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American Academy Larnaca

Year 5 Test
Double Science − Physics
Topic P2.11: Putting radiation to use
Topic P2.12: Power of the atom
Thursday 21 May 2010
Multiple choice
Time: 20 minutes
FORMULAE
You may find the following formulae useful.

displacement s
average velocity = v=
time t

change in velocity (v − u )
acceleration = a=
time t

force = mass × acceleration F=m×a

momentum = mass × velocity p=m×v

change in
= mass × gravitational field strength × change in height PE = m × g × h
potential energy

kinetic energy = ½ × mass × (velocity)2 KE = ½ × m v2

electrical energy = voltage × current × time E=V×I×t

work done W
power = P=
time taken t

work done = force × distance moved in the direction of the force W=F×s

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Radioactivity

1. The diagram shows the effect of parts of the body on the radiation from four radioactive sources.
Which source gives out alpha particles only?

skin muscle bone

2. A radioactive isotope of Krypton is written as

89
36 Kr

The number of protons in this nucleus is

A 36
B 53
C 89
D 125

3. Krypton-89 has a half-life of 3.2 minutes.

It decays by emitting a beta particle.
A sample contains 64 g of krypton-89.
How much of the original krypton-89 will remain after 6.4 minutes?

A 0g
B 16 g
C 32 g
D 128 g

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4. Which of these is correct for gamma rays but not for X-rays?

A low ionising ability

B travel through muscle
C can expose photographic plates
D produced in the nucleus of an atom

5. The diagram shows the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.

protons

neutrons

Which of these shows an isotope of this?

A B C D

Uses of radiation

6. Alpha particles are used in some smoke detectors.

This is because alpha particles have

A high kinetic energy

B low mass
C low chemical energy
D high ionizing ability

7. A smoke detector is fitted to the ceiling in a room.

Alpha particles in the smoke detector come from an isotope of the element americium.
The radiation from the smoke detector is usually not harmful.
This is because

A alpha particles are electromagnetic waves

B alpha particles only travel a few centimetres in air
C alpha particles cause very little ionisation
D alpha particles are too large to enter human cells

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8. The position of a leak of fuel from an underground pipe can be traced using radioactivity.
The type of radiation used is

Earth’s
surface

pipe

A X-rays
B gamma rays
C alpha particles
D beta particles

9. Which row of the table correctly matches the types of radiation and their uses?

treating brain cancer through the skull sterilising medical equipment

A gamma gamma
B alpha gamma
C gamma alpha
D alpha alpha

10. A teacher measured the half-life of a radioactive element.

Her results were

54 s 57 s 55 s 116 s 58 s

The value she should use for half-life is

A 54 s
B 56 s
C 68 s
D 116 s

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A Radioactivity Investigation

Anne and Peter watch their teacher demonstrate an experiment using a source of beta particles.
This is the apparatus she used to investigate the absorption of beta particles by sheets of aluminium.

source of sheets of aluminium radiation counter

beta radiation being tested detector

11. Anne and Peter discuss the dangers of ionising radiation.

Older people are not affected Ionising radiation can cause

by ionising radiation. mutation of living cells.
Anne Peter

Who is correct?

A Anne only
B Peter only
C both Anne and Peter
D neither

12. These are the teacher’s results.

thickness of
0 2 4 6 8 10 20
aluminium sheet (mm)
reading (counts per minute):
150 90 53 30 28 27 29
1st attempt
reading (counts per minute):
147 93 51 32 27 28 30
2nd attempt

Why does the reading from the radiation detector not reach zero?

A aluminium is not dense enough to stop beta particles

B aluminium sheets reflect beta particles
C the experiment is not valid
D some of the radiation is due to background radiation

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Electrostatics

Paul and Jim are investigating static electricity.

Paul charges a plastic strip by rubbing it with a dry cloth.
The strip becomes negatively charged.
Paul holds the negatively charged strip below a negatively charged balloon.

negatively charged
balloon

negatively charged
plastic strip

13. Which row of the table correctly shows the direction of electrostatic forces?

direction the strip pushes the balloon direction the balloon pushes the strip
A ↑ ↑
B ↑ ↓
C ↓ ↓
D ↓ ↑

14. During rubbing the plastic strip becomes negatively charged when it

A gains electrons
B loses electrons
C gains protons
D loses protons

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Special precautions have to be taken when refuelling aeroplanes.

15. When an aeroplane is refuelled, the risk of an explosion is reduced by

A putting conducting particles in the fuel

B standing the aeroplane and tanker on rubber mats
C connecting the aeroplane and tanker to the ground with a conductor
D connecting the aeroplane and tanker to the ground with an insulator

The Atom

Jane and Susie are researching atomic structure and nuclear reactions.
They learn about a famous experiment in which alpha particles pass close to gold nuclei.
Both the gold nucleus and the alpha particle have a positive charge.

16. Which of these could be the path of an alpha particle passing very close to a gold nucleus?

gold gold
nucleus nucleus

A B

gold gold
nucleus nucleus

C D

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Nuclear fusion

17. Alice finds out about the difference between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.
Which row of the table is correct for nuclear fusion?

type of nuclei used nuclear fusion takes place

A isotopes of uranium in stars
B isotopes of hydrogen in stars
C isotopes of hydrogen in nuclear power stations
D isotopes of uranium in nuclear power stations

Nuclear power stations

Nuclear power stations and nuclear bombs use chain reactions to produce electricity.
Nuclear bombs make use of uncontrolled chain reactions.

18. Toppling dominoes can be used to illustrate nuclear reactions.

Which of these arrangements best illustrates an uncontrolled chain reaction?

push
direction
of toppling
direction
of toppling

push push

A B

direction
of toppling

direction
of toppling

push push
C D

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19. Which chart correctly shows the energy flow as electrical energy is produced from nuclear fission?

nuclear kinetic chemical electrical

A energy energy energy energy

nuclear chemical kinetic electrical

B energy energy energy energy

nuclear kinetic thermal electrical

C energy energy energy energy

nuclear thermal kinetic electrical

D energy energy energy energy

20. Which graph best represents the energy output from a controlled chain reaction in a power station?

energy energy
output output

time time
A B

energy energy
output output

time time
C D

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21. The waste from the reactor core can be put into steel containers.
The containers are then buried deep underground.
These precautions are taken because the waste is

A acidic
B corrosive
C flammable
D radioactive

22. Dave and Barbara discuss nuclear power stations.

In a nuclear power station Only the unused uranium is

liquid nitrogen is used to radioactive so the fission products
control the chain reaction. can be released into the sea.

Dave Barbara

Who is correct?

A Dave only
B Barbara only
C both Dave and Barbara
D neither

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Deflecting moving particles

The diagram shows the effect of a magnetic field on two charged particles P and Q.
• P and Q are travelling at the same speed
• particles with more mass are more difficult to deflect
• particles with more charge are easier to deflect
• particles with charges of opposite sign are deflected in opposite directions

magnetic field
in shaded region

23. Which one cannot be correct?

A If they have the same mass, then P has more charge than Q
B If they have the same amount of charge, then P has more mass than Q
C If P has more mass than Q, then P has more charge than Q
D The charge on P has an opposite sign to the charge on Q

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24. Two other particles R and S enter the magnetic field along the same path and
at the same speed as P and Q.

magnetic field
in shaded region

R
P
S

Karl and Jane discuss the four paths.

S is either much more massive R could have the same mass as Q but
than Q or it has little charge. have more charge with an opposite sign.

Karl Jane

Who is correct?

A Karl only
B Jane only
C both Karl and Jane
D neither

TOTAL FOR MULTIPLE CHOICE PAPER: 24 MARKS

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