6

Section A
Answer all the questions in this section.
Fig. 6.1 is a diagram of a d.c. motor.

Fig. 6.1
(a) (i) State the direction of movement of side AB and of side CD when the current is in
the direction shown in Fig. 6.1.
side AB .............................................. side CD ...............................................
(ii) Explain the reason for your choices of direction.
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
[3]
(b) When the coil ABCD is vertical, the brushes line up with the gaps in the split-ring
commutator.
The coil rotates past the vertical position. Explain what happens
(i) to the current in the coil,
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
(ii) to the forces on the sides AB and CD of the coil.
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
[2]

Fig. 5.1 shows a transformer connected to an alternating current supply. The primary coil
has 50 turns and the secondary coil 100 turns. Both coils are made of insulated copper
wire and are wound on a soft-iron core.

Fig. 5.1

(a) State
(i) why the coils are made of copper,
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
(ii) why the core is made of soft iron,
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
(iii) the cause of the magnetic field in the soft-iron core.
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
[4]
(b) Fig. 5.2 shows the variation of the output voltage of the transformer with time.

Fig. 5.2
The number of turns on the secondary coil is increased to 150, but the number of turns
on the primary coil and the input voltage are unchanged.
On Fig. 5.2, draw the variation with time of the output voltage after this increase.
[2]

A teacher counts the number of particles emitted from a radioactive source, as shown in
Fig. 8.1.

Fig. 8.1
(a) State the name of a detector able to detect particles from a radioactive source.
....................................................................................................................................
[1]
(b) The teacher measures the number of particles emitted in 1 minute from three different
sources. The measurements are repeated each hour for four hours.
The results are shown in the table.

(i) State and explain which source has the shortest half-life.
source with shortest half-life .....................................................................................
reason ......................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
(ii) The experiment continues until the time is 6 hours.
For this time of 6 hours, calculate the number of particles emitted in 1 minute from
1. source A,
number = ..................................
2. source B.
number = ..................................
[5]

The pie chart in Fig. 8.1 shows the relative contributions made by different sources to
background radiation.

Fig. 8.1
(a) Which source makes the greatest contribution to the background radiation?
......................................................................................................................................[1]
(b) State one effect of background radiation.
..........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................[1]
(c) Where do cosmic rays come from?
..........................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................[1]
(d) The nucleon number (mass number) of 22086Rn is 220.
Define nucleon number.

..........................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................[1]
(e) Radon ( 22086Rn) decays by the emission of an alpha-particle.
State the proton number (atomic number) and the nucleon number (mass number) of
the nucleus left after an alpha-particle is emitted from this nucleus.
proton number ..
nucleon number ..
[2]

A radioactive source and a detector are used to check the level of fruit juice in a carton.
Cartons of fruit juice pass between the detector and the radioactive source, as shown in
Fig. 7.1. The radioactive source emits -particles.

Fig. 7.1
(a) State the name of a suitable detector of the -particles.
.................................................................................................................................... [1]
(b) What is a -particle?
.................................................................................................................................... [1]
(c) Explain why the level of detected radiation falls when a full carton of juice goes past
the detector.
..........................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................... [1]
(d) Explain
(i) why a source emitting -particles is not used,
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
(ii) why a source emitting -rays is not used.
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
[2]

A smoke detector contains a radioactive source that emits -particles.

Fig. 7.1
Fig. 7.1 shows the structure of a simple smoke detector. The -particles ionise the air
between the plates. Positive ions and negative ions are created in the air and, as a result, a
current is produced in the circuit. When smoke is present, the current decreases.
(a) State the nature of an -particle.
..........................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................... [1]
(b) Explain why a source that emits -particles is not used in this detector.
..........................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................... [1]
(c) The radioactive source that emits -particles contains Americium-241.
A nucleus of Americium-241 is represented as 24195Am.
Describe the structure of an atom of Americium-241.
..........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................... [3]

(a) Some atoms are radioactive. Explain what is meant by radioactive.

..........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................[2]
(b) Some hospital equipment is sterilised using gamma-rays. State two properties of
gamma-rays that make them suitable for this use.
1. ......................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
2. ......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................[2]
(c) Explain why radioactive sources should only be handled at a distance from the body.
..........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................[2]

11

(a) A radioactive isotope emits only -particles.

(i) In the space below, draw a labelled diagram of the apparatus you would use to
prove that no -particles or -radiation are emitted from the isotope.
(ii) Describe the test you would carry out.
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
(iii) Explain how your results would show that only -particles are emitted.
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
[6]
(b) Fig. 11.1 shows a stream of -particles about to enter the space between the poles of a
very strong magnet.

Fig. 11.1
Describe the path of the -particles in the space between the magnetic poles.
..........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................[3]

Some pond water becomes contaminated by the release of radioactive waste.

The radioactivity of a sample of the contaminated water is tested every week for 5 weeks.
The results are shown in the table below.

(a) Plot these values on Fig. 9.1. [3]

Fig. 9.1
(b) Draw the best curve through your points. [1]
(c) Use your graph to find the half-life of the radioactive material in the sample. Show clearly
on the graph how you obtained your answer.
half-life of radioactive material = weeks [2]
(d) If the sample of contaminated water used in the test had been smaller, state how this
would have affected, if at all,
(i) the activity readings, .................................................................................................
(ii) the value of the half-life. ............................................................................................
[2]

10

(a) One coil of a transformer is connected to a toy train set. The other coil is connected to a
240 V a.c. mains supply, as shown in Fig. 10.1.

Fig. 10.1
(i) How can you tell from Fig. 10.1 that the transformer is a step-down transformer?
...................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................[1]
(ii) Calculate the voltage at which the toy train operates.
toy train operates at V [3]
(iii) 1. The voltage of the mains supply is reduced. What happens to the voltage
supplied to the train set? Tick one box.

2. An attempt is made to use the train set in a country where the mains supply is
110 V. Suggest one difference that might be noticed in the way the toy train
operates.
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
[2]
(b) Fig. 10.2 shows an electromagnetic relay being used to operate an electric motor.

Fig. 10.2
Below are sentences that describe stages of the process by which the circuit works.
A The armature pivots and the contacts close.
B The core of the relay is magnetised.
C The switch is closed and the current flows through the coil.
DA current flows through the motor, making it work.
E The core attracts the top part of the armature.
Put the sentences so that the stages are in the correct order. Put the appropriate letters
in the boxes below. One box has been filled in as an example.

[3]

11

(a) -particles can be scattered by thin gold foils.

Fig. 11.1 shows part of the paths of three -particles.
Complete the paths of the three -particles. [3]

Fig. 11.1
(b) What does the scattering of -particles show about atomic structure?
..........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................[2]
(c) State the nucleon number (mass number) of an -particle.
nucleon number = [1]

10

(a) Fig. 10.1 is the decay curve for a radioactive isotope that emits only -particles.

Fig. 10.1
Use the graph to find the value of the half-life of the isotope.
Indicate, on the graph, how you arrived at your value.
half-life . [2]
(b) A student determines the percentage of -particles absorbed by a thick aluminium
sheet. He uses a source that is emitting only -particles and that has a long half-life.
(i) In the space below, draw a labelled diagram of the apparatus required, set up to
make the determination.
[2]
(ii) List the readings that the student needs to take.
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................. [3]

11

Fig. 11.1 shows a flexible wire hanging between two magnetic poles. The flexible wire is
connected to a 12 V d.c. supply that is switched off.

Fig. 11.1
(a) Explain why the wire moves when the supply is switched on.
..........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................... [2]
(b) State the direction of the deflection of the wire.
..........................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................... [2]
(c) When the wire first moves, energy is changed from one form to another. State these two
forms of energy.
from ........................................................... to ............................................................ [1]
(d) Fig. 11.2 shows the flexible wire made into a rigid rectangular coil and mounted on an
axle.

Fig. 11.2
(i) Add to the diagram an arrangement that will allow current to be fed into the coil
whilst allowing the coil to turn continuously. Label the parts you have added. [1]
(ii) Briefly explain how your arrangement works.
...................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................. [2]

10

Fig. 10.1 is part of the decay curve for a sample of a -emitting isotope.

Fig. 10.1
(a) Use Fig. 10.1 to find the half-life of the isotope.
half-life = .......................... [1]
(b) Complete Fig. 10.1 as far as time = 20 days, by working out the values of a number of
points and plotting them. Show your working. [2]
(c) The decay product of the -emitting isotope is not radioactive.
Explain why the sample of the radioactive isotope will be safer after 20 days than after
1day. Support your answer by reference to the graph.
..........................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................[1]
(d) The isotope used for this decay curve may be represented by the symbol AZX.
Write down an equation, by filling in the gaps below, to show the -decay of this isotope
to a decay product that has the symbol Y.
[2]

(a) When a nucleus decays by emitting an -particle, what happens to

(i) the number of neutrons in the nucleus,
..................................................................................................................................
(ii) the number of protons in the nucleus,
..................................................................................................................................
(iii) the charge on the nucleus?
..................................................................................................................................
[5]
(b) On 1st January 1900, a sample of a particular radioactive nuclide had an activity of
3200 count /min. The nuclide has a half-life of 22 years. Calculate the activity of the
nuclide remaining in the sample on 1st January 1966.
activity = ......................... count /min [4]

12

In a country where the mains electricity supply is 240 V, the transformer in Fig. 12.1 is used
to enable a 6 V lamp to be lit.

Fig. 12.1
(a) Calculate the number of turns needed on the secondary coil if the lamp is to be lit at
normal brightness.
number of turns = ........................ [3]
(b) Without further calculation, state the number of secondary turns needed to light, at
normal brightness,
(i) two identical 6 V lamps in parallel i.e.
number of turns = ....................
(ii) two identical 6 V lamps in series i.e.
number of turns = ....................

[2]

8 Fig. 8.1 shows the outline of an a.c. generator. The peak output voltage of the generator is
6.0 V and the output has a frequency of 10Hz.

Fig. 8.1
(a) Fig. 8.2 shows the axes of a voltage-time graph for the generator output.

Fig. 8.2
On Fig. 8.2,
(i) mark suitable voltage values on the voltage axis,
(ii) draw a graph of the generator output.
[3]
(b) The generator shown in Fig. 8.1 works by electromagnetic induction.
Explain how this effect produces the output voltage.
..........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................... [3]
(c) State the energy changes that occur in the generator when it is producing output.
.................................................................................................................................... [2]

11

(a) A sodium nucleus decays by the emission of a -particle to form magnesium.

(i) Complete the decay equation below.
(ii) Fig. 11.1 shows -particles from sodium nuclei moving into the space between the
poles of a magnet.

Fig. 11.1
Describe the path of the -particles between the magnetic poles.
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
[5]
(b) Very small quantities of a radioactive isotope are used to check the circulation of blood
by injecting the isotope into the bloodstream.
(i) Describe how the results are obtained.
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
(ii) Explain why a -emitting isotope is used for this purpose rather than one that
emits either -particles or -particles.
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
[4]

Radioisotope uranium-238 decays to become thorium-234 as shown in the equation below.

(a) (i) What is meant by radioisotope?
.....................................................................................
[1mark]
(ii) What is radiation P?
.....................................................................................
[1mark]
(b) If the mass defect in the above radioactive decay is 3.35 x 10-27 kg, calculate the
energy released in joule. (Speed of light, c = 3.0 x 108 m s-1)
[2 marks]
(c) A radioactive source which emits radiation P is placed near an electric field as shown in
Diagram 3

Diagram 3
(i) On Diagram 3, draw the path of radiation P in the electric field.
[1mark]
(ii) Explain your answer in (c)(i)
.....................................................................................
[1mark]

10

Section B
Answer two questions from this section.
Fig. 10.1 illustrates nuclear fission of Uranium-235 in a nuclear reactor.

Fig. 10.1
(a) (i) Describe the process illustrated in Fig. 10.1.
(ii) Describe how the process of nuclear fusion differs from the process of nuclear fission as
illustrated above.
[5]
(b) The waste products from a nuclear reactor contain isotopes such as Iodine-131 and
Caesium-137. These waste products are highly radioactive and dangerous. They are stored
in sealed metal cans which are placed under water for a few months.
(i) Explain how these isotopes were produced.

(ii) Explain what is meant by the term radioactive.

(iii) Give a reason why metal cans are used and a reason why they are placed under water.
[5]
(c) Radioactive isotopes are used in medicine and in industry. Describe and explain one use
that is made of a radioactive isotope. In your account, indicate whether the isotope should
have a long or a short half-life. [5]

(a) A radioactive source emits -particles only.

(i) Describe, with the aid of a diagram, an experiment that demonstrates that the source
emits -particles but not -particles.
(ii) Describe how you would demonstrate that the radioactive emission from the source is
random.
(iii) State one safety precaution that you would take when handling any radioactive source.
[8]
(b) A radioactive isotope of radon (Rn-220) is represented as 22086Rn. The nucleon number (mass
number) of this nuclide is 220 and the proton number (atomic number) is 86. Radon-220
decays into polonium (Po-216) by the emission of an -particle.
(i) State the number of neutrons in a nucleus of Rn-220.
(ii) The nuclear equation that represents the decay of Radon-220 is written as

Copy this equation and complete it by adding the missing nucleon number and proton
number for the -particle and the missing proton number for the polonium nucleus.
(iii) During the decay, there is an apparent decrease in mass of 1.14 1029 kg. Calculate the
energy released in the decay. [speed of light = 3.0 108m/s]
[7]

10

A doctor uses a radioactive isotope, iodine-131, to find the volume of blood in a patients body.
Information about iodine-131 is given in Fig. 10.1.

Fig. 10.1
(a) (i) Describe the structure of an atom of iodine-131.
(ii) The radioactive decay equation below shows an iodine-131 nucleus decaying into a
xenon nucleus (Xe). Copy the equation and insert the proton number and the nucleon
number of the xenon nucleus.

[5]
(b) Describe the differences between beta-particles and gamma-rays. [3]
(c) The doctor uses a sample of iodine-131 that initially produces a count rate of 144 000 per
second.
The whole sample is injected into the patients arm. Nine small samples of blood, each of
volume 2.0 cm3, are taken from the other arm at 2 minute intervals.
Fig. 10.2 shows the count rates from the nine samples.

Fig. 10.2
(i) State two reasons why different count rates are obtained from the nine samples.
(ii) Calculate the average value of the count rates from the last four samples.
This is the average count rate from a volume of 2.0 cm3 of blood.
(iii) Using your answer to (ii), determine the volume of blood in the patients body, which
has a total count rate of 144 000 per second.
(iv) Sample number 9 is kept.
The count rate is measured again after 16 days.

Estimate the value obtained, given that the half-life of iodine-131 is 8.0 days.
[6]
(d) Describe one precaution that the doctor must take when handling this radioactive source. [1]

12

As a researcher, you are assigned to investigate the characteristics of radioactive

substances with different half-lives to be used for the treatment of cancer.
Diagram 12.1 shows radioactive rays directed towards the cancer cells in a patients
brain.

Diagram 12.1
(a) What is meant by halflife?
[ 1 mark ]
(b) Sketch a graph of activity against time to illustrate the decay rate of a radioactive
substance. Use your graph to explain how the half-life is determined.
[4 marks ]
Table 12.1 shows the properties of four radioactive substances, J, K , L and M

Table 12.1
(c) (i) Based on Table 12.1 above, explain the suitable properties of the

radioactive substance for use to kill cancer cells in a patient.

(ii) Determine which radioactive substance is the most suitable for the treatment
of cancer cells in a patient and give your reasons.
[10 marks]
(d) Diagram 12 .2 shows a radioactive decay series for Rn-222 nucleus to Pb210.

Diagram 12.2
(i) Describe what happens to a nucleus when it undergoes a radioactive decay.
(ii) Write an equation to represent the radioactive decay series of Rn-222 to Pb210 in Diagram 12.2
(iii) State the number of alpha particles and beta particles produced in the decay.
[ 5 marks]