School / Cambridge IGCSE / 0625 / Radioactivity and atomic physics Question practice
Radioactivity and atomic physics About this practice Nuclear notation, decay types and half-life.
Physics Radioactivity and atomic physics
View All Incomplete Complete Review mistakes One at a time
Revision Ladder All stages Easy Medium HardSoon
1 A nucleus of uranium-238 (₉₂²³⁸U) decays by emitting an alpha particle. Write the nuclide notation of the resulting daughter nucleus, including its mass number and atomic number. Easy 3 marks No calculator + 2 A radioactive isotope has a half-life of 5 days. A sample starts with an activity of 800 counts per minute. Calculate the activity after 20 days. Easy 3 marks Calculator + 3 Distinguish between alpha, beta and gamma radiation in terms of their penetrating power through materials. Easy 3 marks No calculator + 4 A radioactive source is placed near a Geiger-Müller tube connected to a counter. Describe how the count rate can be used to determine the half-life of the source, including one correction that should be applied. Medium 4 marks No calculator + 5 Complete the nuclear equation for the beta decay of carbon-14: ₆¹⁴C → ₇¹⁴N + [particle]. Identify the missing particle. Easy 3 marks No calculator + 6 Explain one medical use of a gamma-emitting radioactive isotope, referring to why gamma radiation specifically is suitable. Easy 3 marks No calculator + 7 Describe the structure of the atom in terms of the nucleus and electron arrangement, including the relative size of the nucleus compared to the whole atom. Easy 3 marks No calculator + 8 Explain why alpha particles are more strongly ionising than gamma rays, and link this to their difference in penetrating power. Easy 3 marks No calculator + 9 A sample initially contains 4.0 × 10¹⁰ radioactive nuclei. After 3 half-lives, calculate the number of radioactive nuclei remaining. Easy 3 marks Calculator + 10 Discuss one benefit and one risk associated with the use of radioactive isotopes in industry (e.g. checking the thickness of metal sheets). Easy 2 marks No calculator + 11 Describe what happens during the nuclear fission of a uranium-235 nucleus, and explain how a chain reaction can occur. Medium 4 marks No calculator + 12 Describe what happens during nuclear fusion, giving the Sun as an example, and state one difference between fusion and fission. Easy 3 marks No calculator + 13 Discuss one advantage and one disadvantage of generating electricity using nuclear fission in a power station, compared with burning fossil fuels. Easy 2 marks No calculator + 14 State three sources of background radiation, and identify which of these is typically the largest contributor. Medium 4 marks No calculator + 15 State three safety precautions that should be taken when handling a radioactive source in a school laboratory. Easy 3 marks No calculator + 16 A nucleus of radium-226 (₈₈²²⁶Ra) decays by emitting an alpha particle. Write the nuclide notation of the resulting daughter nucleus. Easy 3 marks No calculator + 17 After emitting an alpha or beta particle, a nucleus is often left in an excited (higher-energy) state. Explain what happens when the nucleus subsequently emits a gamma ray, and state what happens to its mass number and atomic number. Easy 3 marks No calculator + 18 A student records the count rate of a radioactive source, corrected for background radiation, over time: 400 counts/min at 0 minutes, 200 counts/min at 8 minutes, 100 counts/min at 16 minutes. Determine the half-life of the source. Easy 3 marks Calculator + 19 Explain why exposure to ionising radiation can be harmful to living cells, and state one possible long-term effect on the body. Easy 3 marks No calculator + 20 Define the term isotope, and give an example of two isotopes of the same element, stating one way in which their properties differ and one way in which they are the same. Medium 4 marks No calculator + Self-assessed Not marked yet
Set total 62
This is a self-study tool, not a certified answer key or a predicted Cambridge IGCSE grade.
Loading progress Reset progress
Before you practise
Questions learners ask about this practice Are these official Cambridge IGCSE questions? No. These are original SubjectScout practice questions for Radioactivity and atomic physics. They are not official past-paper questions or endorsed material.
What does this Physics practice page include? It includes selected topic questions, marking points, and feedback prompts designed to help learners practise before requesting teacher support.
Can I request a teacher for this exact topic? Yes. Tell SubjectScout the subject, exact topic, level and deadline, and the team will try to match you with a suitable verified teacher.
Unofficial content under accuracy, provenance, and rights review. It is not presented as official Cambridge material.
