Polonium-218 is a radioactive isotope.
The nuclide notation for polonium-218 is 84218Po^{218}_{84}\text{Po}84218Po. Describe the composition of a neutral atom of polonium-218.
A nucleus of polonium-218 decays to an isotope of lead (Pb\text{Pb}Pb) by emitting an alpha particle. Complete the nuclide equation for the decay of polonium-218.
84218Po→ ___ α+ ___ Pb ^{218}_{84}\text{Po} \rightarrow \text{ \_\_\_ }\alpha + \text{ \_\_\_ }\text{Pb} 84218Po→ ___ α+ ___ PbA detector of radiation is placed near a sample of polonium-218 and gives a reading of 960 counts/s960\text{ counts/s}960 counts/s. The half-life of polonium-218 is 3.0 minutes3.0\text{ minutes}3.0 minutes. Calculate the reading after 12.0 minutes12.0\text{ minutes}12.0 minutes. Ignore background radiation.
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.