until 1.25 g is left?

A
3 days
 B
6 days

C
9 days

D
12 days

12
Which of the following pair of particles can be deflected by both a magnetic field and an electric
field?

A
alpha particles and neutron

B
alpha particles and proton

C
alpha particles and gamma radiation

D
beta particles and gamma radiation

13
The thick tracks of alpha particles in a cloud chamber show that alpha particles have

A
high penetrating power
 B
high ionising power

C
large mass

D
high speed

14 A sample of a radioactive substance contains 50 g of the active substance. If its half life is
10 days, what was the mass of the active substance in this sample 20 days ago?
A 25 g
B 100 g
C 150 g
D 200 g

15 In a nuclear fission, about 0.05 a.m.u. is lost. How much energy is given out?

[ Given 1 a.m.u. = 1.66 × 10-27 kg, and c = 3.0 × 108 m s-1 ]

A 4.50 × 10-19 J
B 7.47 × 10-12 J
C 8.31 × 10-20 J
D 9.06 × 10-27 J

16 The equation below shows the decay of uranium-238.

238 234
92 U 90 Th + Y

What is Y?

A Electron B Alpha
C Neutron D Gamma
17 In a nuclear reaction, 3.60 x 10-12 of energy is released. What is the mass deflect?
(c = 3.0 x 108 ms-1)

A 4.0 x 10-29 kg B 4.0 x 10-19 kg

C 9.0 x 10-12 kg D 9.0 x 10-18 kg

18 Why are gamma rays not deflected by an electric field and a magnetic field?

A There have no mass

B They have no charge
C They are weakly ionizing
D They have strong penetration power

19 The figure below shows the decaying series of the isotope Uranium-238.

238 234 234 234 230

92 U 90 T h 91 Pa 92 U 90 T h
Calculate the number of alpha and beta particles emitted.

Number of alpha particles Number of beta particles

A 1 3
B 3 1
C 2 2
D 0 4

20 The Diagram below shows the decay curve of a radioactive material.

Activity / counts
per minute
Activiti / bilangan
per minit

800

0 15 Time / M inute
Masa / minit

What is the activity after 1 hour?

A 400
 B 200
C 100
D 50

PAPER 2
1 Diagram (a) and (b) show the deflection of a radioactive emission in an electric field.

Radioactive emission Radioactive emission

Pancaran radioaktif Pancaran radioaktif
Radioactive source Radioactive source
Sumber radioaktif Sumber radioaktif

EHT EHT
VLT VLT
+ 500 V + 1000 V
+ +
Metal plate Metal plate
Plat logam Plat logam

Diagram (a) Diagram (b)

Rajah (a) Rajah (b)

(a) What is the meaning of radioactivity?

[ 1 mark]

(b) Using Diagram (a) and Diagram (b),

(i) state the charge of the radioactive emission

[ 1 mark/ markah]
(ii) compare the voltage of EHT and the deflection of the radioactive emission.

[ 1 mark/ markah]

(c) state the relationship between

(i) the voltage of EHT and strength of the electric field between the plates

[ 1 mark/ markah]
(ii) the strength of the electric field between the plates and the deflection of the
radioactive emission
 [ 1 mark/ markah]

(d) A radioactive decay involving the Radium nucleus is given by

226 222
88 Ra → 86 Rn + X

What is X?

[ 1 mark/ markah]

2 The level of fruit juice in a carton can be checked by using a radioactive source and a
detector. Diagram below shows cartons of fruit juice being passed between the
radioactive source and the detector. The radioactive source that is used emits beta-
particles only.

Radioactive source
Fruit juice carton Sumber radioaktif
Kotak jus buah-buahan

Conveyor belt
Pita pengangkut

Rate meter
Meter kadar Radiation detector
Pengesan sinaran radioaktif

(a) What is a beta-particle?

[ 1 mark/ markah]

(b) Name one type of detector suitable for the detecting beta-particle.
 [ 1 mark/ markah]

(c) (i) What will happen to the rate-meter reading when a fully-filled carton
moves pass the detector?

[ 1 mark/ markah]

(ii) Give one reason for your answer in (c)(i).

[ 1 mark/ markah]

(d) A radioisotope has a half-life of 8 days. Calculate the time taken for the activity
1
of the radioisotope to decay to decay to 16 of its original value.

[ 3 mark/ markah]
3 Diagram below shows the deflection of three types of radioactive emission in an electric
field.

M etal plate
Plat logam

Radioactive source
Sumber radioaktif
X

Y EFT 4500 V
VLT
Z
Radioactive emission
Pancaran radioaktif

M etal plate
Plat logam

(a) What is the meaning of radioactivity?

[ 1 mark/ markah]

(b) (i) Name the type of radioactive emission.

X:
Y:
[ 2 mark/ markah]

(ii) Give one reason why the deflection of Z moe than the deflection of X.

[ 1 mark/ markah]

(c) In a reactor nuclear, Uranium 235 is bombarded by a neutron produces Barium

141 and Kripton 92 by releasing three neutrons. This reaction experiences a mass
defect.
 (i) Name the type of nuclear reaction.

[ 1 mark/ markah]

(ii) Complete the equation of the reaction by writing the appropriate number in
the boxes provided.

1
235
92U + 01 n
141
Ba 92
36 Kr 0 n
+ +3

[ 1 mark/ markah]

(iii) The nuclear reaction of one nucleus of uranium – 235 experiences a mass
defect of 2.988 × 10-28 kg. Calculate the energy released in the nuclear
reaction. The velocity of light is 3 × 108 ms-1.

[ 1 mark/ markah]

(d) Radioactive substances give out radiations which are harmful to our body.

(i) Suggest one precaution that need to be taken when handling a radioactive
source.

[ 1 mark/ markah]

(ii) Give one reason for the answer in (d)(i).

[ 1 mark/ markah]
4 Diagram shows the decay series of Radon-222.

Nucleon number
Nombor nukleon

Rn
222
Po
218
Pb Bi Po
214
Pb
210

206

81 82 83 84 85 86 87 Proton number
Nombor proton

(a) What is the meaning of nucleon number?

[ 1 mark/ markah]

(b) Write an equation to show the decay of Rn-222 to Po-218.

[ 2 marks/ markah]

(c) Based on Diagram, state the most stable nuclide.

[ 1 mark/ markah]

(d) Determine the number of alpha particles and beta particles produced in the decay.

[ 2 marks/ markah]

EXERCISE 10.3
1 Diagram below shows the arrangement of a radioactive source and a detector to monitor
the thickness of aluminum sheets in a factory.

Radioactive source
Sumber radioaktif
Aluminum sheet
Kepingan aluminium

Roller Counter Radiation detector

Penggelek Pembilang Pengesan sinaran

Which of the following would be most suitable to be used as the radioactive source?

Radiation emitted Half life

A alpha 5 days
B gamma 5 years
C beta 5 days
D alpha 5 years

2 Diagram below shows the use of radioactive material to control the thickness of paper.
Which type of radiation source is the most suitable?
 Radiation sourse
Sumber radiasi

Hydraulic control Radiation detector

Kontrol hidrolik Pengesan radiasi
Processor unit
Unit prosesor

A Alpha
B Beta
C Gamma

3 Table below shows four radioisotopes and their half-lives.

Radioisotopes Half-life
R 7 days
S 1 month
T 3 years
U 6 hours

Which radioisotopes are most suitable to be used as a tracer in human organ?

A R B S
C T D U

4 The Diagram below shows how the thickness of paper is measured during manufacture.
If the sheet is too thick, fewer beta-particles can reach the detector.

Source of beta
Particles/ punca
zarah beta
Paper pulp
Sheet
Pulpa kertas
of paper
Kepingan
kertas
Detector
Pengesan

A source of alpha-particles is not used for this purpose because alpha particles
A Are all stopped by the paper
B Are too dangerous to those working nearby
C Have a short half-life
D Make the paper radioactive
5 Which of the following is the most appropriate radioisotope substance to be used as a
medical tracer to detect a tumor?

Isotop Types of emission Half time

Isotop Jenis pancaran Separuh Hayat
A Radon-222 α 3.8 days
Radon-222 3.8 hari
B Sulfur-35 β 97 days
Sulfur-35 97 hari
C Cobalt-60 γ 5.3 years
Cobalt-60 5.3 tahun
D Technetium-99 γ 6 hours
Technetium-99 6 jam

PAPER 2

1 A technician is tracing water pipe line laid underground to detect leakage point. Four
types of radioisotope are suggested to be used to detect the leaking point of the pipe.
Small amount of radioisotope is dissolved in the water reservoir.

Radioisotope Half life Types of Physical state

Radioisotop Separuh hayat radiation Keadaan jirim
Jenis sinaran
Sodium-24 15 hours/jam Gamma Liquid/cecair
Iodine-131 8 days/hari Gamma Liquid/cecair
Radium-226 1600 years/tahun Alpha Solid/pepejal
Phosphorus-32 15 days/hari Beta Solid/pepejal
A Geiger-Muller tube counter is moved over the pipe according to layout plan.
At a point, the counter recorded a high radiation level indicating the point of leakage.

(a) Based in Table above, state the most suitable properties of the radioisotope used
to detect the leakage. Give reasons for the suitability of the properties.

(i) Half life

[ 1 mark/ markah]

Reason

[ 1 mark/ markah]

(ii) Type of radiation

 [ 1 mark/ markah]

Reason
Sebab

[ 1 mark/ markah]

(iii) Physical state

Keadaan Fizikal

[ 1 mark/ markah]

Reason
Sebab

[ 1 mark/ markah]

(b) Radioisotope Stratium-90 is of half life 28 years.

Radioisotope Stratium-90 mempunyai separuh hayat 28 tahun.

Find the time for the activity to reduce to of the original value.

Berapa lamakah masa sebelum aktivitinya menurun kepada daripada nilai

asal?

[ 2 marks/ markah]
(c) State one advantage of radioisotope.
Nyatakan satu kegunaan radioisotope.

[ 1 mark/ markah]

(d) A possible fusion reaction is shown by

Satu tindak balas pelakuran ditunjukkan seperti berikut.
 2 3 4 0
1H + 1H 2 He + 1n + E

2 3 4
[ 1 H = 2.014012u, 1 H = 3.016029u, 2 He = 4.002603u,
0 -27
1 n = 1.008665u, u = 1.66 x 10 kg ]

(i) Calculate the mass defect, m.

Kira cacat jisim, m.

[ 2 marks/ markah]

(ii) Calculate the energy, E released in the fusion reaction.

Kira tenaga, E yang terhasil dalam tindak balas pelakuran ini.

[ 1 mark/ markah]

2 Diagram below shows a spark counter as a radiation detector and a rate meter are used
to detect the level of milk in containers in a nuclear laboratory. Radioisotope used by a
researcher as radioactive source emits alpha radiation.
 Radioactive source
Sumber radioaktif

Radiation detector
Pengesan sinaran Milk container
Bekas susu

Conveyer belt
Lingkaran
pengangkut

Rate meter
Alat meter kadar

(a) What is the meaning of radioisotope?

[ 1 mark/ markah]

(b) The system setup by the researcher does not show any reading of rate meter.
Suggest a modification need to be done so that the rate meter shows a reading and
then detect the level of milk in containers through these aspects:

(i) The radiation emits by radioisotope of radioactive source.

[ 1 mark/ markah]

(ii) The penetration power of the radiation used.

 [ 1 mark/ markah]

(iii) The radiation detector used.

[ 1 mark/ markah]

(c) By using your modified system in (b), the rate meter reading of four milk
containers P, Q, R and S when they passing through the radiation are recorded as
shown in table below.

Milk container P Q R S
Rate meter reading / counts
per second
460 462 520 458

The rate meter still records a reading 100 counts per minute even though the
radioactive sources are removed.

(i) State why the rate meter still record a reading.

[ 1 mark/ markah]

(ii) Based on table above, which container has the least amount of milk? Give
one reason for your answer.
 [ 2 marks/ markah]

(iii) What is the actual rate meter reading for the milk container in (c)(ii)?

[ 1 mark/ markah]

(d) The mass of the radioisotope used is reduced from 80g to 20g in 30 seconds.
Calculate the half life of the radioisotope.

[ 2 marks/ markah]

EXERCISE 10.4

1 What happens during nuclear fission?

A Heavy nucleus is split into 2 lighter nuclei
B High energy neutron is produced in the process
Satu neutron yang bertenaga tinggi dihasilkan semasa pembelahan nukleus
C The process does not lead to any mass defect
Pembelahan nukleus tidak menghasilkan satu cacat jisim
D It occur at a temperature of about 1000 °C
Pembelahan nukleus berlaku pada suhu 1000 °C
2 The process of splitting a heavier nucleus into lighter nuclei by released of a large
amount of energy is called

A Nuclear Fusion
B Nuclear Fission
C Radioactive Decay
D Half life

PAPER 2

1 Diagram below shows the nuclear reaction involving the nucleus of uranium-235 in a
nuclear reactor.

neutron
neutron
krypton nucleus
kripton nukleus
neutron
neutron
neutron barium nucleus
neutron barium nukleus
Uranium-235
Uranium-235 neutron
neutron

(a) Name the process as shown in the diagram.

[ 1 mark/ markah]

(b) The complete equations for the above reactions are given below.

235 -11
92 U + 10 n 141
56 Ba + yx Kr + 310 n + 2.787 x 10 J
Total mass: 236.0329 a.m.u. Total mass: 235.86653 a.m.u.
Jumlah jisim: 236.0329 a.m.u. Jumlah jisim: 235.86653 a.m.u.

Find the value of x and y.

 (i)
X: Y:
[ 2 marks/ markah]

(c) Name the energy produce and what causes the production of energy.

[ 2 marks/ markah]

18 Diagram below shows a type of nuclear reaction where the number of neutrons
produced is X.
Rajah di bawah menunjukkan sejenis tindak balas nuklear dimana bilangan neutron
yang terhasil ialah X.

239 145
Pu Ba
94 56
1
n
0 1
+ X n
0

93
Sr
38

(a) Name the type of nuclear reaction.

Namakan jenis tindak balas nuklear ini.

[ 1 mark/ markah]

(b) State the value of X.

Nyatakan nilai X.

[ 1 mark/ markah]

(c) Total atomic mass before reaction is 3.985 × 10-25 kg and total atomic mass after
reaction is 3.982 × 10-25 kg.
 Jumlah jisim atom sebelum tindak balas ialah 3.985 × 10-25 kg dan jumlah jisim
atom selepas tindak balas ialah 3.982 × 10-25 kg.

Calculate,
Hitungkan,

(i) the mass defect,

cacat jisim,

[ 2 marks/ markah]

(ii) the amount of energy released.

jumlah tenaga yang terbebas.

[ 2 marks/ markah]

EXERCISE 10.5