AQA A Level Physics

Topic Questions

A LevelPhysicsAQATopic Questions8. Nuclear Physics8.3 Nuclear Instability & Radius

8.3 Nuclear Instability & Radius

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11 mark

Which of the following statement is incorrect?

  • beta to the power of plus emitters are neutron–rich compared to stable isotopes

  •  beta to the power of minusemitters are neutron–rich compared to stable isotopes

  • Electron capture occurs in proton–rich isotopes

  • alpha emitters are isotopes with a proton number greater than 60

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21 mark

Which of the following shows the correct N (neutron number) and Z (proton number) graph for alpha decay?

8-3-mcq--q2-easy-aqa-a-level-physics

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31 mark

What is the radius of an Mg–24 nucleus? 

You may use  R subscript 0 = 1.2 fm

  • 10 fm

  • 29 fm

  • 3.5 fm

  • 83 fm

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41 mark

Which graph shows how intensity I varies with angle θ when electrons are diffracted by a nucleus?

8-3-mcq--q4-easy-aqa-a-level-physics

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51 mark

A nuclear stability graph is shown in the diagram below.

8-3-mcq--q5-easy-aqa-a-level-physics

Which row correctly matches the number to the type of decay most likely by nuclei in that area? 

 

Alpha Decay

bold italic beta to the power of bold minus Decay

bold italic beta to the power of bold plus Decay

A

B

C

D

1

2

1

3

4

4

2

1

3

1

3

4

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11 mark

A nucleus of In–116 decays into a stable nucleus of Sn–116. It decays by beta to the power of minus emission followed by the emission of gamma –radiation as the Sn–116 nucleus de–excited into its ground state. 

The In–116 nucleus can decay to one of three excited states of the Sn–116 nucleus as shown in the diagram below. The energies of the excited states are shown relative to the ground state.

8-3-mcq--q1-hard-aqa-a-level-physics

How many discrete wavelengths would be emitted and what is the longest wavelength of the emitted gamma –radiation? 

 

Number of discrete wavelengths

Longest wavelength emitted / m

A

B

C

D

6

6

3

3

4.6 × 10–12

8.9 × 10–12

8.9 × 10–12

4.6 × 10–12

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21 mark

The graph shows how the relative intensity of the scattered electrons varies with angle due to diffraction by the oxygen–16 nuclei. The angle is measured from the original direction of the beam.

8-3-mcq--q2-hard-aqa-a-level-physics

What is the momentum of the electrons? (R subscript 0= 1.2 fm)

  • 4.7 × 10–19 kg m s–1

  • 0.3 × 10–19 kg m s–1

  • 1.5 × 10–19 kg m s–1

  • 2.0 × 10–19 kg m s–1

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31 mark

In the Rutherford scattering experiment, alpha particles were fired directly at thin gold (A presubscript 79 presuperscript 197 u) foil. Some were scattered straight back from the gold foil. 

What is an estimate of the closest distance between the alpha particle and the gold nucleus when the alpha  particle has an initial speed of 2.5 × 107 m s–1.

  • 12 fm

  • 60 fm

  • 35 fm

  • 17 fm

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41 mark

Which of the following gives an approximate value for the density of a nucleus?

  • 1.1× 1017 kg m–3

  • 2.3× 1017 g m–3

  • 2.3 × 1014 g cm–3

  • 1.1 × 1014 g cm–3

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51 mark

The ratio fraction numerator radius space of space straight a space nucleus space of space Radium over denominator radius space of space straight a space nucleus space of space Osmium end fraction is equal 1.06, where the nucleus of Osmium is O presubscript 76 presuperscript 190 s. 

What type of decay is Radium­ most likely to decay through?

  • alpha decay

  • beta to the power of minus decay

  •  beta to the power of plusdecay

  • gamma  decay

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11 mark

The radius of a nucleus of the cobalt nuclide C presubscript 27 presuperscript 59 o  is 4.38 × 10–15 m. 

What is the radius of a nucleus of the gadolinium nuclide G presubscript 64 presuperscript 158 a?

  • 8.23 × 10–15 m

  • 0.65 × 10–15 m

  • 178 × 10–15 m

  • 6.08 × 10–15 m

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21 mark

Bi–214 decays by an alpha decay and 3 beta to the power of minus decays. 

Which label A, B, C or D shows the position of the nucleus after these decays on the N–Z graph?

8-3-mcq--q2-medium-aqa-a-level-physics

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31 mark

The diameter of a Nihonium­–297 (N presubscript 113 presuperscript 297 h) is approximately three times larger than that of the diameter of a nucleus of which element?

  • N presubscript 11 presuperscript 23 a

  • begin mathsize 20px style B presubscript 5 presuperscript 11 end style

  • begin mathsize 20px style A presubscript 33 presuperscript 75 s end style

  • C presubscript 17 presuperscript 33 l

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41 mark

Which of the following graphs has a gradient of 1 third ?

8-3-mcq--q4-medium-aqa-a-level-physics

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51 mark

Which of the following statements about nuclear density is correct?

  • The density of a nucleus does not depend on its radius

  • The density of a nucleus depends on its mass number

  • The density of a nucleus is inversely proportional to its radius cubed

  • The density of a nucleus increases as the radius increases

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