Name: _______________________________________________
P2 Topic 5 Fusion and fission Higher
Date:
Time: 26 minutes
Total marks available: 26
Total marks achieved: ______
Questions
Q1.
Radioactivity, its uses and problems
(a) Radioactivity is used in medicine to diagnose and treat cancer.
State two other uses of radioactivity.
(2)
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(b) Which of these is the correct definition for the half-life of a radioactive isotope?
Put a cross (
) in the box next to your answer.
(1)
A it is the time it takes for half of an atom to decay
B it is the number of atoms left when half have decayed
C it is the time taken for half the undecayed nuclei to decay
D it is half of the time it takes for all the undecayed nuclei to decay
(c) (i) Iodine-131 emits beta particles.
State what a beta particle is.
(1)
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(ii) The graph shows how the activity of iodine-131 varies with time.
A sample of iodine-131 has a mass of 100 mg.
How much iodine-131 will remain after 24 days?
(3)
mass of iodine-131 = ...................................... mg
(d) Scientists in Finland are building a facility for the storage of radioactive waste.
They plan to bury radioactive waste deep underground.
Describe some of the issues that need to be considered when planning to bury nuclear waste.
(3)
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Q2.
Nuclear reactions
(a) Complete the sentence by putting a cross ( ) in the box next to your answer.
Two types of nuclear reaction are nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.
Nuclear fission and nuclear fusion reactions both
(1)
A combine hydrogen nuclei
B combine uranium nuclei
C release neutrons
D release energy
(b) In 1989, two scientists called Pons and Fleischmann claimed to have produced ‘cold fusion’.
Their claim has never been validated by the scientific community.
Explain the phrase validated by the scientific community.
(2)
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(c) Nuclear fusion is the main energy source for stars.
Describe what happens in nuclear fusion.
(3)
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*(d) Describe how the nuclear fission of uranium-235 is used to produce electricity in a nuclear power
station.
(6)
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Q3.
Alpha, beta and gamma are types of ionising radiation.
State two ways in which gamma radiation is different from alpha radiation.
(2)
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Q4.
Alpha, beta and gamma are types of ionising radiation.
(i) Complete the sentence by putting a cross (
A beta particle is emitted by
) in the box next to your answer.
(1)
A an alpha particle
B a fusion particle
C a gamma ray
D an unstable nucleus
(ii) Complete the sentence by putting a cross (
A beta particle has an identical charge to
) in the box next to your answer.
(1)
A an alpha particle
B an electron
C a neutron
D a nucleus
Q1.
No Examiner's Report available for this question
Q2.
No Examiner's Report available for this question
Q3.
As expected here, the vast majority of candidates were able to state two ways in which gamma radiation
is different from alpha radiation.
Results Plus: Examiner Comments
Two clear differences are given here, penetrating power and ionising ability. This answer scored
2 marks.
Results Plus: Examiner Comments
This response gives only one difference, to do with penetrating power so scored only 1
mark.
Q4.
No Examiner's Report available for this question
Mark Scheme
Q1.
Question
Number
(a)
Answer
Any two from the
following points
Acceptable answers
credit any specific
examples but must
Mark
(2)
• smoke alarms (1)
• irradiating food (1)
• dating (e.g.
radiocarbon) (1)
• sterilisation of
equipment (1)
• tracing and
gauging thickness
(1)
be from two different
areas for 2 marks
Answer
Acceptable answers
Question
Number
(b)
(c)(i)
Answer
Acceptable answers
(fast moving)
electron
Question
Number
(c)(ii)
Question
Number
(d)
(1)
C
Question
Number
Mark
Mark
(1)
Answer
Acceptable answers
half life = 8 days (1)
24 days = 3 half lives
(1) 12.5 (mg) (1)
bald 3 half lives for 2
marks give full marks
for correct answer,
no working
Answer
Acceptable answers
A description
including three of
the following points
• the long time taken
for decay (of
long-lived
radionuclides)
• water causing
corrosion / leaks
• transportation of
radioactive material
• need for
geologically stable
rock formation
• public perception of
waste • security from
terrorist activity
idea of planning for
conditions hundreds
/thousands of years
from now public do
not want waste
buried near where
they live (so
limitation on
available sites)
Mark
(3)
Mark
(3)
Q2.
Question
Number
(a)
Question
Number
(b)
Question
Number
(c)
Question
Number
QWC
Answer
Acceptable answers
Mark
D
Answer
Acceptable answers
(1)
Mark
An explanation
linking the following
points • idea that
the procedure has
been checked to
confirm consistent
results (1) • (by)
other reputable
scientists
/organisations /
peers (1)
Answer
Acceptable answers
(2)
Mark
Indicative Content
(3)
Mark
A description
including some of
the following stages
Fission• absorption
of slow moving /
thermal neutron by
U-235 • to produce
daughter nuclei, two
or more neutrons
and two or more
neutrons and
Controlled chain
reaction• use of
moderators to
produce thermal
neutrons • use of
control rods to
capture neutrons
• idea of keeping
number of further
fissions to just over
one per fission
reaction Energy
transfer• (kinetic)
energy (of fission
products) is
converted to thermal
(6)
A description
including three of
the following points
• hydrogen / small
nuclei (1) • join or
fuse (1) • to form
helium / larger nuclei
(1) • energy is
released (1)
*(d)
Level
1
0
1-2
2
3-4
3
5-6
energy • use of
coolant to transfer
the thermal energy
(from the reactor
vessel to a heat
exchanger) to
produce steam
• use of steam to
drive a turbine • use
of turbine to drive a
generator / produce
electricity
No rewardable content
• a limited description e.g. heat from the
reactor makes steam for the turbine • the
answer communicates ideas using simple
language and uses limited scientific
terminology • spelling, punctuation and
grammar are used with limited accuracy
• some description including some points
from all three stages or most points from any
two stages • the answer communicates
ideas showing some evidence of clarity and
organisation and uses scientific terminology
appropriately • spelling, punctuation and
grammar are used with some accuracy
• a a detailed description including most
points from all three stages: fission,
controlled chain reaction and energy transfer
• the answer communicates ideas clearly
and coherently uses a range of scientific
terminology accurately • spelling,
punctuation and grammar are used with few
errors
Q3.
Answer
(i)
Q4.
Any two of: Gamma
is a wave (1)
Alpha is a helium
nucleus (1)
Alpha is charged (1)
Alpha has a mass
(1)
Gamma penetrates
further/
highly (1)
Gamma weakly
ionising (1)
Gamma travels
faster (1)
Acceptable
answers
Reverse arguments
em radiation
Gamma has no
charge
Gamma has no
mass
examples of
penetrating power
alpha highly ionising
ignore vague
comments eg
stronger
Ignore uses and
dangers
Mark
(2)
Answer
(i)
(ii)
D
B
Acceptable
answers
Mark
(1)
(1)