PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS

TOPIC-23 Radioactivity

PAPER-1 Multiple Choice

1- The diagram shows five atoms in a radioactive

substance. The atoms each give out an α-particle.
Atom 1 is the first to give out a particle. Atom 3 is the
second to give out a particle.
Which atom will give out the next particle?

A - atom 2 B - atom 4
C - atom 5 D - impossible to tell

2-The half-life of a radioactive material is 24 years.

The activity of a sample falls to a fraction of its initial value after 72 years.
What is the fraction?
A - 1/3 B - 1/4 C - 1/6 D - 1/8 [Nov-2006]

3-A detector is used to measure the count-rate near a radioactive source. The reading is 4000 counts per
minute. After 30 minutes the count-rate has fallen to 500 counts per minute.
What is the half-life of the radioactive source? You may ignore the effects of background
radiation. [May-2006]

A - 3 minutes B - 5 minutes
C - 6 minutes D - 10 minutes

4-Which equation shows a nuclear fission reaction? D [May-2005]

5-A radioactive source is placed 3 cm from a Geiger-Müller tube in air. The average count rate is 742
counts / minute.

Then, in three experiments, measurements are taken with sheets of different materials placed
between the source and the tube. The results are recorded in the table.
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TOPIC-23 Radioactivity

Which types of radiation does the source emit?

A - alpha and beta only B - alpha and gamma only
C - beta and gamma only D - alpha, beta and gamma [May-2005]

6-A nucleus consists of 90 protons and 144 neutrons.

After emitting two beta-particles followed by an alpha-particle, this nucleus has:
A - 86 protons and 140 neutrons.
B- 86 protons and 142 neutrons.
C - 90 protons and 140 neutrons.
D - 90 protons and 142 neutrons. [Nov-2004]

7-When dealing with radioactive substances there are possible dangers.

Which statement is correct?
A Beta-particles can pass through skin and damage body cells.
B Gamma-radiation is more dangerous than alpha or beta because it has a longer half-life.
C Materials that emit only alpha-particles must be kept in thick lead containers.
D Radioactive materials are safe to handle after two half-lives. [Nov-2004]

8-Which particle is positively charged?

A - alpha-particle B - beta-particle C – electron D - neutron

9-Atoms P and Q are isotopes.

How does the composition of neutral atom P compare with neutral atom Q?
number of number of number of
protons neutrons electrons
A- different different different
B- different same same
C- same different same
D- same same different

10- Which conclusion can be drawn from the Geiger-Marsden alpha-particle scattering experiment?
A A positive charge is spread throughout the atom.
B Electrons are arranged in orbits.
C Electrons are negatively charged.
D There is a dense nucleus in the atom. [May-2006]

11- Which of the following occurs in the decay of a radioactive nucleus? [Nov-2002]
A The nucleus absorbs another nucleus.
B The nucleus absorbs at least one form of radiation.
C The nucleus always splits into two equal fragments.
D The nucleus emits at least one form of radiation.

12- The table shows the possible properties of radioactive emissions.

Which emission could be a beta-particle? [Nov-2002]
emission charged deflected in a level
magnetic field of ionisation
A no yes None
B yes yes None
C yes yes Weak
D yes no Weak
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TOPIC-23 Radioactivity

13- A pupil investigates the penetrating power of radiation from a radioactive source.
The table shows her results.

[Nov-2002]

background count 25 counts per minute

count with source only 630 counts per minute

count with source and paper absorber 630 counts per minute

count with source and aluminium 180 counts per minute

absorber 3 mm thick
The source emmits ?
A alpha and beta-particles.
B beta-particles and gamma-rays.
C beta-particles only.
D gamma-rays only.

14- Which particle is positively charged? [Nov-2002]

A alpha-particle B beta-particle C electron D neutron

15- Atoms P and Q are isotopes. [Nov-2002]

How does the composition of neutral atom P compare with neutral atom Q?
number of protons number of neutrons number of electrons
A different different different
B different same same
C same different same
D same same different

16 - X, Y and Z are three types of radiation.

X is almost completely absorbed by 5 cm lead but not by 5 mm aluminium.
Y is almost completely absorbed by 5 mm aluminium but not by thin card.
Z is absorbed by thin card.
What are X, Y and Z? [Nov-2003]
X Y Z
A alpha beta gamma
B beta alpha gamma
C gamma alpha beta
D gamma beta alpha
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-23 Radioactivity

17- The nucleus of a nitrogen atom can be represented as 147𝑁 . The nucleus of this atom consists of
A 7 protons and 7 electrons.
B 7 protons and 7 neutrons.
C 14 protons and 7 electrons.
D 14 protons and 7 neutrons. [Nov-2003]

18- Three nuclei P, Q and R have proton numbers (atomic numbers) and nucleon numbers (mass
numbers) as shown.
proton number nucleon number
P 43 93
Q 43 94
R 44 94

Which nuclei are isotopes of the same element?

A Pand Q only B Pand R only
C Qand R only D P, Q and R [Nov-2003]

19-Two types of emission from a radioactive source are separated by passing them through a

magnetic field.
The deflections are shown in the diagram. What are the emissions P and Q?
emission P emission Q
A alpha-particles gamma-rays
B beta-particles gamma-rays
C gamma-rays alpha-particles
D gamma-rays beta-particles
[May-2004]

20- A narrow beam of alpha-particles is fired at a thin piece of gold foil.Which is the final direction of the
largest number of alpha-particles? A
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TOPIC-23 Radioactivity

21- Ra decays with a half-life of 1600 s.

Rn decays with a half-life of 52 s.
Po decays with a half-life of 9.1 s.
Pb decays with a half-life of 10.6 h.
The changing count rate for one of these radioactive nuclides is shown in the graph.

From the half-life shown by the graph, which was the decaying radioactive nuclide?
A Ra B Rn C Po D Pb [May-2004]

22- Deuterium 21𝐻 and tritium 31𝐻 are two isotopes of hydrogen.
Compared to a deuterium atom, how many protons and neutrons does a tritium atom have?

protons neutrons
A more more
B more same
C same more
D same same
[Nov-2004]
23- Between 1909 and 1911, Geiger and Marsden carried out experiments in which alpha particles
were fired at metal foil. Most of the alpha particles passed through the foil with small deflections,
but some were deflected through a large angle.
These results suggest that
A atoms contain clouds of electrons through which some alpha particles cannot pass.
B atoms contain neutrons that alpha particles bounce off.
C atoms have positive and negative charges spread throughout their volume.
D atoms have positive charges concentrated in a small volume. [May-2005]

24- The diagram shows the apparatus used in an experiment in which barriers of various materials
are placed in turn between different radioactive sources and a detector.

The table shows the count rates recorded by the detector for four sources.
Which source emits alpha-particles only?

[Nov-2005]

source count rate / counts per minute

no barrier paper thin aluminium thick lead
A 200 200 200 30
B 200 30 30 30
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TOPIC-23 Radioactivity

C 1200 600 200 30

D 1200 1200 30 30

25- A nucleus is represented by 230

91𝑍 . It emits one alpha-particle and then one beta-particle.
What is the resulting nucleus X?
A 226
88𝑋 B 226
89𝑋 C 226
90𝑋 D 230
89𝑋 [Nov-2005]

26- A nuclide of the element plutonium is 242

94𝑃𝑢 .What is the number of neutrons in its nucleus?
A 94 B 148 C 242 D 336
[Nov-2005]

27- Which statement defines isotopes?

A two (or more) nuclides which have the same number of protons but different numbers of electrons
B two (or more) nuclides which have the same number of neutrons but different numbers of electrons
C two (or more) nuclides which have the same number of neutrons but different numbers of protons
D two (or more) nuclides which have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons
[Nov-2005]
28- Which statement about fission or fusion is correct?
A During fission, hydrogen converts into helium and releases energy.
B During fission, uranium converts into daughter products and releases energy.
C During fusion, helium converts into hydrogen and releases energy.
D During fusion, uranium converts into daughter products and releases energy. [May-2006]

29- A student investigates the emission from an unknown radioactive source. The source is 10 cm in
front of a detector. A strong magnetic field between the source and the detector is then switched

on.

The results are shown.

average count per minute
without magnetic field 4500
with magnetic field 2000
background radiation 50
Which radioactive source produced these results?
source emissions from source
A alpha-particles and gamma-rays only
B beta-particles only
C beta-particles and gamma-rays only
D gamma-rays only

[May-2006]
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-23 Radioactivity

30- How much energy would be released if 1 × 10–20 kg of matter was entirely converted to energy?
(The speed of light is 3 × 108m / s.)

A 3 × 10–12J B 9 × 10–7J C 4.5 × 10–4J D 9 × 10–4J [Nov-2006]

31- A nucleus of sodium, Na, has 11 protons and 12 neutrons.

Which symbol represents this nucleus?
A 12
11𝑁𝑎 B 11
12𝑁𝑎 C 23
11𝑁𝑎 D 23
12𝑁𝑎 [Nov-2006]

32- Which is the correct comparison of the penetrating power and ionising power of alpha-particles
and gamma radiation?

greater penetrating power greater ionising power

A alpha alpha
B alpha gamma
C gamma alpha
D gamma gamma

[Nov-2006]

33- The uranium nucleus 238

92𝑈 emits an alpha-particle to become thorium, which then emits a betaparticle
to become protactinium.

What is the proton number (atomic number) of protactinium?

A 95 B 91 C 90 D 89 [Nov-2006]

34-Which statement is true for all three types of radioactive emission (alpha-particles, beta-particles
and gamma-rays)?
A They are completely absorbed by a thin aluminium sheet.
B They are deflected by electric fields.
C They emit light.
D They ionise gases. [May-2007]

35-The diagram shows one type of radiation passing between the

poles of a strong magnet and being detected.

Which type of radiation is being detected?

A alpha-particles only
B beta-particles only
C gamma-rays only
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TOPIC-23 Radioactivity

D alpha-particles and beta-particles [May-2007] / [May-2009]

36- A nuclide has the notation 48

23𝑋 .Which line in the table describes a different isotope of this nuclide?
proton number nucleon number
(atomic (mass number)
number)
A 23 50
B 24 48
C 48 24
D 50 23
[May-2007]

37- The count-rate from a radioactive source falls from 400 to 50 in 3.0 minutes. What is the half-life?
A 0.75 minutes B 1.0 minutes C 2.7 minutes D 8.0 minutes [May-2009]

38-What are the numbers of neutrons, protons and electrons in a neutral atom of 235
92U ?
number of number of number of
neutrons protons electrons
A 92 143 143
B 92 235 235
C 143 92 92
D 235 92 92
[May-2009]

39- Which process in the Sun produces energy?

A burning B nuclear fission C nuclear fusion D radiation [May-2009]

40- Which travels in a straight line across a magnetic field?

A alpha-particle B electron C gamma-ray D proton [May-2008]

41- In the treatment of brain cancer, a patient’s head is enclosed in a helmet containing a number of
radioactive sources. The radiation from each source is directed towards the cancer. Which nuclide is the
most suitable for these sources?
nuclide radiation half-life
A caesium-137 gamma 30 years
B sodium-24 beta 15 hours
C strontium-90 beta 29 years
D californium-246 alpha 36 hours
[May-2008]

42-A nucleus of the element cobalt may be represented by the symbol 59

27Co. What is the structure of this
nucleus?
number of protons number of neutrons
A 27 32
B 27 59
C 59 27
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TOPIC-23 Radioactivity

D 59 32
[May-2008]

43- The activity of a radioactive source is measured over a period of time. The graph shows the
decay curve.

Why is the curve not smooth?

A Background radiation has not been subtracted. B Radioactive decay is a random process.
C The half-life is not constant. D The temperature is changing.
[Nov-2009]

44- A radioactive isotope has a half-life of 6000 years. How much time passes before the rate of emission
1
from a sample of this isotope falls to 16
of its
original value?
A 6000 years B 18 000 years C 24 000 years D 96 000 years
[Nov-2009]

45- A nuclide of strontium is represented by the symbol 88

. What does the nucleus contain?
38𝑆𝑟
A 38 electrons and 50 neutrons B 38 neutrons and 38 protons
C 38 neutrons and 50 protons D 38 protons and 50 neutrons [Nov-2009]

46- In one radioactive decay, radium (Ra) gives rise to radon (Rn) as shown. 226
88𝑅𝑎 → 222
86𝑅𝑛

What particle is also produced?

A an alpha-particle B a beta-particle C
both an alpha-particle and a beta-particle D no particle but only gamma-rays

[May-2010]

47-Which row is correct for fission and for fusion?

fission of a nucleus fusion

A produces larger nuclei is the energy source of a star
B produces larger nuclei is used to release energy in a power station
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-23 Radioactivity

C produces smaller nuclei is the energy source of a star

D produces smaller nuclei is used to release energy in a power station
[May-2010]

48- When a sample of a radioactive nuclide decays, the count rate falls from 1200 to 150 in three minutes.
What is the half-life of the radioactive nuclide?

A 0.75 minutes B 1.0 minutes C 3.0 minutes D 9.0 minutes [May-2010]

49- Proton number is another name for atomic number. Nucleon number is another name for mass number.
What are isotopes?

B A nuclei with different proton numbers and different nucleon numbers

C nuclei with different proton numbers and the same nucleon number
D nuclei with the same proton number and different nucleon numbers
nuclei with the same proton number and the same nucleon number [May-2010]

50- A student investigates a radioactive source that emits only alpha-particles. Without any source nearby,
the detector shows a low reading. The source and thick cardboard are placed near the detector, as shown.

What is the reading on the detector now, and why?

detector reading reason

A low background radiation is detected
B low some alpha-particles pass through cardboard
C zero alpha-particles are all absorbed by the cardboard
D zero background radiation is all absorbed by the cardboard
[Nov-2010]

51- 15
7𝑁 is a nuclide of nitrogen. How many electrons are there in a neutral atom of 15
7𝑁 ?

A7 B8 C 15 D 22 [Nov-2010]
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-23 Radioactivity

52-The table shows details of two samples of radioactive nuclides X and Y.

nuclide number of radioactive atoms at time = 0 half-life

X 16 000 1 day
Y 2 000 2 days
After how many days will the number of atoms of nuclide X be equal to the number of atoms of nuclide Y?

A 2 days B 4 days C 6 days D 8 days [Nov-2010]

PAPER-2 Theory

1-(a) Explain how it is possible for an element to have different isotopes.

.........................................................................................................................................
(b) State what is meant by the half-life of a radioactive isotope.
.........................................................................................................................................
(c) Fig. 8.1 shows how the number of atoms of a radioactive isotope changes with time.
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-23 Radioactivity

Determine the half-life of the radioactive isotope. On Fig. 8.1, show how you obtained your result.

half-life = ..................................

[May-2007]

2- Details of two radioactive sources used by a school are shown in Fig. 8.1.
source radioactive source type of radiation emitted half-life of source
A Co-60 gamma ray 5 years
B Sr-90 beta particle 28 years
Fig. 8.1

(a) On Fig. 8.2, the number of Co-60 atoms in source A and the number of Sr-90 atoms in
source B at time t = 0 has been plotted as ×.

(i) Plot accurately the number of Co-60 atoms in source A at t = 5, 10, 15 and 20 years. Draw the best
line through your points.
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-23 Radioactivity

(ii) Sketch how the number of Sr-90 atoms in source B changes from t = 0 to 20 years.
(b) A detector is placed near source A. It records 4000 counts in one minute from the
source when t = 0.
A piece of lead, which absorbs 99% of gamma rays, is immediately placed between the source and the
detector. Determine
(i) the counts in one minute that the detector now records from the source,

counts in one minute = ......................................

(ii) the time t when the detector would measure 10 counts in one minute from the source.

time = .................

3- The pie chart in Fig. 8.1 shows the relative contributions made by different sources to
background radiation.

(a) Which source makes the greatest contribution to the background

radiation?
..........................................................................................................................
...........
(b) State one effect of background radiation.
..........................................................................................................................
...............
..........................................................................................................................
...............
(c) Where do cosmic rays come from?
.........................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(d) The nucleon number (mass number) of 220 86𝑅𝑛 is 220.Define nucleon number.
.........................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(e) 220 86𝑅𝑛 decays by the emission of an alpha-particle.
State the proton number (atomic number) and the nucleon number (mass number) of the nucleus left after
an alpha-particle is emitted from this nucleus.
proton number ……………………..
nucleon number ….………………….

[May-2004]

4- A doctor uses a radioactive isotope, iodine-131, to find the volume of blood in a patient’s body.
Information about iodine-131 is given in Fig. 10.1.
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-23 Radioactivity

(a) (i) Describe the structure of an atom of iodine-131.

(ii) The radioactive decay equation below shows an iodine-131 nucleus decaying into a
xenon nucleus (Xe). Copy the equation and insert the proton number and the nucleon
number of the xenon nucleus.

131
53𝐼 ---- Xe + β

(b) Describe the differences between beta-particles and gamma-rays.

(c) The doctor uses a sample of iodine-131 that initially produces a count rate of 144 000 per
second.
The whole sample is injected into the patient’s arm. Nine small samples of blood, each of
volume 2.0 cm3, are taken from the other arm at 2 minute intervals.
Fig. 10.2 shows the count rates from the nine samples.

(i) State two reasons why different count rates are obtained from the nine samples.
(ii) Calculate the average value of the count rates from the last four samples.
This is the average count rate from a volume of 2.0 cm3 of blood.
(iii) Using your answer to (ii), determine the volume of blood in the patient’s body, which
has a total count rate of 144 000 per second.
(iv) Sample number 9 is kept.
The count rate is measured again after 16 days.
Estimate the value obtained, given that the half-life of iodine-131 is 8.0 days.

(d) Describe one precaution that the doctor must take when handling this radioactive source.

[Nov-2004]

5- (a) Some atoms that undergo radioactive decay have a half-life of 6 hours. The count rate near a
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-23 Radioactivity

sample of these atoms is initially 838 counts/minute. Background radiation near the sample is 18
counts/minute.
(i) Describe the structure of an atom. It may help to draw a diagram.
(ii) Explain what is meant by radioactive decay. State clearly which part of the atom decays.
(iii) State what is meant by background radiation.
(iv) The equipment is left undisturbed for 12 hours. Calculate the count rate due to the sample of atoms
alone after this time.
(b) The table shows a radioactive series. Atom A emits a beta-particle and becomes atom B.Atom B then
emits a particle to become atom C.

atom proton number nucleon number radiation emitted

(atomic number) (mass number)
A 83 214 beta-particle
B X 214 Y
C 82 210 none

(i) Calculate the proton number X of atom B and explain how you calculated it.
(ii) State the name of radiation Y and describe the changes that occur in the atom when this radiation is
emitted.
(iii) Using information from the table, explain why atoms A and C are not isotopes of the same element.

[May-2005]
6- Fig. 8.1 is a half-scale diagram of a radioactive source stored in a safe way.

(a) The source emits alpha-particles, beta-particles and gamma-rays.

A teacher handles the box. Explain how the teacher is completely protected from the alpha- and beta-
particles but only partially protected from the gamma-rays.
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
(b) Describe and explain how the teacher should remove the source from the box safely.
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
(c) The source is brought near a radiation detector.
(i) Name a suitable detector.
............................................................................................................................
(ii) Describe how you would use the detector to show that the source emits particles
at random.
.................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................. [Nov-2005]
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
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7- A radioactive source undergoes radioactive decay.

(a) Explain what is meant by radioactive decay.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................
(b) Gamma-rays from a radioactive source are used to treat some foods.The gamma-rays kill bacteria in the
food so that it stays fresh.Some people are worried that food treated in this way becomes radioactive. A
scientist tests three food samples. She measures the count-rate of the food before and after treatment with
gamma-rays. The results are shown in the table below. The radioactive source is not present during any
test.

food count-rate before treatment / count-rate after treatment /

sample counts per minute counts per minute
A 29 32
B 32 28
C 30 31

(i) Explain why there is a measured count-rate before the food is treated.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................
(ii) Determine and explain whether the treated food becomes radioactive.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................................

[May-2006]
8- Stars that are being formed emit infra-red radiation. Some of this radiation is received by a telescope that

orbits the Earth. Microwave signals from the telescope are sent to the Earth’s surface, as shown in Fig. 11.1.
(a) (i) Microwaves travel at a speed of 300 000 km/s. The telescope is 600 km above the Earth’s surface.
Calculate the time for a microwave signal from the telescope to reach the Earth’s surface.
(ii) Infra-red and microwave radiation are both part of the electromagnetic spectrum.State two other
similarities and give one difference between infra-red and microwave radiation.
(b) As clouds of gas and dust come together to form a star, there is an energy change similar to the energy
change as a ball falls to the ground.
The temperature in the clouds of dust and gas becomes so high that nuclear fusion occurs.
In one such reaction, two isotopes of hydrogen, 21𝐻 and 31𝐻 , fuse together.
(i) Explain why the gas and dust come together.
(ii) State the energy change that causes the rise in temperature as the gas and dust come together.
(iii) Explain why high temperatures are needed for nuclear fusion to occur.
(iv) Describe the structure of a nucleus of 31𝐻 .
(v) State which element is created by the fusion of two hydrogen nuclei.
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TOPIC-23 Radioactivity

(vi) State one effect of nuclear fusion on a star.

[Nov-2006]

PAPER-4 Alternative to Practical