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IGCSEScienceCambridge (CIE)Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award)PhysicsExam Questions5. Nuclear PhysicsThe Nucleus

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

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1a2 marks

Fig. 12.1 shows a diagram to represent a helium atom, and an incomplete key.

f~nACQwG_q12a

Complete the key in Fig. 12.1. State the name of each particle.

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1b2 marks

The table in Fig. 12.2 compares two isotopes of helium.

yPJE2~HF_q12b

For each isotope, write the number of protons and the number of neutrons in the correct places in the table.

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1c3 marks

The nucleus of the helium atom in (a) is the same as an α-particle. 

(i) Describe the penetrating ability of α-particles.

[1]

(ii) Explain why it is dangerous to swallow a source that emits α-particles.

[2]

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2a3 marks

Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope of carbon. An atom of carbon-14 has 6 protons in its nucleus.

Another isotope of carbon is carbon-12. 

(i) Determine the number of protons in a carbon-12 nucleus.

[1]

(ii) Determine the number of neutrons in a carbon-14 nucleus.

[1]

(iii) Determine the number of electrons orbiting the nucleus of a single carbon-14 atom.

[1]

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2b1 mark

Carbon-14 decays by emitting a β-particle.

State what happens to a nucleus of carbon-14 when it emits a β-particle.

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2c2 marks

People working with radioactive sources need to take safety precautions. 

(i) A shielding material can absorb ionising radiation and reduce the damage to living tissue.  

State a suitable material that will absorb all types of naturally occurring nuclear radiation.

[1]

(ii) Apart from using shielding, state how a person can reduce the amount of ionising radiation they absorb when they handle samples of radioactive substances.

[1]

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3a1 mark

State the term used to describe nuclides which have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

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3b2 marks

Table 1.1 describes four nuclides. The nuclide notation for lead-206 is missing.

name of nuclide

radium-222

radon-222

lead-216

lead-206

nuclide notation

Ra presubscript 88 presuperscript 222

Rn presubscript 86 presuperscript 222

Pb presubscript 82 presuperscript 216

 

Table 1.1

(i) State which two nuclides have the same number of protons.

[1]

(ii) Complete the table by filling in the nuclide notation for lead-206.

[1]

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3c3 marks

Using the information from Table 1.1 

(i) State which two nuclides have the same number of nucleons.

[1]

 (ii) State which two nuclides have the same number of neutrons. 

[1]

 (iii) State which one of the four nuclides has the most electrons orbiting when it is in a neutral atom.

[1]

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4a3 marks

Extended tier only

Fig. 1.1 shows the names of three different processes that take place in different locations.

kNm_CrVo_nuclear-processes

Fig 1.1

Draw one line from each process to the location it takes place.

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4b2 marks

Extended tier only

This passage is about the differences between nuclear fission and fusion.

Tick the correct statements in the table below

7-3-easy-q5b-fission-and-fusion

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1a3 marks

Extended tier only

A nucleus of americium-241 has the nuclide notation shown.

  space presubscript 95 presuperscript 241 A m

(i) Determine the number of neutrons in a nucleus of americium-241.    

number of neutrons = ........................................................ [1]

 (ii) Determine the charge on a nucleus of americium-241.

 charge = ........................................................ [2]

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1b2 marks

Americium-241 decays by emitting α-particles.

Put a tick in the box next to each correct statement.

square  α-particles are electromagnetic waves.

square  α-particles are fast-moving electrons.

square  α-particles are helium nuclei.

square  α-particles are stopped by a sheet of paper.

square  α-particles can pass through 3 cm of aluminium.

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1c2 marks

Americium-241 has a half-life of 432 years. A sample contains 16 mg of americium-241.

Calculate the time it takes until only 4.0 mg of americium-241 are left in the sample.

 time = .............................................. years 

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2a3 marks

This notation represents the nucleus of a neutral atom of carbon-14.

 straight C presubscript 6 presuperscript 14

State the number of: 

(i) protons in the nucleus of an atom of carbon-14

[1]

(ii) electrons orbiting the nucleus of an atom of carbon-14

[1]

(iii) neutrons in the nucleus of an atom of carbon-14.

[1]

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2b3 marks

Carbon-14 is an isotope of carbon. Carbon-12 is another isotope of carbon.

Compare the nucleus of carbon-14 with the nucleus of carbon-12.

State the similarities and differences.

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2c3 marks

Scientists use carbon-14 to estimate the age of wood that is very old. 

A very old sample of wood contains 1.0 × 108 carbon-14 atoms.

When the sample was new, it contained 8.0 × 108 carbon-14 atoms. The half-life of carbon-14 is 5700 years. 

Estimate the age of the sample of wood.

 age of wood = ........................... years 

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3a3 marks

Use words from the box to complete the sentences about the charges in an atom. Words can be used once, more than once or not at all. 

     negative  

neutral

positive

 

The charge on the nucleus of an atom is ..........................................

The charge on a proton is .......................................... 

The charge on electrons orbiting the nucleus is ..........................................

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3b3 marks

A nucleus of radium-226 has the nuclide notation shown.

  

space presubscript 88 presuperscript 226 R a

    

(i) Determine the number of protons in a nucleus of radium-226.

[1]

(ii) Determine the number of neutrons in a nucleus of radium-226.

[1]

(iii) Radium has another isotope, radium-223.       

Write the nuclide notation for radium-223.

[1]

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3c2 marks

Radium-226 has a half-life of 1600 years.

A sample contains 8.0 mg of radium-226.

Calculate the time for the sample to decay until only 1.0 mg of radium-226 remains.

  time = ............................................... years 

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1a4 marks

Extended tier only

Table 1.1 shows data about nine elements.

Table 1.1

proton number

element

symbol

2

helium

He

3

lithium

Li

4

beryllium

Be

5

boron

B

6

carbon

C

7

nitrogen

N

8

oxygen

O

9

fluorine

F

10

neon

Ne

 Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope with a nucleon number of 14. It decays by emitting β-particles.

Use data from Table 1.1 to write down the nuclide equation for this decay.

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1b3 marks

A radioactive sample is placed close to a detector. The radioactive isotope in the sample has a long half-life. The detector records a count rate of 597 counts/s.

Fig. 11.2 shows the readings when different materials are placed between the radioactive sample and the detector. 

Material

fraction numerator c o u n t space r a t e over denominator c o u n t s divided by s end fraction

a sheet of paper 

602

a piece of thin aluminium

598

a piece of thin lead

510

 Fig. 11.2

 Explain whether any α-particles, β-particles or γ-rays are emitted by the radioactive sample.

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