The symbol for an α\alphaα-particle is either 24α{}^{4}_{2}\alpha24α or 24He{}^{4}_{2}\text{He}24He.
What does the 444 indicate about an α\alphaα-particle?
What does the 222 indicate about an α\alphaα-particle?
The symbol for a β\betaβ-particle is either −10β{}^{0}_{-1}\beta−10β or −10e{}^{0}_{-1}\text{e}−10e.
What does the 000 indicate about a β\betaβ-particle?
What does the −1-1−1 indicate about a β\betaβ-particle?
The list below gives, in nuclide notation, the symbols of five radioactive nuclides.
81208Tl82208Pb83212Bi84212Po85216At {}^{208}_{81}\text{Tl} \qquad {}^{208}_{82}\text{Pb} \qquad {}^{212}_{83}\text{Bi} \qquad {}^{212}_{84}\text{Po} \qquad {}^{216}_{85}\text{At} 81208Tl82208Pb83212Bi84212Po85216At85216At{}^{216}_{85}\text{At}85216At decays by emitting an α\alphaα-particle. Into which of the other nuclides in the list does it decay?
81208Tl{}^{208}_{81}\text{Tl}81208Tl decays by emitting a β\betaβ-particle. Into which of the other nuclides in the list does it decay?
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.