International GCSE PHYSICS (0625)

Assignment 06

Section A: Multiple choice

Question 1
Answer the multiple choice questions below by filling in the table at the end of the question.

1.1 How many neutrons are in one neutral atom of the krypton isotope 84
36Kr?

A 36 B 48 C 84 D 120

14 14
1.2 6C represents a nuclide of the element carbon and 7N represents a nuclide of the element
nitrogen.
14 14
How is a neutral atom of 7N different to a neutral atom of 6C?

A The nitrogen atom has one electron fewer than the carbon atom.
B The nitrogen atom has one neutron more than the carbon atom.
C The nitrogen atom has one proton fewer than the carbon atom.
D The nitrogen atom has one proton more than the carbon atom.

1.3 Radioactive isotopes emit three types of radiation. Which list gives the types of radiation in
order of their ionising effect from greatest to least?

A Alpha-particles, beta-particles, gamma rays.

B Alpha-particles, gamma rays, beta-particles.
C Beta-particles, gamma rays, alpha-particles.
D gamma rays, beta-particles, alpha-particles.

1.4 Which statement about the half-life of a radioactive isotope is correct?

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A Half-life is half the time it takes for the mass of the isotope to decrease to zero.
B Half-life is half the time it takes for the number of nuclei of the isotope to decrease to zero.
C Half-life is the time taken for the nucleon number of the isotope to halve.
D Half-life is the time taken for the number of nuclei of the isotope to halve.

1.5 The diagram shows emissions from a source passing into the electric field between two charged
plates.

What is emitted by this source?

A neutrons and γ-rays only.

B α-particles and β-particles only.
C α-particles and γ-rays only.
D β-particles and γ-rays only.

1.6 Which row in the table describes the process of nuclear fusion and identifies the change in total
mass of the particles involved?

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1.7 The diagram shows a stream of β-particles travelling in a line that passes between the poles of
a magnet.

In which direction will the -particles be deflected by the magnet?

A Towards the N pole.

B Towards the S pole.
C Into the page.
D Out of the page.

1.8 Light from the Sun travels to the Earth at a speed of 3.0 × 108 m / s.
The time for the complete journey is 500 s.
What is the average orbital speed of the Earth in its orbit around the Sun?

A 60 m/s
B 4.8 × 103 m/s
C 3.0 × 104 m/s
D 1.8 × 106 m/s

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1.9 In the Sun, energy is transferred from an energy store.

Which energy is being released and what is the name of the reaction that releases this energy
inside the Sun?

1.10 The light emitted from a galaxy is redshifted when detected on Earth.
How does the frequency of the light when detected on Earth compare with its frequency
when emitted, and in what direction is the galaxy moving?

1.11 The orbit of

the Moon around the Earth is modelled as a circular path of radius 3.8× 05 km. The orbital
period is 29.5 days (710 hours).
What is the orbital speed of the Moon?

A 5.4 × 102 km/h

B 1.1 × 103 km/h
C 1.7 × 103 km/h
D 3.4 × 103 km/h

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1.12 Which statement does not describe redshift?

A All the light emitted from all distant galaxies is at the red end of the spectrum.
B The light arriving at the Earth from a receding star is always redshifted.
C During redshift, the wavelength of the observed light is longer than it is if the redshift had not
occurred.
D The light from stars in all distant galaxies is moved towards the red end of the spectrum.

1.13 Which radioactive source is used in a smoke alarm system and what is the reason for this?

1.14 A beam of α-particles and β-particles is incident at right angles to an electric field. Which
statement about the deflection of the particles in the field is correct?

A α-particles deflect, but β-particles do not deflect.

B α-particles deflect in the opposite direction to β-particles.
C β-particles deflect, but α-particles do not deflect.
D Both α-particles and β-particles deflect in the same direction.

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ANSWER SHEET

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Section B: Long Questions

Question 2
Only one isotope of gold occurs naturally on Earth.

(a) State what this indicates about the nuclear structure of all the naturally occurring atoms of gold
on Earth.
...............................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) There are several artificially produced isotopes of gold.

Gold-198 (198
79Au) is an artificial isotope which is used in medicine and in scientific research.

Gold-198 decays by β(beta)-emission to a stable isotope of mercury.

(i) Determine the number of protons and the number of neutrons in a nucleus of this isotope of
mercury.

number of protons = ...............................................................

number of neutrons = ...............................................................
[2]

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(ii) A sample of gold-198 is placed near to a radiation detector in a research laboratory. The count
rate is recorded at the same time every day for 32 days.
The results are used to plot the graph shown in Fig. 9.1.

Using Fig. 9.1, determine the background count rate in the research laboratory.

count rate = ......................................................... [1]

(iii) Using Fig. 9.1, determine the half-life of gold-198.

half-life = ......................................................... [4]

[Total: 8]

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Question 3
(a)
(i) An americium (Am) nucleus decays by the emission of an α-particle into a neptunium (Np)
nucleus.
Complete the nuclear equation for this decay.

241
95Am →
[2]
(ii) Americium is used in smoke detectors.
Explain why beta (β) emitters or gamma (γ) emitters are not used in smoke detectors.
............................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) The half-life of this americium nuclide is 470 years. A sample of this nuclide contains
8.0 ×1014 atoms. After some time, 6.0 ×1014 americium atoms have decayed.
Calculate the time required for this decay.

time = ........................................................... [3]

[Total: 6]

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Question 4
(a) The magnitude of the charge on a β(beta)-particle is 1.6 ×10–19 C.
(i) State the proton number and nucleon number of an α(alpha)-particle.

proton number ...................................................................................................................

nucleon number ................................................................................................................
[2]
(ii) Determine the magnitude of the charge of anα(alpha)-particle.

charge ...............................................................................................................................
[1]
(b) A nucleus of radium-230 consists of 88 protons and 142 neutrons. Radium-230 is radioactive
and decays by β(beta)-emission to an isotope of actinium.
The symbol for radium is Ra and the symbol for actinium is Ac.
Write down the nuclide equation for this decay.

[3]
(c) The half-life of radium-230 is 93 min. A sample contains 9.6 × 10–12 g of radium-230.
Calculate the mass of radium in the sample after 279 min.

mass = ......................................................... [2]

[Total: 8]

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Question 5

The Sun is a star in a stable part of its life cycle.

(a) Using ideas about forces, explain how the Sun remains stable in this part of its life cycle.
...............................................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................. [2]

(b) Describe what happens to stars of similar mass to the Sun at the end of the stable part of their
life cycle.
...............................................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................................
........................................ [3]

(c) The orbital speed of Earth around the Sun is 30 km/s. Use this value to calculate the distance of
Earth from the Sun.
Show your working. State the unit of your answer.

distance = ...................................... unit = .......... [3]

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(d) The light emitted by distant galaxies show various amounts of redshift.
(i) State the name of the galaxy that contains our Sun.
....................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) State what is meant by redshift and describe how it is caused.

............................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................... [2]

(iii) An astronomer compares the spectrum of light emitted by the Sun with the spectrum of light
emitted by distant galaxies P and Q.
Fig. 10.1 shows the same four lines as observed in all three spectrums.

State what Fig. 10.1 enables the astronomer to deduce about galaxy P and galaxy Q.
Explain the astronomer’s reasons in your answer.
............................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................... [2]
[Total: 13]

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Question 6
(a) Describe and explain how a stable star is formed.
...............................................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................................
.................... [3]

(b) Describe and explain what can be deduced from cosmic microwave background radiation
(CMBR).
...............................................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................................
.................... [3]
[Total: 6]

[Total: 55]

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