A LevelPhysicsAQATopic Questions2. Particles & Radiation2.1 Atomic Structure & Decay Equations

Atomic Structure & Decay Equations (AQA A Level Physics)

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11 mark

Which statement, or statements, is true for all nuclei?

  1. They have no charge
  2. They contain at least one electron
  3. They contain an equal number of neutrons and protons
  4. They are positively charged

  • 1 only

  • 1 and 3

  • 2 and 4 

  • 4 only

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21 mark

When an alpha particle is emitted from the nucleus of a substance, which of the following remains constant for the atoms of the substance?

  • proton number

  • nucleon number

  • neutron number

  • number of electrons

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31 mark

Which row is correct for the numbers of each particle in a neutral atom of straight U presubscript 92 presuperscript 234?

 

protons

neutrons

electrons

A

92

92

92

B

92

142

92

C

142

92

142

D

234

142

92

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41 mark

What is the unit of specific charge?

  • C kg−1

  • C kg

  • kg C−1

  • A kg−1

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51 mark

What is the specific charge of a He presubscript 2 presuperscript 4 nucleus?

  • mass of a nucleon = 1.67 × 10−27 kg
  • charge of a proton = +1.60 × 10−19 C

  • 2.4 × 107 C kg−1 

  • 4.8 × 107 C kg−1

  • 9.6 × 107 C kg−1

  • 1.9 × 108 C kg−1

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61 mark

Which of the following statements about specific charge is incorrect?

  • ions always have a non-zero specific charge

  • neutral atoms always have a non-zero specific charge

  • nuclei always have a non-zero specific charge

  • nuclei of isotopes of an element always have different values of specific charge

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71 mark

The strong nuclear force is responsible for holding the nucleus together.

The strength of the strong nuclear force varies with the distance between nuclei, as shown on the graph below.

 q7_atomic-structure_aqa-as-mcq

 

What does each section of the graph tell us?

  1 2 3

A

at very close range the force is repulsive

the typical nuclear separation is about 1 fm

there is a short-range attraction between nucleons up to 3 fm apart

B

the strong nuclear force is mostly repulsive

the force is at a minimum at 1 fm

up to 3 fm the force between nucleons is attractive

C

at very close range the force is repulsive

the force is at a minimum at 1 fm

the electrostatic repulsion between protons falls to zero at 3 fm

D

protons repel each other due to their charges

electrostatic force is the least at 1 fm

the electrostatic repulsion between protons falls to zero at 3 fm

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81 mark

A nucleus of Am presubscript 95 presuperscript 241 undergoes alpha decay.

Which letter represents the nucleus formed after the decay?

q8_atomic-structure_aqa-as-mcq

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91 mark

In β− decay, a neutron decays to form three products.

Which row correctly identifies the three missing particles in the decay equation?

 n space rightwards arrow space... space plus space... space plus space...

 

particle 1

particle 2

particle 3

A

anti-proton

electron

anti-neutrino

B

proton

electron

anti-neutrino

C

proton

positron

neutrino

D

anti-proton

positron

neutrino

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101 mark

A nucleus decays by emitting an alpha particle and then a β-plus particle.

Initially, the nucleus has a mass number of 235 and a proton number of 92.

Which row shows the correct nucleon number and proton number of the nucleus after the two decays?

 

nucleon number

proton number

A

231

89

B

231

91

C

231

90

D

235

93

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11 mark

A particular nucleus straight X presubscript straight Z presuperscript straight A decays to form the nucleus straight Y presubscript straight z presuperscript straight a.

The nucleus straight Y presubscript straight z presuperscript straight a can decay in one of two possible ways to form an isotope of Thallium (Tl) or Polonium (Po).


q21_atomic-structure_aqa-as-mcq

Which isotope could not be straight X presubscript straight Z presuperscript straight A?

  • Pb presubscript 82 presuperscript 215

  • Po presubscript 84 presuperscript 214

  • At presubscript 85 presuperscript 218

  • Pb presubscript 82 presuperscript 214

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21 mark

What is the value of fraction numerator s p e c i f i c italic space c h a r g e italic space o f space Li presubscript 3 presuperscript 7 space n u c l e u s over denominator s p e c i f i c italic space c h a r g e italic space o f space scriptbase straight O to the power of 2 plus end exponent space i o n end scriptbase presubscript 8 presuperscript 16 end fraction?

  • 6 over 7

  • 7 over 6

  • 24 over 7

  • 7 over 24

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31 mark

A sample of radioactive material contains radium R presubscript 88 presuperscript 221 a,  which decays by α-decay to form radon, R presubscript 86 presuperscript 217 n .

What percentage of the mass of the sample would be made up from radium, after half the nuclei had decayed?

  • 49.5 %

  • 50.0 %

  • 50.5 %

  • 98.2 %

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41 mark

Radioactive isotopes are used in medical imaging.

Two isotopes of iodine, 123-I and 131-I, are both used by radiographers who give them to patients in the form of iodide before taking scans.

The possible decay equations for these isotopes are:

  1.   I presubscript 53 presuperscript 123 space rightwards arrow space T presubscript 52 presuperscript 123 e + _____
  2.   I presubscript 53 presuperscript 131 space rightwards arrow space X presubscript 54 presuperscript 131 e + _____

Which of the following gives a correct difference between these two decays?

  • in Decay 1 an electron neutrino is emitted, but in Decay 2 an anti-electron neutrino is emitted

  • in Decay 1, an electron has been absorbed but in Decay 2 a neutron has been absorbed

  • in Decay 1, an anti-electron neutrino is emitted, but in Decay 2 an electron neutrino is emitted

  • in Decay 1, a neutron becomes a proton but in Decay 2 a proton becomes a neutron

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51 mark

A particular isotope decays through a series of alpha and beta emissions until a stable nucleus of Pb presubscript 82 presuperscript 206 forms.

q26_atomic-structure_aqa-as-mcq

Which row correctly describes the isotopes labelled 1, 2 and 3?

 

1

2

3

A

  T presubscript 90 presuperscript 230 h  A presubscript 85 presuperscript 218 t  P presubscript 82 presuperscript 210 b

B

  U presubscript 92 presuperscript 234  A presubscript 85 presuperscript 218 t  P presubscript 82 presuperscript 210 b

C

  U presubscript 92 presuperscript 234  P presubscript 84 presuperscript 218 o  T presubscript 81 presuperscript 210 l

D

  T presubscript 90 presuperscript 230 h  P presubscript 84 presuperscript 218 o  P presubscript 82 presuperscript 210 b

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61 mark

The graph shows how the neutron-proton ratio of stable nuclei changes as proton number increases.

q27_atomic-structure_aqa-as-mcq

For increasing proton number, which of the following changes are correct?

  1. the charge-mass ratio increases
  2. the charge-mass ratio decreases
  3. the likelihood of α-decay increases
  4. the likelihood of β-plus decay increases
  5. protons outnumber neutrons in large nuclei, with a rapidly increasing ratio

  • 1 and 3

  • 2 and 3

  • 2, 4 and 5

  • 2, 3 and 5

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71 mark

Nuclear power stations use a fission reactor to create a nuclear reaction. A nucleus absorbs one neutron, leading to a reaction where more than one neutron is released. These neutrons in turn will set off more reactions.

This process is called a chain reaction.

Which one of these decay processes would be suitable to create a chain reaction?

  • B presubscript 5 presuperscript 10 space plus space n presubscript 0 presuperscript 1 space rightwards arrow space L presubscript 3 presuperscript 7 i space plus space____

  • A presubscript 13 presuperscript 27 l space plus space a presubscript 2 presuperscript 4 space rightwards arrow space P presubscript 15 presuperscript 30 space plus space____

  • P presubscript 15 presuperscript 30 rightwards arrow space S presubscript 14 presuperscript 30 i space plus space____

  • U presubscript 92 presuperscript 235 space plus space n presubscript 0 presuperscript 1 space rightwards arrow space C presubscript 55 presuperscript 138 s space plus space R presubscript 37 presuperscript 95 b space plus space____

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81 mark

Following the development of the atomic bomb, scientists discovered that they could create elements heavier than uranium by bombarding nuclei with neutrons. These reactions, where smaller nuclei are combined to form a heavier nucleus are called fusion reactions.

Fusion reactions are balanced in exactly the same way as radioactive decay equations.

What are the missing products of these fusion reactions?

1. U presubscript 92 presuperscript 238 space plus space n presubscript 0 presuperscript 1 space rightwards arrow space U presubscript blank presuperscript blank

2. P presubscript 94 presuperscript 239 u space plus 2 space n presubscript 0 presuperscript 1 space rightwards arrow space A presubscript blank presuperscript blank m space plus space e presubscript negative 1 end presubscript presuperscript 0

 

1

2

A

 U presubscript 92 presuperscript 239 A presubscript 95 presuperscript 240 m

B

 U presubscript 92 presuperscript 239 A presubscript 95 presuperscript 241 m

C

 U presubscript 92 presuperscript 237 A presubscript 95 presuperscript 237 m

D

 U presubscript 92 presuperscript 237 A presubscript 95 presuperscript 241 m

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91 mark

Radioactive sources are used in smoke detectors. Nuclides emitting α-particles are used because α-particles have low penetrating power.

Which of these nuclides is the most likely to be a good source of α-radiation?

  • 241-Am

  • 18-F

  • 89-Sr

  • 90-Sr

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11 mark

An atom of Cr presubscript 24 presuperscript 52 loses three electrons.

What is the specific charge of the ion?

  • + 5.5 × 106 C kg-1

  • - 5.5 × 106 C kg-1

  • + 12 × 106 C kg-1

  • + 4.4 × 107 C kg-1

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21 mark

A nucleus of Rn presubscript 86 presuperscript 222 undergoes radioactive decay so that the decay product is Bi presubscript 83 presuperscript 214 .

What combination of radioactive emissions could have occurred?

  • alpha rightwards arrow beta to the power of minus rightwards arrow alpha

  • alpha rightwards arrow beta to the power of plus rightwards arrow beta to the power of plus

  • alpha space rightwards arrow space alpha space rightwards arrow space alpha

  • alpha rightwards arrow beta to the power of plus rightwards arrow alpha

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31 mark

For the following decay equation, identify the type of decay and particle X.

 straight C presubscript 6 presuperscript 11 space rightwards arrow space straight B presubscript 5 presuperscript 11 + X + Y

 

type of decay

particle X

particle Y

A

γ

electron

anti-neutrino

B

β-minus

positron

neutrino

C

β-plus

positron

neutrino

D

β-plus

electron

anti-neutrino

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41 mark

What is the ratio of the specific charge of a proton compared to the specific charge of an alpha particle?

  • 1 fourth

  • 1 half

  • 2

  • 4

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51 mark

A radioactive nucleus absorbs a neutron, causing it to emit an α particle, and two β-minus particles. At each stage gamma radiation is also released.

What will be final nuclide be?

  • a new element with a smaller proton number

  • a new element with a higher proton number

  • an isotope of the original element

  • a stable element

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61 mark

Astatine is a radioactive substance; it has a nucleon number of 218 and a proton number of 85. When it decays, it forms a polonium nucleus, emitting a β− particle and an α-particle.

What are the nucleon number and the proton number of the polonium nucleus?

  nucleon number  proton number
A 214 84
B 214 83
C 216 83
D 215 82

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71 mark

An atom of straight F presubscript 9 presuperscript 19 gains 2 electrons.

What is the specific charge of the ion?

  • +1.01 × 107 C kg–1

  • –1.01 × 107 C kg–1

  • +2.13 × 107 C kg–1

  • –2.13 × 107 C kg–1

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81 mark

Antimatter is a particle that is an antiparticle to the corresponding particle. A positron is the antiparticle of an electron.

What is the difference between a positron and an electron?

  • Mass

  • Magnitude of charge

  • Charge

  • Spin

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91 mark

An unstable nucleus decays by emitting an alpha (α) particle.

The new nucleus, and any subsequent nuclei that form, are unstable and may emit either an α or β− particle. This process continues until an isotope of the original nucleus is formed.

Including the initial alpha emission, what is the minimum number of decays that could occur?

  • 5

  • 4

  • 3

  • 2

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101 mark

Two gamma photons are produced when an electron and a positron annihilate each other.

What is the minimum frequency of the gamma radiation that could be produced?

  • 1.23 × 1014 Hz

  • 2.47 × 1014 Hz

  • 1.23 × 1020 Hz

  • 2.47 × 1020 Hz

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