M1.

(a) (i) any one from:

• food / drink

• rocks / building materials

• cosmic rays / rays from space

accept correctly named example
1

(ii) any one from:

• nuclear power / coal power (stations)

accept nuclear waste

• nuclear accidents
accept named accident eg Chernobyl

• nuclear weapons testing

accept named medical procedure which involves a
radioactive source
accept radiotherapy
nuclear activity / radiation is insufficient
do not accept CT scans
1

(iii) different number of / fewer protons

accept does not have 86 protons
accept only has 84 protons
ordifferent atomic number
do not accept bottom number different
reference to mass number negates this mark
1

(b) 168
accept 169 if clear, correct method is shown
allow 1 mark for a correct dose ratio involving the spine
eg 2:140 etc
or ratio of days to dose is 1.2
or ratio of dose to days is 0.83

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 2

(c) ( Group A Group

i) B

JMO KLN

all correct
any order within each group
1

(ii) similar (number) / same (number) / large (number)

accept the same specific number in each group eg three
reference to other factors such as age is neutral
1

(iii) how many people in each group developed cancer

a clear comparison is required
1

(iv)there are no marks for Yes or No the

mark is for the reason

Yes
the benefit of having the scan is greater than the riskorthe risk is (very) small
(compared to the chance from natural causes)
accept the risk is much greater from natural causes

No
no additional risk is acceptable
1
[9]

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M2. (a) (average) time taken for the amount / number of nuclei / atoms (of the isotope in a
sample) to halve
or
time taken for the count rate (from a sample containing the isotope) to fall to half
accept (radio)activity for count rate
1

(b) 60 ±3 (days)
1

indication on graph how value was obtained

1

(c) (i) cobalt(-60)

1

gamma not deflected by a magnetic field

or
gamma have no charge
dependent on first marking point
accept (only) emits gamma
gamma has no mass is insufficient
do not accept any reference to half-life
1

(ii) strontium(-90)
1

any two from:

• only has beta

• alpha would be absorbed
• gamma unaffected
• beta penetration / absorption depends on thickness of paper
if thorium(-232) or radium(-226) given, max 2 marks can be
awarded
2

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(iii) cobalt(-60)
1

shortest half-life
accept half-life is 5 years
dependent on first marking point
1

so activity / count rate will decrease quickest

1

(iv) americium(-241) / cobalt(-60) / radium(-226)

1

gamma emitter
1

(only gamma) can penetrate lead (of this box)

do not allow lead fully absorbs gamma
1
[14]

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M3 (a) (i) 1.25 (mSv)
1

(ii) any two from:

• (frequent) flying
accept stated occupation that involves flying

• living at altitude

• living in areas with high radon concentrations

accept a specific area, eg Cornwall

• living in a building made from granite (blocks)

• having more than the average number of X-rays

or
having a CT scan
accept more medical treatments

• working in a nuclear power station

accept any suggestion that could reasonably increase the
level from a specific source
2

(b) (i) to be able to see the effect of exposure (to radon gas)
or
as a control
accept to compare (the effect of) exposure (with no
exposure)
1

(ii) increased levels of exposure increases the risk (of developing cancer)
accept exposure (to radon gas) increases the risk
1

smoking increases the (harmful) effect of radon

answers that simply reproduce statistics are insufficient
1

(c) LNT model – risk increases with increasing radiation (dose) level

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 accept in (direct) proportion
accept low doses increase the risk
1

Radiation hormesis - low radiation (dose) levels reduce the risk

1

(d) two valid points made – examples:

• animals have no choice and so should not be used

• should not make animals suffer

• better to experiment on animals than humans

• experiments lead to a better understanding / new knowledge

• experiments may lead to health improvement / cures for humans

results for animals may not apply to humans is insufficient
2
[10]

Page 7
M4. (a) (i) 2.5
1

(ii) The radiation dose from natural sources is much greater than from
artificial sources
1

(b) (i) any one from:

• different concentrations in different rooms

• to average out daily fluctuations

accept to find an average
accept to make the result (more) reliable / valid
do not accept to make more accurate on its own
1

(ii) average level (much) higher (in C and D)

accept converse
1

some homes have very high level (in C and D)

accept maximum level in A and B is low
1

or

maximum level in some homes (in C and D) is very high

accept higher radiation levels (in C and D) for 1 mark
[5]

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M5. (a) (i) nuclear reactor
1

star
1

(ii) nuclei are joined (not split)

accept converse in reference to nuclear fission
do not accept atoms are joined
1

(b) (i) any four from:

• neutron
• (neutron) absorbed by U (nucleus)
ignore atom
do not accept reacts
do not accept added to
• forms a larger nucleus
• (this larger nucleus is) unstable
• (larger nucleus) splits into two (smaller) nuclei / into Ba and Kr
• releasing three neutrons and energy
accept fast-moving for energy
4

(ii) 56 (Ba)
1

57 (La)
if proton number of Ba is incorrect allow 1 mark if that of La
is 1 greater
1

accept e for β

scores 3 marks
1

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 [10]

M6. (a) (both graphs show an initial) increase in count rate

accept both show an increase
1

(b) only the right kidney is working correctly

1

any two from:

if incorrect box chosen maximum of 1 mark can be awarded
reference to named kidney can be inferred from the tick box

• count-rate / level / line for right kidney decreases (rapidly)

it decreases is insufficient

• count-rate / level / line for left kidney does not change

it does not change is insufficient

• radiation is being passed out into urine – if referring to right kidney

• radiation is not being passed out – if referring to the left kidney

• left kidney does not initially absorb as much technetium-99

2
[4]

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