The Nucleus (CIE IGCSE Physics: Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award))

Exam Questions

1 hour15 questions
11 mark

The nuclide notation for a generic element is given below:

      bold X presubscript straight Z presuperscript straight A   

Which of the following is the correct definition of each of the terms?

 

X

A

Z

A

symbol

nucleon number

proton number

B

symbol

proton number

nucleon number

C

symbol

neutron number

proton number

D

nucleon number

proton number

neutron number

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    21 mark

    An atom consists of electrons orbiting a nucleus. The nucleus contains protons and neutrons.

    For the atom to be neutral, which statement about the atom must be correct?

    • The number of electrons is equal to the number of protons.

    • The number of protons is equal to the number of neutrons.

    • The number of electrons, protons and neutrons are all different.

    • The number of electrons is equal to the number of neutrons.

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    11 mark

    How many neutrons are in a nucleus of aluminium? The chemical symbol is given below:

    CijCCrn0_q2-medium-mcq-5-1-the-nuclear-modelof-atom-cie-igcse-physics

    • 13

    • 27

    • 14

    • 40

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    21 mark

    Which of the following statements would not be correct for the nucleus of any atom?

    • The nucleus contains protons and neutrons.

    • The nucleus has a total charge of zero.

    • The nucleus is very small compared to the size of the atom.

    • The atom contains the same number of protons and electrons.

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    11 mark

    Extended tier only

    Nuclear reactions can release huge amounts of energy.

    Which nuclear reaction takes place in the Sun and which nuclear reaction takes place in a nuclear power station?

     

    The Sun

    A nuclear power station

    A

    fusion

    fusion

    B

    fusion

    fission

    C

    fission

    fission

    D

    fission

    fusion

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      21 mark

      Extended tier only

      Fusion is a type of nuclear reaction.

      Which term below is a correct statement about nuclear fusion?

      • It occurs in nuclear power stations.

      • It involves a larger nucleus decaying into two (or more) smaller nuclides.

      • Uranium is a type of fuel for nuclear fusion.

      • Light nuclei (such as hydrogen and helium) fuse together, releasing energy in the process.

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      31 mark

      A neutron and a proton are near to a positive nucleus.

      q4-hard-mcq-5-1-the-nuclear-modelof-atom-cie-igcse-physics

      If anything, what would happen to the proton and the neutron due to the charge on the nucleus?

      • The neutron is repelled; the proton is attracted.

      • The proton is not affected; the neutron is attracted.

      • The proton is repelled; the neutron is attracted.

      • The proton is repelled; the neutron is not affected.

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