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Nuclear and particle physics

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Question 10
a.

A researcher is doing an experiment on a radioactive solution in a thin glass tube. The solution contains two radioactive materials, A and B.

The properties of these two materials are as follows:

  • Material A: Half-life = 8.0 minutes, particles emitted = Alpha, daughter nuclei = Stable.
  • Material B: Half-life = 12 hours, particles emitted = Beta-minus, daughter nuclei = Stable.

The solution has the same number of nuclei of A and B at the start.

State and explain which material has the greatest activity at the start.

[2]
b.

State why it is dangerous for the researcher to handle the glass tube with bare hands.

[2]
c.

Lithium-7 (37Li^{7}_{3}\text{Li}37​Li) is produced when Boron-10 (510B^{10}_{5}\text{B}510​B) nuclei collide with neutrons. The nuclear reaction equation is:

510B+01n→37Li+Z ^{10}_{5}\text{B} + ^{1}_{0}\text{n} \rightarrow ^{7}_{3}\text{Li} + \text{Z} 510​B+01​n→37​Li+Z

State the proton number of particle extZ ext{Z}extZ.

[1]
d.

Use the data below to determine the binding energy per nucleon of the 37Li^{7}_{3}\text{Li}37​Li nucleus. Write your answer to 3 significant figures.

  • mass of neutron = 1.675×10−27 kg1.675 \times 10^{-27}\text{ kg}1.675×10−27 kg
  • mass of proton = 1.673×10−27 kg1.673 \times 10^{-27}\text{ kg}1.673×10−27 kg
  • mass of 37Li^{7}_{3}\text{Li}37​Li nucleus = 7.016 u7.016\text{ u}7.016 u
  • 1 u=1.66×10−27 kg1\text{ u} = 1.66 \times 10^{-27}\text{ kg}1 u=1.66×10−27 kg
  • speed of light c=3.00×108 m s−1c = 3.00 \times 10^8\text{ m s}^{-1}c=3.00×108 m s−1
[5]

Nuclear and particle physics Questions

  1. A Level
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