CHAPTER 10: RADIOACTIVITY

ANSWER

(a)

(b)
(i)
(b)
(ii)

1. Question 1: Trengganu 07
Lead container / concrete
container

4.
(a)(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(b)(i)
(ii)

Question 4: Melaka 07
R alpha
P beta
Q gamma
Cloud Chamber

(c)

156/52 s = 3T1/2
520 260 130 65
After 156 s the activity is 65

a beta particle
Negatively charge
The mass of ray P < ray Q // The
speed f ray P > ray Q

5. Question 2: Kelantan 07
The time taken for half of the
unstable atoms to decay // The
time taken for the activity of
radioactive falls to half of its
original activity
(b) 8 days
(c) The activity decreases
creases to 250
count per minute.
(d) Fast moving electron
(i)
(ii)
(a)

2. Question 4: Trengganu 08
(a)
(b)
(i)
(ii)
(c)

(a)
(i)
(ii)
(b)

Alpha deflects to negative plate

Gamma no deflection
Alpha positively charge
Gamma neutral
120 60 30 15 7.5
120 7.5 = 112.5 g

3. Question 3: MRSM 08
Unstable isotopes.
Alpha particle // Helium nucleus
E = mc2
= 3.35 x 1027 x (3 x 108)2
= 3.02 x 10-10 J

(c)
(i)

(c)
(ii)

An alpha particle is positively

charge.

(a)
(i)
(a)
(ii)

6. Question 4: Melaka 08
//

The radioactive emission

enters the tube through the
mica window
ionizes the neon gas.
The electron
n and positive ion
are attracted towards the
anode and cathode
respectively thus produces a
pulse of current.
(b) Background readings // natural
radioactivity in the ground,
bricks or buildings and cosmic
radiation.

 show on the graph

half life = 4 hours
(d) Industries : smoke detectors /
detect thickness of papers /
detect leaks in underground
pipe water
Medicine : radioactive tracers/
sterilization,/cancer treatment
(c)

(a)
(i)
(ii)

7. Question 5:MRSM 07
To stablize the unstable nucleus

The mass before decay is

greater than the mass after
decay
(iii) Change to energy
(iv) E = mc2
(v) The greater the mass defect, the
greater the energy release
(b) The time taken for the activity of
(i) radioactive substance to be
reduced to half of it original
activity.
(ii) Radium-226
Because its half life is shorter
than the half life for Carbon-14.

8. Question 6: Kedah 09
(a) Time for the activity/mass of the
radioactive source to become
half of the original activity /
mass
(b) X: 10 minutes
(i) Y: 5 minutes
(ii) X: 50%
Y: 25%
(c) The decay rates for substances
X is slower
The shorter the half-life, the
higher the decay rate.
(d) Background radiation

9. Question 8: SBP 07
8(a) Atoms of elements which have
same proton number, but
different nucleon number
(b)(i) 1- Show the line in the graph
2- T1/2 = 4 days
(b)(ii)
Shape of graph
One point is correct
Two or more point
(c)(i) Geiger- Muller tube
(ii) Back ground reading
(iii) 562 20/19/21 = 542/ 543/ 541
counts/min
(iv) 5 cm
(v) 1- At 5 cm, the reading form
detector increase rapidly
2- In large scale/ number, shows
the existing of -particles
10. Question 2:SBP 08
(a) Fast moving electron
(b)

GM tube

(c)
(i)
(c)
(ii)

Decrease//low

(d)

Low penetrating power

The beta particle is block by the

juice

11. Question 8: Teknik 07

The Active material can be
emitted radiation
(b)
P
The reading is highest
(c)(i) Thorium : 3T1/2 = 3 days
(a)

T1/2 = 1 day

c(ii) Kobalt-60 : 5.3 years

Actinium : 22 years
Actinium is most suitable
Long half life is / , not need to
change frequently
(d)

Beta particle has medium

penetrate/It can penetrated the
paper

12. Question 8: Trengganu 07

(a)
Isotope that are not stable
(b)
D
The reading of ratemeter is
highest
4
226
222
(c)(i)
2 He
88 Ra
86 Rn +
(c)(ii) 100% 50% 25% 12.5%
Sodium-24 : 3T = 45
T = 15 hours
Cobalt-60
: T = 15.9/3
= 5.3 years
Radium-226 : T = 4860/3
= 1620 years
(d)

(iii)
(c)
(d)

(e)(i) Electromagnetic waves / high

penetrating power/ no charge
(ii)
Gamma ray and light moves
with the same speed.

14. Conceptual: Johor 07

Time elapsed for Diagram 10.1 is
(a)
larger than Diagram 10.2
The radioactive mass decrease
exponentially with time
The radioactive mass for both
source are the same initially
(b)

Sodium-24
Half life is short @ activity
decreases faster
Emmits beta rays @ can
penetrate ground but cant
penetrate pipe
(i)

13. Question 8: Johor 09

(a)
Time taken for the number of
un decayed nuclei to be
reduced to half of its original
number
(b)(i) Gamma
High penetrating power, so can
penetrate through the ground
(ii)
Short half-life
Provide enough time for
investigation // does not stay

too long in the water

Liquid
Can be mixed easily with water
Sodium-24
1600 800 400 200 100
4T1/2 = 4 x 15 = 60 jam

The mass for the radioactivity

and fraction of radioactive is
inversely proportional with the
time elapsed
Half-time is the time taken for
the radioactive of any given
sample to fall to half of its the
original value

15. Understanding: Johor 07

236
U ---- 232 Th + 4 He
92

(ii)

90

During the alpha decay the

number of proton will decreases
by 2
The number of neutron will
decrease by 2

16. Understanding: Perak 07

Arrangement of apparatus:

Observed the reading on the

scaler without an absorber
Put a piece of paper, aluminium
and lead between the source and
the detector in turns.
will be stopped by lead only
For each kind of absorber, record
the reading on the ratemeter
Carry out the same procedure for
the three substances
radiation will be stopped by all
three kinds of absorber
radiation will be stopped by
aluminium and lead

17. Understanding: Kedah 07

Fission: The splitting of a
heavy nucleus into two lighter
nuclei
Fussion: the combining of two
lighter nuclei to form a heavy
nucleus
The resulting nucleus (nuclei)
formed has a smaller mass
than the original nucleus
(nuclei)
The mass defect caused
energy to be released by E =
mc2 where E = energy, m =
mass defect, c = speed of light.

18. Qualitative problem: Kedah 07

(i)
Put a radioactive substance
into the water and let the
water flow to the location of
the leak
After some time use a
radiation detector above the
ground to detect the location
of increased activity
This position is the location
of the leak
The radioactive substance
would flow out together with
the water and remained
outside the pipe
(ii)
Suggestion

Explanation

The half-life
should be a
few days long

This allows for the

location to be
detected and
thereafter the
radioactive
contamination is
reduced

The source
should emit
particles

This allows the

radiation to be able
to be detected
above the ground

The detector
should be
able to detect
particles
(low ionising
particles)

High ionising
particles like and
particles are
absorbed by the
ground

19. Qualitative Problems: Johor 07

Suitable of
Explanation
characteristic
Choose a small
The most
amount of
penetrating radiation
Thaliumwhich would be able
201//Natriumto penetrated the
24//Technetium- patients body
99
Produce / emit X
X-ray
Short half-life of Do not pose any
a few days
serious health risk
GM tube can be
To detect the
as a detector
gamma ray emitted
in practice
The thallium will Have an adequate
reach those
blood supply.
region of the
body
Analysing the
Identify the region
reading of a
that is not receiving
gamma ray
enough blood.//
Higher reading
means blockages
20. Making Decision: Perak 07
(i) Half-life
life is the time required for
the activity of a sample of the
radioisotope to become halved
(ii) emits particles,
can penetrate the soil and
emerge from the ground
sufficiently long half
half-life
after a period of 2 days the
activity of the source wi
will be
weak enough to not pose any
danger
A Geiger- muller
Very sensitive detector/ it
can be carried about from
place to place
A ratemeter
It gives the count rate directly
R is suitable
Emits particles, have
sufficiently long half
half-life

21. Section C: MRSM 08

(a Half-life
life is the time taken for half
the atoms / radioactive to decay
(b Label the axes and unit
Draw the shape of decay
curve
Label N and N/2 on the graph
Label T1/2 on the graph

(c)
Characteristic
Type of
radiation is
gamma

explanation
Has high
penetration power
// can penetrate the
skull easily
Short half life Prevent
revent over
exposure to
radiation / less
harmful to healthy
cell / sufficient
time to get result
Liquid
Can flow easily
into the blood
system
ystem
Ionizing
Does not damage
power is low
healthy cell / does
not cause cell
mutation.
The best radioisotope is K because
it emits gamma rays, has short
half-life,
life, in liquid state and has low
ionizing power.

(d
(i)
(d
(ii

The number of nucleon changes

(d
(iii

3 alpha
2 beta

22. Section B: Kedah 08

Isotopes of an element are
atoms having the same proton
number but different neutron
number
(b) G-M tube is to detect radioactive
(i) radiations
(b) Ratemeter is to record the
(ii) radiations detected by the G-M
tube
(c) The isotopes emit radioactive
radiations
The original nucleus changes
into a different nucleus.
Radioactive decay.
(a)

(d) Nuclear fission is the splitting

of a heavy nucleus into two
lighter nuclei
Nuclear fusion is the
combining of two lighter
nuclei to form a heavy
nucleus.
The resulting nucleus formed
has a smaller mass than the
original nucleus // there is a
mass defect after reaction
The mass defect caused
energy to be released.
(e) The fertilizer that contains a
(i)
radioisotope is injected into
the soil/ plant
Wait for a few days for the
fertilizer to be absorbed
Use G-M tube and ratemeter to
detect the radiations
The locations of where the

fertilizer has gone to are

located and analyzed.
23. Section C: Kelantan 08
(a)(i) The time taken for the
radioactive material to become
half from its original
mass/activity.
(ii)
Fast moving electron/ electron
(iii)
Geiger Muller tube
800 400 200 100 50
(b)
4T1/2 = 4 x 14 = 64 days

Characteristics
Solid
Emits gamma
ray
Long half-life
The most
suitable is
Cobalt-60

Reasons
Easier to handle
High penetration
power
Last longer
The state of
matter is solid,
emits gamma
ray and long
half-life

(d)(i) The process of breaking up of

a heavy nucleus into lighter
nuclei
(ii)
Neutron bombarded a
uranium nucleus
Three neutrons produced
The new neutron
bombarded a new uranium
nucleus
For every reaction, the
neutrons produced will
penetrate a chain reaction
(iii)
E = mc2
2.9 x 10-11 = m x (3 x 108)2
m = 3.22 x 1028 kg

24. Section C: Kelantan 09

(a) The atoms of an element that
contain the same number of
protons
but differing number of neutrons
are called isotopes. The atom
number is the same but the
nucleon number is different.
Characteristics
Explanation
Solid
Easy to handle
Beta
medium
penetration power
and less
dangerous as
compared to
gamma rays.
Long half-life
Last longer
Medium
they are able to
penetration
penetrate paper
power
Strontium 90 because it is a solid,
it emits beta particles, has long half
life and has medium penetration
power.
(c)

Radioactive materials and the

radioactive ray detector are
arranged opposite to each
other/ diagram
High readings from the
diagrams indicate a
thin paper
Low reading indicates a thick
paper.

(d)

(e) 100 50 25 12.5

3T1/2 = 3 x 5 = 15 years

(a)

25. Section C: Melaka 09

the patient is injected with a
liquid type radioisotope
the doctor will trace the
radioisotope activity
the highest count recorded
will be identify
as the location of the related
case

(b)
Characteristics
Short half-life

explanation
Active in a body
for a short time
Has low
Minimum danger
ionization power to tissue organ
Gamma ray
High penetrating
power / can be
detected
Liquid
Dissolved easily
Substance R with short half-life,
emits gamma ray , liquid and has
low ionizing power.

26. Section C: SBP 09

(a) Radioisotopes are isotopes
which have unstable nuclei.
(b)
CharacterisExplanation
tics
Has a long
half-life
Emits beta

Solid form
Low ionizing
power
Radioisotope
T

(c)
(i)
(ii)

(d)

Can be used for a

long time hence
save cost
Can penetrate box
and liquid and is
less dangerous than
gamma
Easy to handle and
contain.
Does not change the
state and taste of
juice.
It has long half life,
emits beta, in solid
form and has low
ionizing power.

Geiger Muller Tube

Bottle E
Rate meter reading is the
highest
Most radiation can reach the
detector without being block
by juice
Correctly stated that as

4
2

He

Correctly stated that as 1 e

Working is shown
X=3
Y=2