A LevelPhysicsAQATopic Questions8. Nuclear Physics8.3 Nuclear Instability & Radius

Nuclear Instability & Radius (AQA A Level Physics)

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11 mark

Which of the following statement is incorrect?

  • beta to the power of plus emitters are neutron–rich compared to stable isotopes

  •  beta to the power of minusemitters are neutron–rich compared to stable isotopes

  • Electron capture occurs in proton–rich isotopes

  • alpha emitters are isotopes with a proton number greater than 60

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21 mark

Which of the following shows the correct N (neutron number) and Z (proton number) graph for alpha decay?

8-3-mcq--q2-easy-aqa-a-level-physics

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31 mark

What is the radius of an Mg–24 nucleus? 

You may use  R subscript 0 = 1.2 fm

  • 10 fm

  • 29 fm

  • 3.5 fm

  • 83 fm

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41 mark

Which graph shows how intensity I varies with angle θ when electrons are diffracted by a nucleus?

8-3-mcq--q4-easy-aqa-a-level-physics

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51 mark

A nuclear stability graph is shown in the diagram below.

8-3-mcq--q5-easy-aqa-a-level-physics

Which row correctly matches the number to the type of decay most likely by nuclei in that area? 

 

Alpha Decay

bold italic beta to the power of bold minus Decay

bold italic beta to the power of bold plus Decay

A

B

C

D

1

2

1

3

4

4

2

1

3

1

3

4

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11 mark

A nucleus of In–116 decays into a stable nucleus of Sn–116 by beta to the power of minus emission followed by the emission of gamma–radiation as the Sn–116 nucleus de-excites into its ground state. 

The In–116 nucleus can decay into one of three excited states of the Sn–116 nucleus.

8-3-mcq--q1-hard-aqa-a-level-physics

Which line in the table gives the correct values for the maximum number of discrete wavelengths and the longest possible wavelength of the emitted gamma–radiation? 

 

maximum number of discrete wavelengths

longest possible wavelength

A

B

C

D

6

6

3

3

4.6 × 10–12 m

8.9 × 10–12 m

8.9 × 10–12 m

4.6 × 10–12 m

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21 mark

The graph shows how the relative intensity of the scattered electrons varies with angle due to diffraction by the oxygen–16 nuclei. The angle is measured from the original direction of the beam.

8-3-mcq--q2-hard-aqa-a-level-physics

What is the momentum of the electrons?

The constant of proportionality is R subscript 0 = 1.2 fm

  • 0.3 × 10–19 kg m s–1

  • 1.5 × 10–19 kg m s–1

  • 2.0 × 10–19 kg m s–1

  • 4.7 × 10–19 kg m s–1

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31 mark

In the Rutherford scattering experiment, alpha particles were fired directly at a sheet of thin gold foil open parentheses Au presubscript 79 presuperscript 197 close parentheses. Some particles were found to rebound straight back from the foil. 

Which of the following gives the best estimate of the distance of closest approach to a gold nucleus of an alpha particle with an initial speed of 2.5 × 107 m s–1?

  • 12 fm

  • 60 fm

  • 35 fm

  • 17 fm

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41 mark

Which of the following gives an approximate value for the density of a nucleus?

The constant of proportionality is R subscript 0 = 1.2 fm

  • 1.1 × 1014 g cm–3

  • 2.3 × 1014 g cm–3

  • 1.1 × 1017 kg m–3

  • 2.3 × 1017 g m–3

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51 mark

The ratio fraction numerator radius space of space straight a space nucleus space of space Radium over denominator radius space of space straight a space nucleus space of space Osmium end fraction is equal 1.06, where the nucleus of Osmium is O presubscript 76 presuperscript 190 s. 

What type of decay is Radium­ most likely to decay through?

  • alpha decay

  • beta to the power of minus decay

  •  beta to the power of plusdecay

  • gamma  decay

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11 mark

The radius of a nucleus of cobalt-59 open parentheses Co presubscript 27 presuperscript 59 close parentheses is 4.38 × 10–15 m. 

What is the radius of a nucleus of gadolinium-158 open parentheses Ga presubscript 64 presuperscript 158 close parentheses?

  • 8.23 × 10–15 m

  • 0.65 × 10–15 m

  • 178 × 10–15 m

  • 6.08 × 10–15 m

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21 mark

Bi-214 decays by an alpha decay and 3 beta to the power of minus decays. 

What is the position of the nucleus on the N–Z graph following these decays?

8-3-mcq--q2-medium-aqa-a-level-physics

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31 mark

The diameter of a nucleus of nihonium­–297 open parentheses Nh presubscript 113 presuperscript 297 close parentheses is approximately three times larger than the diameter of a nucleus of

  • Na presubscript 11 presuperscript 23

  • straight B presubscript 5 presuperscript 11

  • As presubscript 33 presuperscript 75

  • Cl presubscript 17 presuperscript 33

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41 mark

Which of the following graphs relating nuclear radius R and nucleon number A has a gradient of 1 third ?

8-3-mcq--q4-medium-aqa-a-level-physics

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51 mark

Which of the following statements about nuclear density is correct?

  • The density of a nucleus does not depend on its radius

  • The density of a nucleus depends on its mass number

  • The density of a nucleus is inversely proportional to its radius cubed

  • The density of a nucleus increases as the radius increases

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