Physics 5054 · O Level · Radioactivity

Radioactivity — practice question

Alpha particles may be released from the nuclei of radioactive elements. This emission happens at random and is spontaneous.
(a)[1]

Describe what is meant by the term ‘spontaneous’ emission.

(b)[2]

Describe what an alpha particle is composed of.

(c(i))[3]

Describe the arrangement of either a cloud chamber or a spark counter. Your answer must include a labelled drawing of the apparatus.

(c(ii))[1]

Describe how randomness in alpha-particle emission is shown by the apparatus you described in (c)(i).

(c(iii))[2]

A radioactive source gives 120 tracks in one minute in a cloud chamber. 6.0 hours later, the same source gives 15 tracks in one minute. When the source is absent, no tracks are seen. Calculate the half-life of the radioactive isotope in the source.

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