AQA A-Level Physics Nuclear Revision

Which graph shows how intensity I varies with angle θ when electrons are diffracted by a nucleus?

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The radius of a uranium-238 nucleus is 7.75 × 10^–15 m. What is the radius of a carbon-12 nucleus?

• 1.10 × 10^–18 m

• 3.91 × 10^–16 m

• 2.86 × 10^–15 m

• 3.12 × 10^–15 m

During a single fission event of uranium-235 in a nuclear reactor the total mass lost is 0.23 u. The reactor is 25% efficient.

How many events per second are required to generate 900 MW of power?

• 1.1 × 10¹⁴

• 6.6 × 10¹⁸

• 1.1 × 10²⁰

• 4.4 × 10²⁰

Which of the following substances can be used as a moderator in a nuclear reactor?

• Boron

• Concrete

• Uranium-238

• Water

Nobelium-259 has a half-life of 3500 s. What is the decay constant of nobelium-259?

• 8.7 × 10^–5 s^–1

• 2.0 × 10^–4 s^–1

• 1.7 × 10^–2 s^–1

• 1.2 × 10^–2 s^–1

A pure sample of nuclide X containing N nuclei has an activity A.

The half-life of X is 6000 years.

A pure sample of nuclide Y containing 3N nuclei has an activity 6A.

What is the half-life of nuclide Y?

• 1000 years

• 3000 years

• 12 000 years

• 18 000 years

β particles are emitted from a radioactive source in a school laboratory. What is correct for these particles?

• A strong magnetic field will not deflect them.

• They are absorbed by aluminium.

• They do not damage human tissue.

• Their range in air is shorter than that of α particles.

A radioactive source contains a nuclide which has a half-life of 12 hours. A detector placed near the source records an average count rate of 180 counts per minute. The average background count rate is 20 counts per minute.

What will be the average count rate after 24 hours?

• 40 counts per minute

• 45 counts per minute

• 50 counts per minute

• 60 counts per minute

Which graph best shows how the radius R of an atomic nucleus varies with the nucleon number A?

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The diagram shows the path of an α particle deflected by the nucleus of an atom. Point P on the path is the point of closest approach of the α particle to the nucleus.

Which of the following statements about the α particle on this path is correct?

• Its acceleration is zero at P.

• Its kinetic energy is greatest at P.

• Its potential energy is least at P.

• Its speed is least at P.