Physics 5054 · O Level
The three types of emission
39 practice questions on The three types of emission, with worked solutions and instant marking.
A radioactive substance undergoes decay in the following way: $^{Y}_{Z}\text{L} \rightarrow {}^{Y}_{Z+1}\text{M} + x$ Which particle is $x$?
May/June 2015
A factory makes plastic sheets without stopping. To check how thick the sheets are, a radioactive isotope and a detector are used. Which source is most suitable to use?
May/June 2015
The nucleus has $94$ protons and $240$ nucleons. It releases an alpha-particle. How many protons and how many neutrons are present in the nucleus that is formed?
May/June 2015
A nucleus of $^{215}_{84}\text{Po}$ undergoes decay by releasing an alpha-particle, and the new nucleus then undergoes decay by releasing a beta-particle. What are the nucleon number and proton number of the final nucleus?
May/June 2015
A radioactive substance undergoes decay by the following process: $^{Y}_{Z}\text{L} \rightarrow \;^{Y}_{Z+1}\text{M} + x$. What particle is $x$?
May/June 2015
Which type of radiation is formed from electrons?
May/June 2016
Which nucleus is formed when americium-241 ($^{241}_{95}\text{Am}$) emits an alpha-particle?
May/June 2016
Which lists the three types of radiation given off by radioactive isotopes, arranged from the greatest ionising effect to the least?
May/June 2016
How does the proton number (atomic number) of a nucleus change when it emits an alpha-particle?
May/June 2017
A doctor may select either of two isotopes, $^{131}_{53}\text{I}$ and $^{125}_{53}\text{I}$, for injection into a patient. These isotopes release radiation from deep within the body. The radiation is picked up outside the body and gives information that helps the doctor determine what is wrong with the patient. The isotope $^{131}_{53}\text{I}$ changes into a stable isotope of xenon by emitting a beta-particle $(\beta)$ and a gamma ray $(\gamma)$.
May/June 2017
Of alpha, beta and gamma radiations, which are waves?
May/June 2018
During a single radioactive decay, radium-226 changes into radon-222, as shown, $^{226}_{88}\text{Ra} \rightarrow ^{222}_{86}\text{Rn}$. Which other particles are emitted?
May/June 2021
What is an alpha-particle made up of?
May/June 2021
An atom’s nucleus emits an alpha-particle. How are the proton number and nucleon number affected?
May/June 2023
The diagram illustrates how paper thickness is checked during manufacture. If the sheet is excessively thick, fewer beta-particles are able to reach the detector. Why are beta-particles chosen for this use?
May/June 2023
A sample of a radioactive isotope that has a very long half-life is positioned beside a detector. Sheets made from different materials are placed, one after another, between the radioactive sample and the detector. The background count rate is subtracted from the detector readings, and the corrected count rates are then entered in the table. Which types of radiation are emitted by the radioactive sample?
May/June 2023
The following four kinds of ionising radiation are given: - alpha particles - beta particles - X-rays - gamma rays Which of these radiations may be released by the unstable nuclei of a radioactive substance?
May/June 2024
A radioactive nucleus $X$ undergoes decay to form another radioactive nucleus. Following several decays, a stable nucleus $Q$ is formed. The proton number (atomic number) of $X$ is the same as that of $Q$. The nucleon number (mass number) of $X$ exceeds that of $Q$ by four. Which radiations are emitted to form $Q$?
May/June 2025
Within an electric field, a beta ($\beta$)-particle moves along the route illustrated. Which route would an alpha ($\alpha$)-particle, moving at the same speed, take?
May/June 2025
What type of electromagnetic radiation is emitted in radioactive decay?
Oct/Nov 2015
Fig. 11.1 gives the proton number and nucleon number for the nuclei of five neutral atoms. Table data: Neutral atom 1: proton number 16, nucleon number 35 Neutral atom 2: proton number 17, nucleon number 35 Neutral atom 3: proton number 18, nucleon number 38 Neutral atom 4: proton number 18, nucleon number 40 Neutral atom 5: proton number 19, nucleon number 39
Oct/Nov 2015
What kinds of radiation can be emitted by radioactive nuclei?
Oct/Nov 2016
A uranium nucleus $^{238}_{92}\text{U}$ undergoes decay to thorium by releasing an alpha-particle. What thorium nucleus is formed as a result?
Oct/Nov 2016
A nucleus of phosphorus $^{32}_{15}\text{P}$ emits a beta-particle and changes into a different nucleus. What are the nucleon number and the proton number of the new nucleus?
Oct/Nov 2017
What types of radiation can be emitted during radioactive decay?
Oct/Nov 2017
A beam made up of alpha-particles $(\alpha)$, beta-particles $(\beta)$, and gamma rays $(\gamma)$ enters a magnetic field. Which diagram represents the paths of these particles in the magnetic field?
Oct/Nov 2017
A phosphorus nucleus $^{{32}}_{{15}}\text{P}$ releases a beta-particle, producing a different nucleus. What are the nucleon number and the proton number of the resulting nucleus?
Oct/Nov 2017
What is alpha-radiation emitted by radioactive nuclei made up of?
Oct/Nov 2018
What is alpha-radiation emitted by radioactive nuclei made up of?
Oct/Nov 2018
A thin beam of radiation from a radioactive source passes out of the page through point $X$. A magnet is positioned with its poles on opposite sides of the beam. Radiation is then observed at both $X$ and $Z$. Which types of radiation are contained in the beam?
Oct/Nov 2019
In medical examinations, radioactive substances are employed as tracers. A liquid tracer is injected into a patient. A detector $20\ \text{cm}$ above the patient indicates where the radioactive substance is located in the body. Which radioactive substance is most suitable to use?
Oct/Nov 2019
A radioactive sample includes an isotope which gives off alpha particles. Which quantity remains unchanged?
Oct/Nov 2021
Unstable nuclei give out three forms of radiation: helium nuclei, short wavelength electromagnetic waves and electrons. What are the names of these three types of radiation?
Oct/Nov 2022
Which statement about all three kinds of radioactive emissions is correct?
Oct/Nov 2022
The three forms of radiation produced by unstable nuclei are helium nuclei, short-wavelength electromagnetic waves and electrons. What are these three forms of radiation?
Oct/Nov 2022
Various types of radioactive emissions possess different properties. A student gives the following properties for an alpha-particle. Which of these properties are correct?
Oct/Nov 2022
During radioactive decay, alpha $(\alpha)$ particles and beta $(\beta)$ particles are released. Which particle has the lower ionising effect, and which one has the lower penetrating power?
Oct/Nov 2023
The isotope iodine-131 gives off two kinds of nuclear radiation. Gamma radiation is one of the emitted forms. A sample of iodine-131 creates a narrow radiation beam that enters a magnetic field.
Oct/Nov 2023
In a radioactivity experiment, the background count is 28 counts per minute. A radioactive source is positioned $2\,\text{cm}$ in front of a detector, and the detector is connected to a counter. Readings on the counter are recorded both with and without sheets of different materials inserted between the source and the detector. Which forms of radiation does the source emit?
Oct/Nov 2024