Topic 11: Nuclear Radiation
1.1 Specification notice:
In order to develop their practical skills, students should be encouraged
to carry out a range of practical experiments related to this topic. Possible
experiments include measuring the half-life of a radioactive material.
Mathematical skills that could be developed in this topic include applying
the concepts underlying calculus (but without requiring the explicit use of
derivatives or integrals) by solving equations involving rates of change,
for example. Δx /Δt = –λx using a graphical method or spreadsheet
modelling and understanding probability in the context of radioactive
decay.
This topic may be studied using applications that relate to nuclear
radiation, for example nuclear power stations and medical physics.
11.Q Exam questions
How would you prove this curve is
exponential?
● Form Q=Q0 e-kt
● Plot ln charge against time
● If straight line with negative gradient
its exponential
OR
● Form Q=Q0e-kt
● Calc Q/Q0 for pairs of values with
same time interval t OR calc t1/2 at
least twice
● If equal then it’s exponential
State why the half life of potassium-40 make
the potassium chloride a more suitable
, material than strontium-90 for the test?
Describe the extreme conditions inside a
fusion reactor? (3)
● Very high temperatures (1)
● Very high densities (1)
● High magnetic flux density (1)
● Bombardment by neutrons (1)
● Material is a plasma (or material is
fully ionised) (1)
11.164 understand the concept of nuclear binding energy and
be able to use the equation ΔE = c2Δm in calculations of
nuclear mass (including mass deficit) and energy
Define binding energy (2)? The energy equal to the mass defect (1) and when
the nucleons bind together to form an atomic
nucleus (1)
This could also be considered the energy needed to
separate the nucleus into its individual separate
nucleons
What is a mass defect? The difference between the mass of the separate
nucleons added together and when all the nucleons
are together in the nucleus.
The latter is less since it is more stable when it is
together. When a nucleus is formed, this mass is
released as energy
11.165 use the atomic mass unit (u) to express small masses
and convert between this and SI units
1.1 Specification notice:
In order to develop their practical skills, students should be encouraged
to carry out a range of practical experiments related to this topic. Possible
experiments include measuring the half-life of a radioactive material.
Mathematical skills that could be developed in this topic include applying
the concepts underlying calculus (but without requiring the explicit use of
derivatives or integrals) by solving equations involving rates of change,
for example. Δx /Δt = –λx using a graphical method or spreadsheet
modelling and understanding probability in the context of radioactive
decay.
This topic may be studied using applications that relate to nuclear
radiation, for example nuclear power stations and medical physics.
11.Q Exam questions
How would you prove this curve is
exponential?
● Form Q=Q0 e-kt
● Plot ln charge against time
● If straight line with negative gradient
its exponential
OR
● Form Q=Q0e-kt
● Calc Q/Q0 for pairs of values with
same time interval t OR calc t1/2 at
least twice
● If equal then it’s exponential
State why the half life of potassium-40 make
the potassium chloride a more suitable
, material than strontium-90 for the test?
Describe the extreme conditions inside a
fusion reactor? (3)
● Very high temperatures (1)
● Very high densities (1)
● High magnetic flux density (1)
● Bombardment by neutrons (1)
● Material is a plasma (or material is
fully ionised) (1)
11.164 understand the concept of nuclear binding energy and
be able to use the equation ΔE = c2Δm in calculations of
nuclear mass (including mass deficit) and energy
Define binding energy (2)? The energy equal to the mass defect (1) and when
the nucleons bind together to form an atomic
nucleus (1)
This could also be considered the energy needed to
separate the nucleus into its individual separate
nucleons
What is a mass defect? The difference between the mass of the separate
nucleons added together and when all the nucleons
are together in the nucleus.
The latter is less since it is more stable when it is
together. When a nucleus is formed, this mass is
released as energy
11.165 use the atomic mass unit (u) to express small masses
and convert between this and SI units
