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Worksheets

C/SP6a_g

Total questions: 42

Worksheet time: 42mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
A sheet of paper stops almost all
a)
alpha rays
b)
beta rays
c)
X-rays
d)
gamma rays
2.

The diagram represents a lithium atom. Particle X is

a)

an electron

b)

a proton

c)

an isotope

d)

a nucleus

3.
Which of these is an electromagnetic wave?
a)
alpha radiation
b)
a neutron
c)
gamma radiation
d)
a proton
4.

A teacher measures the count rate of a radioactive source over three minutes. Here is a graph of her results. The graph shows that

a)

each minute the count rate decreases by 800

b)

every three minutes the count rate decreases by 1400

c)

the half-life is one and a half minutes

d)

the count rate halves every minute

5.

A teacher measures the count rate of a radioactive source over three minutes. At a time of 5 minutes the count rate will be about

a)

0 becquerels

b)

50 becquerels

c)

100 becquerels

d)

150 becquerels

6.
2 students measured the level of background radiation in their school science laboratory. They made five different measurements at the same place using the same equipment. The reason for the variation in the results is
a)
background radiation is due to random processes
b)
background radiation is gradually decreasing
c)
background radiation varies from place to place
d)
scientists do not fully understand radioactivity
7.

Which row of the table is correct for gamma rays?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

8.

Dave’s teacher measures the count rate of a radioactive source over a period of time. Here is a graph of the results. When the time is 4 hours the count rate will be about

a)

100 counts per minute

b)

50 counts per minute

c)

25 counts per minute

d)

0 counts per minute

9.
The nucleus of an atom can contain
a)
electrons only
b)
neutrons only
c)
protons and neutrons only
d)
protons and electrons only
10.

Which row of the table is correct for a beta particle?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

11.

An isotope has 38 protons and 52 neutrons in the nucleus of one of its atoms.

This is represented by

a)
b)
c)
d)
12.

Mo-99 decays into Tc-99 as shown in the equation. X is

a)

a neutron

b)

an alpha particle

c)

a beta particle

d)

a gamma ray

13.

Yttrium-99 (Y-99) forms this decay series.

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

14.
Which of these is a correct description of half-life? Half-life is
a)
the time it takes half a radioactive atom from the sample to decay
b)
the time it takes half the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay
c)
half the time it takes a radioactive nucleus to decay
d)
half the life-time of a radioactive sample
15.

The graphs show how four radioactive substances decay. Which of these substances has the shortest half-life?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

16.
Iodine-123 has a half-life of 13 hours. A sample contains 20 mg of iodine-123. How much iodine-123 is left in the sample after 26 hours?
a)
10 mg
b)
5 mg
c)
2.5 mg
d)
none
17.
Which of these statements about forces between different types of radiation is correct?
a)
gamma rays attract alpha particles
b)
gamma rays repel beta- particles
c)
alpha particles repel beta- particles
d)
alpha particles attract beta- particles
18.
A teacher demonstrates radioactivity to a class. Which of these safety precautions helps most to protect the students during this demonstration?
a)
tying long hair back
b)
students washing hands afterwards
c)
the teacher controlling the direction of the source
d)
closing the blinds
19.

The radiation from four radioactive sources is aimed at a sheet of cardboard and a 5 cm thick block of aluminium. John’s teacher uses a detector to discover if any radiation has passed through the materials. Which source emits beta-particles only?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

20.
Measurements of the radiation from a radioactive isotope are uncertain because
a)
the energy of the particles emitted changes with time
b)
the half-life of the isotope changes with time
c)
background radiation is random
d)
the energy of the particles must be taken into account
21.
A sample of material contains 60 mg of a radioactive isotope. 6 days later there is only 15 mg of the isotope left. What is the half-life of this isotope?
a)
3 days
b)
4 days
c)
12 days
d)
24 days
22.

Which row of the table is correct?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

23.
Radon gas is one major source of background radiation. The gas occurs in large amounts in several places in the UK because it comes from
a)
plants
b)
animals
c)
rocks
d)
nuclear power stations
24.

The symbol for a radioactive nucleus is shown. If the radioactive nucleus undergoes beta decay the atomic number of the new nucleus will be

a)

x-1

b)

y+1

c)

y-1

d)

x+1

25.

The symbol for a radioactive nucleus is shown. If the radioactive nucleus undergoes alpha decay the nucleon number of the new nucleus will be

a)

x-2

b)

y-2

c)

x-4

d)

y+1

26.
An isotope of an element has the same number of _________, but a different number of _________.
a)
Protons, electrons
b)
Protons, neutrons
c)
Electrons, neutrons
27.
What type of radioactive decay is shown here?
a)
Alpha decay
b)
Beta decay
c)
Gamma decay
28.

Name the instrument used to detect radioactivity.

a)

voltmeter

b)

ohmeter

c)

seismograph & microphone

d)

geiger-muller tube & counter

29.

What makes something radioactive?

a)

elements with an atomic number above 81

b)

an unstable nucleus

c)

contaminated sewage

d)

It decays over time

30.

The nucleus of one of the isotopes of nickel is represented by 60Ni28 . Which line correctly identifies a neutral atom of this isotope?

a)

28 protons, 32 neutrons, 28 electrons

b)

28 protons, 32 neutrons, 32 electrons

c)

28 protons, 60 neutrons, 28 electrons

d)

60 protons, 28 neutrons, 28 electrons

31.

Select the option that correctly identifies the composition of a 235U-92 ion

a)

92 protons, 143 neutrons, 92 electrons

b)

92 protons, 143 neutrons, 92 electrons

c)

92 protons, 235 neutrons, 91 electrons

d)

92 protons, 143 neutrons, 91 electrons

32.

The diagrams show the paths of particles passing near a positive nucleus.

Which diagram shows the path of a neutron?

a)
b)
c)
d)
33.

In the Rutherford scattering experiment most α particles passed through the foil undeflected. What is a correct deduction from this result?

a)

Most of the mass of an atom is within the nucleus.

b)

The diameter of the nucleus is much less than the diameter of the atom.

c)

The nucleus has a positive charge.

d)

The charge of the atom is neutral.

34.

Most of the alpha particles went straight through the gold foil in Rutherford's experiment. This suggested that....

a)

There is no interference between alpha and gold.

b)

Most of the atom is made up of empty space.

c)

The alpha particles were very tiny.

d)

None of the above

35.

Some of the alpha particles fired at the gold foil (in Rutherford's experiment) were deflected at angles. This was due to...

a)

Reflection of the alpha source when it it the fluorescent screen.

b)

The alpha particles hitting the gold nucleus.

c)

Repulsion forces between the positively charged nucleus and the positively charged alpha particles.

d)

A mis-firing of the alpha source

36.

What did Thomson's plum pudding model suggest about the structure of atoms?

a)

That neutrons and electrons were arranged in a sphere.

b)

That an atom was a sphere of positive charge throughout which the electrons were distributed

c)

That an atom was filled with neutrons, protons and a sphere of negative charge.

d)

That neutrons, protons and electrons were distributed throughout a sphere.

37.

Rutherford’s gold foil scattering experiment indicated that

a)

the nucleus of an atom occupies most of an atom’s volume

b)

positive charges are dispersed throughout the atom.

c)

positive charges are concentrated in a very small core at the atom’s centre

d)

protons and neutrons are located in the nucleus.

38.

How does the Bohr model explain the different coloured flames of burning chemicals?

a)

Electrons are in specific energy levels

b)

Protons and neutrons are in a nucleus

c)

Electrons orbit a nucleus

d)

Electrons are in a 'soup' of positive charge

39.

Who proposed the following model for the atom?


"Atoms are solid spheres. Each element is made of a different type of atom."

a)

Bohr

b)

Chadwick

c)

Dalton

d)

Rutherford

40.

After Radon, which of these is the biggest source of background radiation?

a)

Buildings and ground

b)

Nuclear power stations

c)

Water

d)

The sun

41.

The diagram shows four electron energy levels in an atom. When an electron moves from level 3 to level 1 visible light is emitted. Which transition might cause ultraviolet light to be emitted?

a)

from level 2 to level 1

b)

from level 4 to level 1

c)

from level 3 to level 2

d)

from level 4 to level 2

42.

The typical size of an atom is

a)

10–5 m

b)

10–10 m

c)

10–15 m

d)

10–20 m