Free Printable IGCSE PHYSICS

1.

The unit of activity is...

a)

Becquerel

b)

Seconds

c)

Metres

d)

Sievert

2.

The atomic number indicates how many...are found in the nucleus of an atom.

a)

Neutrons

b)

Protons

c)

Electrons

d)

Quarks

3.

The most penetrating form of nuclear radiation is...

a)

alpha

b)

beta

c)

gamma

d)

heat

4.

Which best describes the structure of a beta particle?

a)

helium nucleus

b)

slow moving proton

c)

fast moving electron

d)

high frequency light wave

5.

What is the half-life of this radioactive substance?

a)

5700 years

b)

11400 years

c)

17100 years

d)

22800 years

6.

The overall charge on an alpha particle is...

a)

-1

b)

0

c)

+1

d)

+2

7.

The overall charge on a gamma ray is...

a)

-1

b)

0

c)

+1

d)

+2

8.

The most ionising form of nuclear radiation is...

a)

alpha

b)

beta

c)

gamma

d)

infrared

9.

Carbon-12 has an atomic number of 6 and a mass number of 12. How many electrons would be found in a neutral atom of carbon-12?

a)

6

b)

12

c)

18

d)

24

10.

A radioactive source has an initial activity of 200kBq and a half-life of 15 days. How many days would it take for the activity to fall to 25kBq?

a)

15

b)

30

c)

45

d)

60

11.

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

12.

A radioactive source emits radiation that can pass through a sheet of paper but not through thick aluminium. What does this show about the radiation?

a)

It is alpha-particles.

b)

It is beta-particles.

c)

It is gamma-rays.

d)

It is a mixture of alpha-particles and gamma-rays

13.

Which line in the table describes the nature of an alpha-particle and a gamma-ray?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

14.

How many nucleons are in a nucleus of ?

a)

19

b)

20

c)

39

d)

58

15.

The equation shows the decay of the nuclide X:

What are the values of P and Q ?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

16.

A Geiger counter detects radiation from radioactive sources.

A radioactive source is inside a thick aluminium container as shown:

Which type of radiation from this source is being detected?

a)

α-particles

b)

β-particles

c)

γ-rays

d)

radio waves

17.

A radioactive isotope has a half-life of 2 minutes. What can be deduced from this statement?

a)

After 2 minutes, half of the isotope remains.

b)

After 1 minute, half of the isotope remains.

c)

After 4 minutes, half of the isotope remains.

d)

After 4 minutes, none of the isotope remains.

18.

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.

a)

3 minutes

b)

5 minutes

c)

6 minutes

d)

10 minutes

19.

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)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

20.

Two isotopes of the same element have

a)

the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons

b)

the same number of protons but different numbers of electrons

c)

the same number of neutrons but different numbers of protons

d)

the same number of electrons but different numbers of protons

21.

When Uranium decays it emits an alpha particle, forming an isotope of Thorium. Which of the above decay equations is correct?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

22.

What form of radiation should a medical tracer emit?

a)

alpha

b)

beta

c)

gamma

d)

any of these

IGCSE PHYSICS | Radioactivity

Total questions: 22

Worksheet time: 13mins

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