Question 3
FA student investigated three sealed sources, S, T and U. Each source emits only one type of nuclear radiation. The student used the apparatus in Figure and recorded the count rate with different absorbers between the source and the detector.
Figure: The apparatus the student used to investigate the three sealed sources
Table: The count rate recorded from each source with each absorber
| Source | Count rate with no absorber (counts per second) | Count rate with paper (counts per second) | Count rate with 1 mm of aluminium (counts per second) |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | 420 | 418 | 210 |
| T | 380 | 25 | 24 |
| U | 505 | 500 | 495 |
a.[2]
Use Table to determine which source emits alpha particles. Give a reason for your answer.
b.[2]
Use Table to determine which source emits gamma rays. Give a reason for your answer.
c.[1]
Source S emits beta particles. Describe how the student could reduce the count rate from source S to almost zero.
d.[1]
Give one precaution the student should take when using the sources.
4.2 Atoms and nuclear radiation Questions
40 exam-style questions on AQA GCSE Physics 4.2 Atoms and nuclear radiation, covering 4.2.1 Radioactive decay and nuclear radiation, 4.2.2 Nuclear equations, 4.2.3 Half-lives and the random nature of radioactive decay, and 4.2.4 Radioactive contamination. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.