1.

B
[1]

2. A
[1]

3. B
[1]

0 +
53 I → 52 Te + 1 β ;
124 124
4. (a)
0
0v /v;
Do not allow an antineutrino.
0 −
53 I → 54 Te + −1 β + v .
Award [1 max] for 124 124

(b) (i) 4 days; 1

ln 2 ln 2
(ii) λ= = = (0.173 day–1);
T1 4
2

A = A0e–λt = 16 × 107 × e–0.173×21 (Bq);

A = 4.2 × 106 Bq;
Award [2 max] for bald answer in range 4.2–4.5 × 106 Bq,
or linear interpolation between half lives giving 4.4 × 106 Bq.

(iii) graph passing through or near (0,16), (8,8) and (16,4) – see below; 1

IB Questionbank Physics 1
 (iv) graph passing through or near (0,8), (4,4) and (8,2) – see below;
Do not penalize if graph does not pass through (12,1) and (16,0.5). 2

[8]

5. C
[1]

6. (a) (i) the probability of decay per unit time (of a particular
nucleus) / the constant of proportionality between
activity and number of nuclei present; 1

(ii) expected number to decay is (approximately)

2.0 × 1012 × 0.048 = 9.6 × l010; 1
or
number decayed is ∆N = 2.0 × 1012 [l – e–0.048] = 9.4 × 1010;
Accept either numerical answer. The first estimate is approximate;
the discrepancy between the two answers becomes negligible
as the decay constant becomes smaller.

IB Questionbank Physics 2
 (b) (i) (with one isotope present), after each half-life, half the
radioactive nuclei would be decaying;
and this is not the case here; 2

(ii) finding time for number of nuclei to reduce by half by

using the extreme right part of the curve which is
mainly due to the decay of the other isotope;
to get approximately 0.70 s; (accept answers in the
range of 0.65 to 0.75 s) 2
[6]

7. C
[1]

8. (a) (i) proton number: 89;

nucleon number: 222; 2

(b) (i) momentum conserved;

so different speeds as different masses;
opposite directions because momentum zero initially; 3

1 1
(ii) k.e.α ÷ k.e.Rn = mαvα2 ÷ mRnvRn2 / sensible ratio formed;
2 2
= (mαvα)2mRn ÷ (mRnvRn)2mα / cancellation of momentum terms;
222
= mRn ÷ mα = (= 55.5); 3
4
Award [3] for correct answer obtained by alternative correct
working.
91
Watch for ecf from (a) e.g. leads to 56.5 for answer here.
226

(c) (i) removal (addition) of electron from atom/molecule; 1

4.9 × 10 6 × 1.6 × 10 −19

(ii) ;
1.7 × 10 5
4.6 × 10–18 J; 2

IB Questionbank Physics 3
 (d) beta have smaller mass / smaller / have greater speed than alpha;
beta have smaller charge than alpha;
therefore less likely to interact with air molecules; 3
[14]

9. C
[1]

10. (a) X: positron or β+;

A: 189 and Z: 78; (both responses needed) 2

(b) (i) 0.0784 min–1; 1

(ii) recognize to use A = A0e–λt;

A = 48.4 Bq; 2
[5]

11. C
[1]

12. D
[1]

13. C
[1]

14. D
[1]

15. (a) (i) in a discrete energy spectrum, the energy is restricted to

certain values / in a continuous energy spectrum, the
energy can take on any value / OWTTE; 1

IB Questionbank Physics 4
 (ii) total energy of decay is constant;
energy is shared between positron and neutrino; 2

(b) (i) the probability of decay of a nucleus per unit time;

Accept ln 2/T provided T is identified as the half-life. 1

ln 2 ln 2
(ii) λ= = = 0.27 yr–1 or 8.5 × 10–9 s–1; 1
T1 2.6
2

(iii) A = A0e–λt;
= 6.2 × 109 × e–0.27×8.0;
= 7.2 × 108 Bq; 3
[8]

16. B
[1]

17. A
[1]

18. B
[1]

19. (a) probability of decay per unit time; 1

0.69
(b) (i) ; 1
2.4 × 10 4
(≈ 3 × 10–5 yr–1)

IB Questionbank Physics 5
 ln[0.001]
(ii) ;
[3 ×10 −5]
2.3 × 105 yr; 2
Accept use of 10 elapsed half lives (correct approximation)
to give 2.4 × 105 yr.
[4]

20. B
[1]

21. A
[1]

22. C
[1]

23. C
[1]

24. B
[1]

25. C
[1]

26. (a) (i) isotopes of elements are chemically identical but have different atomic
masses / OWTTE / same number of protons in the nucleus but different
number of neutrons / OWTTE; 1

(ii) proton / 11 H / p+; 1

IB Questionbank Physics 6
 (b)


 The data points at 4 × 10 and
10
four data points covering 3 half - lives;
 0.5 × 10 must be shown.
10

correct plotting of data points;

line of best-fit to 1.8 × 104 years; 3

1.9 × 4 ×1010
(c) (i) number of atoms = ≈ 0.8 ×1010 ; 1
9 .6
(ii) from the graph age = 1.3 × 104 years; 1
Allow ECF from (b) and from (c)(i).
[7]

27. C
[1]

28. C
[1]

IB Questionbank Physics 7
29. C
[1]

30. D
[1]

31. C
[1]

32. (a) (i) probability that a nucleus decays in unit time; 1

−3
(ii) 150 = 800e −1.2×10 t ;
1400 s; 2

(b) (i) 580 s; 1

(ii) activity/count rate measured at regular time intervals/for at least

three half-lives;
plot graph activity/count rate versus time;
detail of determination of half-life from graph; 3

(c) beta energy spectrum is continuous and associated gamma spectrum

is discrete;
difference in energies accounted for by existence of another particle; 2
or
if another particle not present;
then momentum not conserved in beta decay;
[9]

IB Questionbank Physics 8