CHAPTER 10: RADIOACTIVITY

1. Question 1: Trengganu 07

A radioactive source emits two rays P and Q is placed in front of an electric field and
the radioactive path is shown in Diagram 1.

DIAGRAM 1
a.

Name the material of container X.

.......................................................
[ 1 mark ]
(b)(i) Complete this sentence by underlining one correct phrase in the box.
Ray P is
an alpha particle
a beta particle
a gamma ray

[1 mark ]
(ii) Give the reason for your answer
in (a)(i).
..........................................................
[1 mark ]
(c) Why the size of deflection of ray P is greater than ray Q?
.............................................................
[1 mark ]
2. Question 4: Trengganu 08
A Polonium nucleus emits alpha particles and gamma ray to become a Plumbum nucleus.
a.
Complete the decay equation for Polonium nucleus by writing the appropriate
number in the boxes provided.

[1 mark]
b.
The Polonium nucleus is placed in front of electric field as shown in
Diagram 4.1.

i.
ii.

Draw path of ray for alpha particle and gamma ray in Diagram 4.1.
[2 marks]
Explain why the rays follow the path as you drawn in Diagram 4.1

Alpha: .....................................................
Gamma: ..................................................
[2 marks]
c. A sample of polonium of mass 120 g has a half-life of 45 s. Determine the
mass of polonium
that has decayed after 180 second.

[2 marks]
3. Question 3: MRSM 08
Radioisotope uranium-238 decays to become thorium-224 as shown in the equation
below.

(a)(i) What is meant by radioisotope?

..........................................................
[1 mark]
(a)(ii) What is radiation P?
..........................................................
[1 mark]
If the mass defect in the above radioactive decay is 3.35 x 10 -27 kg,
calculate the energy released in joule.
(Speed of light, c = 3.0 x 108 m/s)
b.

[2 marks]

c.
A radioactive source which emits radiation P is placed near an
electric field as shown in Diagram 3.

i.

On Diagram 3, draw the path of radiation P in the electric field.

[1 mark]

ii. Explain your answer in (c)(i).

..........................................................
[1 mark]

4. Question 4: Melaka 07
a. P, Q and R are three descriptions of the main types of nuclear radiation.

P: A fast moving electron

Q: Short wave length
electromagnetic radiation
R: A particle consisting of two
protons and two neutrons.
Which lettered statement is the description of:
i.
An alpha particle: .......
ii.
A beta particle: .........
iii.
Gamma radiation: ......
[3 marks]
b. Diagram 4 shows a radioactive detector to detect radioactive emissions.

Radon-220 is placed as radioactive source in this detector and it decays by emitting

alpha particles and it has a half-life of 52 s.
i.
State the name of the radioactive detector shown in Diagram 4.
...................................................
ii.

[1 mark]
On Diagram 4, sketch the misty track formed by these alpha

particles.
[1 mark]
c. The activity of a sample of Radon-220 is measured to be 520 counts/s.
Calculate the activity of the Radon-220 after 156 s.
[2 marks]

5. Question 2: Kelantan 07
Diagram 3.1 shows the rate of decay of radioactive substance, Iodine-131.

a).

What is meant by half life?

[1mark]

b) Based on Diagram 3.1, what is the

half life of Iodine?


[1mark]
c) What happen to the activity of
Iodine-131 after 24 days?

[1mark]
d) When Iodine-131 decays, it produces a beta particle and Xenon-131(Xe).
(i)
What is beta particle?

[1mark]
(ii) Complete the following
equation for the decay of Iodine-131.

[1 mark]

6. Question 4: Melaka 08
Diagram 4.1 shows a Geiger-Muller tube connected to a counter rate meter to detect
radioactive rays from a radioisotope P.

(i) Name one radioactive ray which

can be detect by a Geiger-Muller tube?
a.

..........................................................
[1 mark]
(ii) Explain how the radioactive rays is detected by the tube.
..........................................................
..........................................................
[2 marks]

b.
The radioisotope P has been removed but there is still a small reading
on the counter rate
meter. What causes this reading?