The table below shows the ability of three different types of radiation, PPP, QQQ, and RRR, to penetrate various materials:
RadiationPenetrates paper?Penetrates 5 mm of aluminium?Penetrates 50 mm of lead?PYesNoNoQNoNoNoRYesYesNo \begin{array}{|c|c|c|c|} \hline \text{Radiation} & \text{Penetrates paper?} & \text{Penetrates } 5\text{ mm of aluminium?} & \text{Penetrates } 50\text{ mm of lead?} \\ \hline P & \text{Yes} & \text{No} & \text{No} \\ \hline Q & \text{No} & \text{No} & \text{No} \\ \hline R & \text{Yes} & \text{Yes} & \text{No} \\ \hline \end{array} RadiationPQRPenetrates paper?YesNoYesPenetrates 5 mm of aluminium?NoNoYesPenetrates 50 mm of lead?NoNoNoWhich row correctly identifies PPP, QQQ, and RRR?
PPP: α\alphaα-particles, QQQ: β\betaβ-particles, RRR: γ\gammaγ-rays
PPP: β\betaβ-particles, QQQ: α\alphaα-particles, RRR: γ\gammaγ-rays
PPP: β\betaβ-particles, QQQ: γ\gammaγ-rays, RRR: α\alphaα-particles
PPP: γ\gammaγ-rays, QQQ: α\alphaα-particles, RRR: β\betaβ-particles
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.