O-LevelPhysicsNuclear Physics5054/12 · May/June 2023 · Q361 Mark

A sample of a radioactive isotope with a very long half-life is placed next to a detector. Sheets of different materials are inserted, one at a time, between the radioactive sample and the detector. The background count rate is subtracted from the readings on the detector and the corrected count rates are recorded in the table. Which types of radiation are emitted by the radioactive sample?

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Aalpha-particles and beta-particles only

Balpha-particles only

Cbeta-particles and gamma radiation only

Dgamma radiation only

✓ Correct answer

C: beta-particles and gamma radiation only

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Topic: Nuclear Physics, O-Level Physics (syllabus 5054). Multiple choice, 1 mark.
Source: O-Level Physics, May/June 2023 Paper 1 Variant 2, question 36.

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