Nuclear Physics Edexcel Notes 2
Nuclear Physics Edexcel Notes 2
Nuclear Physics Edexcel Notes 2
N.Sheriff 1
Graph of number present vs time Graph of number decayed vs time
N.Sheriff 2
Exponential decay equations
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Questions
1. a Define the half-life of a radioactive isotope. [1]
b The half-life of a particular isotope is 20 minutes. A sample initially contains N0 nuclei
of this isotope. Determine the number of nuclei of the isotope left in the sample after:
i 20 minutes [1]
ii 1.0 hour. [2]
2. The activity of an α-source is 540 Bq. The kinetic energy of each α-particle is 8.6 × 10 −14 J.
The isotope in the source has a very long half-life.
a Calculate the number of α-particles emitted by the source in:
i 1 second [1]
ii 1 hour. [1]
b Determine the total energy released by the source in a time of 1 second. [3]
c State the rate at which energy is emitted from this α-source. [1]
220
3. The half-life of the radon isotope 86 Rn is 56 s.
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