Particles Revision Exam Questions

Q1.
Fluoride ions are produced by the addition of a single electron to an atom of fluorine  .

What is the magnitude of specific charge of the fluoride ion?

 
A 3.2 × 10–26 C kg–1
 
B 8.4 × 10–21 C kg–1
 
C 5.0 × 106 C kg–1
 
D 4.5 × 107 C kg–1
 
(Total 1 mark)

Q2.
An atom of gains 3 electrons.

What is the specific charge of the ion?

 
A 1.80 × 107 C kg–1

B –1.80 × 107 C kg–1

C 4.19 × 107 C kg–1

D –4.19 × 107 C kg–1

(Total 1 mark)

Q3.
Which of the following nuclei has the smallest specific charge?
 
A

(Total 1 mark)

Q4.
is an unstable nuclide in a radioactive decay series. It decays by emitting an α particle.

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 The next two nuclides in the series emit β− particles.

What nuclide is formed after these three decays have taken place?
 
A

(Total 1 mark)

Q5.
Which nucleus has a smaller value of specific charge than the nucleus ?
 
A

D
(Total 1 mark)

Q6.
An atom of calcium, , is ionised by removing two electrons.

(i)      State the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in the ion formed.

protons____________________

neutrons____________________

electrons____________________
(3)

(ii)     Calculate the charge of the ion.

charge ____________________ C
(1)

(iii)    Calculate the specific charge of the ion.

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specific charge ____________________ C kg–1

(2)
(Total 6 marks)

Q7.
(a)     The nucleus of a particular atom has a nucleon number of 14 and a proton number of 6.

(i)      State what is meant by nucleon number and proton number.

nucleon number ________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

proton number __________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(ii)     Calculate the number of neutrons in the nucleus of this atom.

answer = ____________________
(1)

(iii)    Calculate the specific charge of the nucleus.

answer = ____________________ Ckg–1

(3)

(b)     The specific charge of the nucleus of another isotope of the element is 4.8 × 107 Ckg–1.

(i)      State what is meant by an isotope.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(2)

(ii)     Calculate the number of neutrons in this isotope.

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answer = ____________________
(3)
(Total 10 marks)

Q8.
(a)     State what is meant by the specific charge of a nucleus and give an appropriate unit for
this quantity.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

unit: ____________________
(2)

(b)     Nucleus X has the same nucleon number as nucleus Y. The specific charge of X is 1.25
times greater than that of Y.

(i)      Explain, in terms of protons and neutrons, why the specific charge of X is greater
than that of Y.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(2)

(ii)     Nucleus X is . Deduce the number of protons and the number of neutrons in

nucleus Y.

number of protons ____________________

number of neutrons ____________________

(4)
(Total 8 marks)

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Q9.
Alpha decay is a process by which an unstable isotope of an element may decay.

(i)      State what is meant by isotopes.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(ii)      Complete this equation for alpha decay.

 
(2)

(iii)     Calculate the specific charge of an alpha particle, stating an appropriate unit.

answer = ______________________
(4)

(iv)     Explain why the alpha particle, once outside the nucleus, is unaffected by the strong
nuclear force.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 10 marks)

Page 5 of 14
Q10.

This a radioactive isotope of thorium.

(a)     State for an atom of Th,

(i)      the number of protons in the nucleus,

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(ii)     the number of neutrons in the nucleus.

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(b)     A sample of pure Th that contains 2.6 × 1021 atoms is observed to decay at an initial
rate of 3.0 × 1013 Bq.

(i)      State the unit of decay probability ____________________

(1)

(ii)     Calculate the probability of decay for an atom of  Th.

Probability of decay ____________________

(2)
(Total 5 marks)

Q11.
(a)     State the name of the antiparticle of a positron.

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(b)     Describe what happens when a positron and its antiparticle meet.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

Page 6 of 14
 (Total 3 marks)

Q12.
A neutral atom of carbon is represented by  

(a)     Name the constituents of this atom and state how many of each are present.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

(b)     Which constituent of an atom has the largest charge-to-mass ratio?

___________________________________________________________________

(c)     Carbon has several isotopes. Explain the term isotope.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(Total 6 marks)

Q13.
(a)       is a neutral atom of thorium. How many protons, neutrons and electrons does it
contain?

____________________     protons

____________________     neutrons

____________________     electrons
(2)

(b)     is a neutral atom of a different isotope of thorium which contains Z electrons. Give
possible values for X, Y and Z.

X = ____________________

Y = ____________________

Z = ____________________
(3)
(Total 5 marks)

Q14.
(a)     How many protons, neutrons and electrons are there in an atom of ?

______________________ protons

______________________ neutrons

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 ______________________ electrons
(2)

(b)     The  atom loses two electrons.

For the ion formed;

(i)      calculate its charge in C,

______________________________________________________________

(ii)     state the number of nucleons it contains,

______________________________________________________________

(iii)     calculate the ratio  in C kg–1.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(4)
(Total 6 marks)

Q15.
(a)     Name the constituent of an atom which

(i)      has zero charge,

______________________________________________________________

(ii)     has the largest charge to mass ratio,

______________________________________________________________

(iii)     when removed leaves a different isotope of the element.

______________________________________________________________
(3)

(b)     An α particle is the same as a nucleus of helium, He.

The equation

Th      >Ra   +   α

represents the decay of thorium by the emission of an α particle.

Determine

Page 8 of 14
(i)      the values of X and Y, shown in the equation,

X = ____________________

Y = ____________________

(ii)     the ratio

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(3)
(Total 6 marks)

Page 9 of 14
Mark schemes

Q1.
C
[1]

Q2.
B
[1]

Q3.
D
[1]

Q4.
D
[1]

Q5.
 
A
[1]

Q6.
(a)     (i)      protons = 20
neutrons = 28 
electrons = 18   
3

(ii)     2 × 1.6 × 10−19 = 3.2 × 10−19   (C)

-ve sign loses mark
1

(iii)     specific charge = 3.2 × 10−19 / (48 × 1.67 × 10−27 + 18 × 9.11 × 10−31)  

specific charge = 4.0 × 106 C kg−1  

Allow 1.66
Allow CE from (ii)
First mark is for mass if miss out electron mass and do not
justify lose first mark
2
[6]

Q7.
(a)      (i)     nucleon number is the number of protons and neutrons OR mass number
proton number is the number of protons OR atomic number
1
 (ii)     14 – 6 = 8  
1

(iii)     specific charge = 6 × 1.6 × 10–19 /(14 × 1.66 × 10–27 )

specific charge = 4.1 × 107 (C kg–1)

3

(b)     (i)      isotopes are variations of an element that have same

proton/atomic number  

but different nucleon number OR different number of neutrons  

2

(ii)     4.8 × 107 = 6 × 1.6 × 10–19 /(A × 1.66 × 10–27)

A = 6 × 1.6 × 10–19/(4.8 × 107 × 1.66 × 10–27)

A = 12  

Number of neutrons = 12-6  

3
[10]

Q8.
(a)    the ratio of charge to mass of nucleus   

C kg−1   
2

(b)     (i)     number of protons and neutrons the same or number of neutrons less or

mass the same  

but more protons therefore greater charge  

2

(ii)     answers add up to 10  

number of protons = 4  

number of neutrons = 10 − 4 = 6  

evidence of correct calculation  

eg 5q = 1.25 × ?q

?=4
4
[8]

Q9.
(i)      same atomic number/number of protons  

different mass/nucleon number/different number of neutrons  

2
 (ii)         
2

(iii)        

 = 4.8 × 107 Ckg–1  

4

(iv)     strong nuclear force is short range  

no effect at distances larger 3 fm

(except any distance less than 10 fm)  
2
[10]

Q10.
(a)     (i)      90

B1
1

(ii)     [228-90 =] 138

B1
1

(b)     (i)      second–1

B1
1

(ii)     λ = 3.0 × 1013 /2.6 × 1021

M1

= 1.2 × 10–8 [s–1]

A1
2
[5]

Q11.
(a)     electron

B1
1

(b)     they annihilate (condone disappear/destroy or eliminate each

other)

B1

forming (two) gamma ray(s)/radiation or photon(s)

 (i.e. condone singular)
NOT just energy

B1
2
[3]

Q12.
(a)      protons and neutrons (1)
6p, 8n (1)
[or u and d quarks (1), 20u and 22d (1)]
6 electrons (1)

(b)     electron (1)

(c)    atoms with identical numbers of protons but

different numbers of neutrons (1)
[6]

Q13.
(a)     90 (protons) (1)

(232 – 90 gives) 142 (neutrons), 90 (electrons) (1)

(2)

(b)     X = 90 (1)

Y = (any value between) 212 and 252 (1)

Z = 90 (1)
(3)
[5]

Q14.
(a)     6 (protons) and 6 (electrons) (1)
8 (neutrons) (1)
2

(b)     (i)      (2 × 1.6 × 10–19) = 3.2 × 10–19 (C) (1)

(ii)     14 (1)

(iii)     m = 14 × 1.67 × 10–27 (kg) (1)

 = 1.4 × 107 (C kg–1) (1)

(1.37 ×107 (C kg–1))

(allow C.E for values from (i) and (ii))

4
[6]

Q15.
(a)     (i)      neutron (1)

(ii)     electron (1)

(iii)     neutron (1)

3

(b)     (i)      (X =) 225 (1)

(Y =) 88 (1)

(ii)      = 56(.3) (1)

(allow C.E. for value of X from (i))

3
[6]