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RADIOACTIVITY
NAME :………………………………………………………………
CLASS :……………………………………………………………...
TEACHER’S NAME :………………………………………………………………
3 SBP 2009
SECTION C
4 SBP 2018
1. A radioactive source and a detector are used to check the level of fruit juice in a carton.
Cartons of fruit juice pass between the detector and the radioactive source, as shown in Diagram 2.
The radioactive source emits β-particles.
Diagram 2
…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
[1 mark]
(b) State the suitable detector to detect β-particles in Diagram 2.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
[1 mark]
(c) (i) What happened to the reading of the rate-meter when a full carton of juice goes past the
detector.
……………………………………………………………………………………………..
[1 mark]
………………………………………………………………………………………………
[1 mark]
(d) Explain why a source emitting α-particles is not suitable to be use as a radioactive source in
Diagram 2.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
[1 mark]
TOTAL 5 marks
Diagram 3
…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
[1 mark]
…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
[2 marks]
…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
[1 mark]
(d) Determine the number of alpha particles and beta particles produced in the decay.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
[2 marks]
TOTAL 6 marks
Diagram 1
…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
[1 mark]
…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
[1 mark]
(d) What happens to the angle of deflection of the radioactive emission path if the power supply is
increased to 3000 V?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
[1 mark]
TOTAL 4 marks
Diagram 7.1
Scientist can estimate the age of the dinosaur fossil by determining the amount of undecayed
radioisotope carbon-14. Carbon -14, 14
6 C
decay emits beta particle. The half-life of caobon-14 is
5730 years.
...................................................................................................................................................
[1 mark]
(b) (i) Based on the information above, write the equation for the decay of carbon-14.
.......................................................................................................................................
[1 mark]
.......................................................................................................................................
[1 mark]
Diagram 7.2
[2 marks]
(iii) Determine the age of dinosaur fossil if the current decay rate of carbon-14 is 2 counts
per minute.
[2 marks]
[2 marks]
TOTAL 10 marks
5. Diagram 3 shows a nuclear reactor. The nuclear reactor produces nuclear energy that can generate
electricity.
Diagram 3
.................................................................................................................................................
[1 mark]
.................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................
[2 marks]
235
92 U + 01n → 141
55 Cs +
93
37 Rb + 2 01n + energy
[3 marks]
TOTAL 6 marks
6. Diagram 8.1 shows a graph of the number of radioactive nuclei, N versus time for a
radioisotope P.
Diagram 8.1
………………………………………………………………………………………………
[1 mark]
(b) Determine the half- life of radioisotope P from the graph in Diagram 8.1.
[2 marks]
(c) The equation below shows the decay of Actinium (Ac) to Thorium(Th) by emitting a
beta-particle.
227
89 Ac ® abTh + b
(i) Find the value of a and b.
[2 marks]
[2 marks]
(d) A company which manufactures breakfast cereals wishes to check the level of cereal in the
packed boxes. A radioactive source and a detector are used to detect the level of cereal in
the boxes as shown in Diagram 8.2.
Table 8 shows the properties of four radioactive sources.
Diagram 8.2
Table 8
Based on Table 8, state the suitable properties of the radioactive sources to detect the level
of cereal in the packed boxes. Give reason for the suitability of the properties.
………………………………………………………………………………………
[1 mark]
Reason
………………………………………………………………………………………
[1 mark]
………………………………………………………………………………………
[1 mark]
Reason
………………………………………………………………………………………
[1 mark]
(e) Based on the answers in 8 (d), determine the most suitable radioactive source in Table 8 to
detect the level of cereal in the packed boxes.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
[1 mark]
TOTAL 12 marks
3. Diagram 1 shows how a system is used in a factory to ensure the thickness of paper sheets
are uniform. The system uses radioisotope Strontium – 90 as the radioactive source.
PERFECT
SCORE
2013
4. In a decay process, polonium-210 decays into polonium-206 and gives out an alpha
particle. It is given that the atomic mass of an alpha particle is 4.004 u.
−27 −19 8 −1
TRIAL 1 a.m.u = 1.66 × 10 kg, 1 eV =1.6×10 J, e = 3.0×10 ms
JOHOR
2018 Proton number Atomic mass
Polonium- 210 84 209.982
Polonium- 206 82 205.969
Table 12
Sketch a graph of the number of nucleons, A, against the proton number, Z, for the decay
process. Use your graph to write out the equation of the decay process.
[4 marks]
Calculate the loss of mass (in unit kg) for the decay process.
[2 marks]
Calculate the energy released (in unit MeV) in the process.
[3 marks]
1. Diagram 10(a) and Diagram 10(b) show the rate of decay of radioactive Xenon-133 and
Iodine-131 respectively.
Diagram 10(a)
Diagram 10(b)
(ii) Based on Diagram 10(a) and Diagram 10(b), compare the shape of the graphs,
the way the activity changes with time and the time taken for the activity to
become half of the original activity.
Name the time for the activity to become half of the original activity.
[5 marks]
[4 marks]
(c) Radiotherapy is used in the treatment of cancer. The radioactive ray used can cause side
effects to the patient.
Using the knowledge about radioactivity, explain the steps taken to reduce the side
effects. In your explanation, emphasize the aspects of:
TOTAL 20 marks
2. Diagram 10.1(a) and Diagram 10.1(b) show the deflection of a radioactive emission in an
electric field.
Diagram 10.1(a)
Diagram 10.1(b)
(ii) compare the voltage of the EHT and the deflection of the radioactive emission
[2 marks]
[1 mark]
(ii) the strength of the electric field between the plates and the deflection of the
radioactive emission.
[1 mark]
Diagram 10.2
(ii) Explain how nuclear energy is produced from the nuclear reaction shown in
Diagram 10.2.
[3 marks]
Diagram 10.3
[10 marks]
TOTAL 20 marks
1. Diagram 12.1 shows a system used in a factory to ensure the volume of guava juice in a bottle
is uniform.
Diagram 12.1
The radioactive source, radiation detector and counter are used to detect the volume of guava
juice. The radioactive source contains a radioisotope.
(a) What is meant by a radioisotope?
[1 mark]
State of Ionising
Radioisotope Half life Types of ray
matter power
P 7 hours Alpha Solid High
Q 10 days Beta Liquid Low
R 100 days Gamma Solid Low
S 10 years Gamma Liquid High
T 30 years Beta Solid Low
Table 12.2
[10 marks]
Bottle A B C D E F
Rate meter reading
464 468 467 462 568 470
(count per minute)
Table 12.3
(i) State one detector that is suitable to be used for this purpose.
[1 mark]
(ii) Based on table 12.3, which bottle shows the least volume of juice and state the reason
for your answer.
[3 marks]
TOTAL 20 marks
Diagram 12.1
(b) Explain how the Geiger-Muller tube used to detect the radioactive radiation.
[4 marks]
(c) Food irradiation is a food preservation process using a controlled radioactive radiation
emit by radioisotope to destroy insects, bacteria, parasites or to maintain food freshness.
Diagram 12.2 shows the food irradiation system in a factory.
Diagram 12.2
State of Ionizing
Radioisotope Types of ray Half-life
matter power
Posphorus-32 Liquid Beta 14 days Medium
Xenon-133 Solid Beta 5 days Medium
Technetium-99 Liquid Gamma 6 hours Low
Cobalt-60 Solid Gamma 5 years Low
Polonium-210 Solid Alpha 140 days High
Table 12.1
Explain the suitability of each characteristics of the radioisotope to be used in the food
irradiation. Determine the most suitable radioisotope to be used in the food irradiation so
that the food is safe for consumer.
Give reasons for your choice.
[10 marks]
(d) Other radioisotope used in the food irradiation is Cesium-137.
Cesium-137 decay is represented by the following equation:
$%& $%&
##𝐶𝑠 → #*𝐵𝑎 + 𝛽 + 𝛾 + 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦
Table 12.2 shows the value of atomic mass unit (u) of the elements.
$%&
Barium #*𝐵𝑎 136.905827
Beta particle
𝛽 0.000549
Additional information :
1 u = 1.66 x 10-27 kg
Speed of light, c = 3 x 108 ms-1
Table 12.2
TOTAL 20 marks