Radioactive decay is described as a spontaneous process. Explain the meaning of the word spontaneous in this context.
The table below compares properties of three types of radioactive emission. Complete the table by matching the correct properties to each emission. Choose the charges from: +2+2+2, −1-1−1, 000 Choose the ranges in air from: "a few centimetres", "a few metres", "very long range"
| Emission | Charge (in terms of eee) | Typical range in air |
|---|---|---|
| alpha (α\alphaα) | [ (i) ] | [ (ii) ] |
| beta-minus (β−\beta^-β−) | [ (iii) ] | [ (iv) ] |
| gamma (γ\gammaγ) | [ (v) ] | [ (vi) ] |
A helium-3 nucleus is represented as 23He{}_{2}^{3}\text{He}23He. State the number of protons and neutrons in a helium-3 nucleus, and describe how its composition differs from that of a standard α\alphaα-particle (24He{}_{2}^{4}\text{He}24He).
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.