A programmer is testing a simulation of two successive nuclear changes. Part of the simulation output is missing. The second change is labelled as neutron emission.
| record | stage | mass number | atomic number |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | before either change | 98 | 37 |
| 1 | after the first change | not recorded | not recorded |
| 2 | after the second change | 97 | 38 |
Calculate the mass number and atomic number missing from record 1. Explain which type of decay the simulation must have applied for the first change.
Calculate the neutron number after the second change. Explain how the two changes account for the difference between this value and the neutron number before either change.
120 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Physics 6.3 Nuclear equations and decay, covering 6.3.1 Beta-minus and beta-plus decay, 6.3.2 Effects of decay on the nucleus, and 6.3.3 Balancing nuclear equations. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.