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5.2 Radioactivity

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Question 62
a.

State two differences between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.

  1. ........................................................................................................................................

  2. ........................................................................................................................................

[2]
b.

Radioactive tracers emitting γ\gammaγ-rays can be used in medicine. A source of these γ\gammaγ-rays, iodine-123, has a half-life of 13 hours.

Explain why a radioactive tracer used in this way should not have a half-life much shorter or much longer than about 13 hours.

[2]
c.

Iodine-131 is another isotope of iodine, which decays by emitting a β\betaβ-particle to form xenon (Xe).

Complete the nuclide equation for this decay.

53131I→……Xe+……β {}^{131}_{53}\text{I} \rightarrow {}^{\dots}_{\dots}\text{Xe} + {}^{\dots}_{\dots}\beta 53131​I→……​Xe+……​β
[3]
d.

State another use of radioactive nuclides in medicine (other than as a tracer).

[1]
Markscheme

5.2 Radioactivity Questions

  1. IGCSE
  2. /Physics
  3. /5.2 Radioactivity

484 exam-style questions on CIE IGCSE Physics 5.2 Radioactivity, covering 5.2.1 Background radiation and measuring count rate, 5.2.2a Alpha, beta and gamma emission, 5.2.2b Deflection and ionising effects of nuclear radiation, 5.2.3a Radioactive decay, 5.2.3b Effects of decay on the nucleus and decay equations, 5.2.4a Half-life, 5.2.4b Choosing isotopes for applications, and 5.2.5 Effects of ionising radiation and safety precautions. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.

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