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6.5 Uses and dangers of radioactivity

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Question 40

Nuclei of nitrogen-14 can capture thermal neutrons to produce carbon-14 and a proton, but they do not undergo fission or emit further neutrons.

In contrast, when plutonium-239 nuclei absorb neutrons, they undergo induced fission and release multiple neutrons per fission event.

Explain why a self-sustaining chain reaction can occur in a sample of plutonium-239 but not in a sample of nitrogen-14.

[1]

Markscheme

6.5 Uses and dangers of radioactivity Questions

GCSE
Physics
6.5 Uses and dangers of radioactivity

94 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Physics 6.5 Uses and dangers of radioactivity. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.

6.5 Uses and dangers of radioactivity

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6.5 Uses and dangers of radioactivity

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Question 40

Nuclei of nitrogen-14 can capture thermal neutrons to produce carbon-14 and a proton, but they do not undergo fission or emit further neutrons.

In contrast, when plutonium-239 nuclei absorb neutrons, they undergo induced fission and release multiple neutrons per fission event.

Explain why a self-sustaining chain reaction can occur in a sample of plutonium-239 but not in a sample of nitrogen-14.

[1]

Markscheme

6.5 Uses and dangers of radioactivity Questions

GCSE
Physics
6.5 Uses and dangers of radioactivity

94 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Physics 6.5 Uses and dangers of radioactivity. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.