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A-LevelPhysicsNuclear physics9702/22 · Feb/Mar 2018 · Q66 Marks

A sample of a radioactive isotope emits a beam of β⁻ radiation.

  1. (a)State the change, if any, to the number of neutrons in a nucleus of the sample that emits a β⁻ particle.[1]
  2. (b)The number of β⁻ particles passing a fixed point in the beam in a time of 2.0 minutes is 9.8 x 10¹⁰. Calculate the current, in pA, produced by the beam of β⁻ particles.[3]
  3. (c)Suggest why the β⁻ particles are emitted with a range of kinetic energies.[2]

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Feb/Mar 2018). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

  1. [A1] -1 / decreases by 1
  2. [C1] I = Q / t or Ne / t
  3. = (9.8×10^10 × 1.6×10⁻¹⁹) / (2.0 × 60)
  4. [C1]
  5. [A1] = 130 pA
  6. [C1] antineutrino(s) (emitted) / other particle(s) (emitted)
  7. [A1] energy / momentum shared with antineutrino(s)

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About this question

Topic
Nuclear physics, A-Level Physics (syllabus 9702). Structured question, 6 marks.
Source
A-Level Physics, Feb/Mar 2018 Paper 2 Variant 2, question 6.

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