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CIE 5.2 Radioactivity

Total questions: 30

Worksheet time: 15mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is the mass number of this isotope?

a)

131

b)

53

c)

184

d)

78

2.

An alpha particle is made up of

a)

2 protons and 4 neutrons

b)

1 proton and 1 neutron

c)

2 protons and 2 neutrons

d)

4 protons and 2 neutrons

3.

Which type of nuclear radiation can be stopped by a sheet of paper?

a)

Alpha

b)

Beta

c)

Gamma

4.

Which type of nuclear radiation can be stopped 60 cm of aluminum or 7 cm of lead?

a)

Alpha

b)

Beta

c)

Gamma

5.

When a substance undergoes beta decay

a)

The atomic number increases by 1

b)

The atomic number decreases by 2

c)

The atomic number does not change

6.

Which of these is the most suitable description of background radiation

a)

a measure of the level of ionizing radiation present in the environment at a particular location

b)

a measure of how much radiation you absorb

c)

a measure of radiation that comes from space only

d)

a measure of radiation that comes from the buildings

7.

Which gas is the most common source of background radiation

a)

Radium

b)

Radio

c)

Radon

d)

Rubidium

8.

A student measures the background count three times and gets these readings 20, 23 and 26 counts per second. Which of these is the correct average count?

a)

3

b)

22

c)

23

d)

51

9.

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

10.

Radioisotopes do NOT occur naturally.

a)

True

b)

False

11.

Which of these is the most suitable description of background radiation?

a)

A measure of the level of ionising radiation present in the environment at a particular location

b)

A measure of how much radiation you absorb

c)

A measure of radiation that comes from space only

d)

A measure of radiation that comes from the buildings

12.

What is the most common source of background radiation?

a)

Radium

b)

Nuclear waste

c)

Radon

d)

Cosmic rays

13.

Which of these best describes why radon is a dangerous radioactive gas?

a)

It emits alpha and it can be breathed in and out

b)

It emits alpha and it can be breathed in and can ionise cells

c)

It emits beta and it can be breathed in and can ionise cells

d)

It can be breathed in and it can go the the brain

14.

All background radiation comes from natural sources.

a)

True

b)

False

15.

Why is the background radiation from cosmic rays relatively low for most people?

a)

Our clothes protect us.

b)

The atmosphere absorbs a lot of cosmic rays.

c)

We are too far from the Sun.

d)

Satellites reflect them back into space.

16.

This type of electromagnetic wave has the most energy and therefore can be very dangerous.

a)

Microwaves

b)

Radio Waves

c)

X Rays

d)

Gamma Rays

17.
In order of most to least penetrating radiation we have
a)
Alpha , Beta,  Gamma
b)
Beta , Gamma , Alpha
c)
Gamma, Beta, Alpha
d)
Gamma, Alpha, Beta
18.
Which type of radiation is the most ionising?
a)
alpha
b)
beta
c)
gamma
19.
Which type of radiation is the least ionising?
a)
alpha
b)
beta
c)
gamma
20.
What type of radiation can be stopped by a piece of paper?
a)
Alpha radiation
b)
Beta radiation
c)
Gamma radiation
21.
What type of radiation can be stopped by a thick lead sheet?
a)
Alpha radiation
b)
Beta radiation
c)
gamma radiation
22.
_______________ is the process by which unstable atoms emit radiation until they become stable.
a)
Radiation
b)
Chemical Reaction
c)
Radioactive Decay
d)
Isotopes
23.
Name the instrument used to detect radioactivity.
a)
voltmeter
b)
ohmeter
c)
seismograph
d)
geiger counter
24.

This is the name for the type of radiation that naturally occurs in the environment and is generally safe.

a)

background radiation

b)

environmental radiation

c)

ionizing radiation

d)

acceptable radiation

25.

Ionizing radiation has the ability to cause biological damage to our tissues. True or False

a)

True

b)

False

26.

The diagram shows the paths of three different types of radiation, X, Y and Z.

Which row in the table correctly identifies X, Y and Z?

a)

Y is α-particles,Z is β-particles,X is γ-rays

b)

Z is α-particles,Y is β-particles,X is γ-rays

c)

Y is α-particles,X is β-particles,Z is γ-rays

d)

X is α-particles,Z is β-particles,Y is γ-rays

27.
What type of radiation can be stopped by a approximately 5 cm of air?
a)
Alpha radiation
b)
Beta radiation
c)
gamma radiation
28.
What type of radiation can be stopped by a approximately 1 m of air?
a)
Alpha radiation
b)
Beta radiation
c)
gamma radiation
29.
What type of radiation can be stopped by a 5 mm piece of aluminium?
a)
Alpha radiation
b)
Beta radiation
c)
gamma radiation
30.
When does radioactive decay occur?
a)
When the nucleus of an isotope is unstable
b)
When the nucleus of an isotope is stable
c)
When the electrons of an isotope are spinning
d)
When the electrons of an isotope are shared with another isotope