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Mark:
Physics Mid – Term 3 Exam Grade 10

Name: ________________________________ Date _____/ _____ / 2024

Parent´s signature Teacher’s signature
Date: ____ / ____ / 2024 ________________________ ___________________

Instructions - answer all questions.

- show all working; rough work must be cancelled neatly as follows; mistaken.

Additional materials - blue/ black pen, pencil, rubber, 30 cm rule, blank paper, calculator

This paper carries 60 marks.

Time - 1 hr 45 min

1. An iodine isotope 13153I decays by β-emission to an isotope of xenon (Xe).

a) State the number of each type of particle in a neutral atom of 13153I.

protons neutrons electrons [3]

b) State the symbol, in nuclide notation, for the xenon nucleus.

[2]

2. Emissions from a radioactive source pass through a hole in a lead screen and into a magnetic field, as

shown in Fig. 10.1. The experiment is carried out in a vacuum.

radioactive A magnetic field

source into paper

lead
screen

3 cm
 Radiation detectors are placed at A, B and C. They give the following readings:

A C
32 counts / 5 counts / 3 counts / min

The radioactive source is then completely removed, and the readings become:

A C
33 counts / counts / counts / min

From the data given for positions A, B and C, deduce the type of emissions coming from the
radioactive source. Explain your reasoning.

[4]

3. a) State the nature of γ-rays.

[2]

b) A beam of α-particles and β-particles passes, in a vacuum, between the poles of a strong magnet.

Compare the deflections of the paths of the two types of particle.

[2]

c) A beam of β-particles passes, in a vacuum, through the electric field between a pair of oppositely

charged metal plates. Describe the path of the particles.

[2]
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 d) The nuclear equation shows the decay of an isotope of polonium.
A 206
ZPo 82 Pb + 42X

i. State the nature of X.

[2]

ii. Calculate the values of A and Z.

A= Z= [3]

4. (a) State the nature of an α-particle.

[2]

b) Describe how an electric field between two charged plates could be used to determine whether a

beam of particles consists of α- or β-particles.

[3]

c) Describe the path of γ-rays in a magnetic field.

[1]

d) State what is meant by the term isotopes. Use the terms proton number and nucleon number in

your explanation.

[4]
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 5. a) An underground water pipe has cracked and water is leaking into the surrounding ground.

A technician locating the position of the leak is shown on the diagram.

technician
ground surface

water that leaked

metal water pipe into ground

crack in water pipe

A radioactive isotope is introduced into the water supply and the water that leaks from the crack is

radioactive. The technician tries to locate an area above the pipe where the radioactive count rate is

higher than in the surrounding area.

i. State and explain the type of radiation that must be emitted by the isotope for the leak to be detected.

[3]

ii. The half-life of the isotope used is 6.0 hours. Explain why an isotope with this half-life is suitable.

[3]

b) Caesium-133 is a stable isotope of the element caesium, but caesium-135 is radioactive.

A nucleus of caesium-133 contains 78 neutrons and a nucleus of caesium-135 contains 80 neutrons.
Put one tick in each row of the table to indicate how the number of particles in a neutral atom of
caesium-133 compares with the number of particles in a neutral atom of caesium-135.
The first row has been completed already. [4]

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 particles in caesium-133

2 more than 1 more than equal to 1 fewer than 2 fewer than

caesium-135 caesium-135 caesium-135 caesium-135 caesium-135

number of neutrons ✓

number of protons

number of nucleons

number of electrons

6. a) The counter of a radiation detector placed close to a radioactive source gives a count rate of 1600

counts / s. The half-life of the source is 1 week.

Ignoring background radiation, calculate the count rate

i. 1 week after the first measurement,

count rate = [3]

ii. 3 weeks after the first measurement.

count rate = [3]

b) The arrangement for an experiment to investigate the shielding of radioactive sources is shown.

position of thick card 5 mm steel 20 cm lead

samples

A B C D E

20 cm air

Samples containing three different radioactive sources are placed, one at a time, in the position shown.
The table shows the count rates when a radiation detector is placed at the positions A to E.
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 Complete the table indicating whether α-particles, β-particles or γ-rays are emitted from samples. [3]

A B C D E type of radiation emitted

sample 1 high high high high low

sample 2 high high low 0 0

sample 3 high 0 0 0 0

(c) State which type of radiation, α, β or γ, is the most strongly ionising.

[1]

7. a) Complete the table below for the three types of radiation. [3]

radiation nature charge stopped by

electromagnetic
γ
radiation

β negative

α thick paper

(b) An isotope of strontium is represented in nuclide notation as 9038Sr.

For a neutral atom of this isotope, state [4]

i. the proton number, ; the number of neutrons,

ii. the nucleon number, ; the number of electrons.

(c) A sample of a radioactive material is placed near a radiation detector. A count-rate of 4800
counts/ s is detected from the sample. After 36 hours the count-rate has fallen to 600 counts/ s.

Calculate how many more hours must pass for the count-rate to become 150 counts / s.

number of hours = [3]

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