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Question 13 Marks
(i) (a) Represent the change in the nucleus of a radioactive element when a $\beta$ particle is emitted.
(b) What is the name given to elements with same mass number and different atomic number?
(c) Under which conditions does the nucleus of an atom tend to be radioactive?
(ii) (a) State one harmful effect of the radioactivity.
(b) Name the radioactive radiations which have the least penetrating power.
(c) Give one use of radio isotopes.
(d) What is meant by background radiation?
(iii) The ore of Uranium found in nature contains ${ }_{92}^{238} U$ and ${ }_{92}^{235} U$. Although both the isotopes are fissionable, it is found out experimentally that one of the two isotopes is more easily fissionable.
(a) Name the isotope of Uranium which is easily fissionable.
(b) Give a reason for your answer
(c) Write a nuclear reaction when Uranium 238 emits an alpha particle to form a Thorium (Th) nucleus.
Answer
(i) (a) ${ }_Z X^A \longrightarrow{ }_{Z+1} X_1^A+{ }_{-1} e^0$.
(b) Isobars.
(c) The nucleus of an atom tend to be radioactive :
1. When its atomic number exceeds 82.
2. There is an imbalance of protons and neutrons as compared to normal stable atom.
(ii) (a) The radiations given out in the decay process can damage living tissues.
(b) Alpha radiations have least penetrating power.
(c) Radio isotopes are used in the cure of cancer.
(d) Radiation which is omnipresent and can be detected of Geiger Muller tube is called background radiation.
(iii) (a) ${ }_{92}^{235} U$ is easily fissionable.
(b) ${ }_{92}^{235} U$ fissions with low-energy thermal neutrons because the binding energy resulting from the absorption of a neutron is greater than the critical energy required for fission.
(c) ${ }_{92} U ^{2133} \rightarrow 90 Th ^{234}+$ Alpha particle $\left({ }_2 He ^4\right)$
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Question 23 Marks
(i) An atomic nucleus A is composed of 84 protons and 128 neutrons. The nucleus A emits an alpha particle and is transformed into a nucleus B.
(a) What is the composition of B ?
(b) The nucleus B emits a beta particle and is transformed into a mucleus C. What is the composition of C?
(c) What is mass number of the nucleus A ?
(d) Does the composition of C change if it emits gamma radiations?
(ii) (a) Define fusion.
(b) Define fission.
(iii) (a) What is meant by Radioactivity?
(b) What is meant by nuclear waste?
(c) Suggest one effective way for the safe disposal of nuclear waste.
Answer
(i) Atomic mass of $A =84+128=212$
${ }_{84} A^{212} \rightarrow{ }_{82} B^{208}+{ }_2 He^4(\alpha-\text { particle })$
(a) B has 82 protons and 126 neutrons
(b) ${ }_{82} B^{208}-\beta \rightarrow{ }_{83} C ^{208}$
C has 83 protons and 125 neutrons.
(c) Mass number of nucleus $A =212$
(d) There is no change in the composition of C if it emits gamma radiations.
(ii) (a) The process of combining lighter nuclei (atomic weight less than 20 ) into heavier nuclei with the relense of energy is called nuclear fusion.
(b) The process by which a heavy radioactive nucleus is broken into light nuclei by the bombardment of slow neutrons, so as to liberate energy and more neutrons than used for bombardment is called nuclear fission.
(iii) (a) The phenomenon due to the nucleus of certain elements decays on its own, giving out harmful radiations, such as alpha particles, beta particles and gamma radiations is called radioactivity.
(b) The residual material left in the nuclear reactors after generating heat energy is called nuclear waste. The nuclear waste is radioactive and very harmful to the environment.
(c) The nuclear waste should be stored in stainless steel containers, lined from within with thick sheets of lead, so that no radioactive rays come out of it. The containers should be stored in safe and well-guarded place, so that they do not fall in the hands of criminal elements.
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Question 33 Marks
(i) (a) Name the kind of reactions taking place :
(i) In the star
(ii) In muclear reactor
(iii) In our body.
(b) When an alpha particle gains two clectrons it becomes neutral and becomes an atom of an element which is rare gas. What is the name of this rare gas?
(ii) State three precautions in the handling of radioactive substances.
(iii) (a) Define radionctivity.
(b) What happens inside the mucleus that causes the emission of a beta particle?
(c) Express the above change in the form of an equation.
Answer
(i) (a) (i) Fusion of hydrogen to helium takes place in stars.
(ii) Fission of uranium takes place in nuclear reactors.
(iii) Bio-chemical reaction takes place in our body.
(b) Helium gas
(ii) (a) Radioactive materials should never be handled with bare hands.
(b) One must wear protective suit in handling radioactive material.
(c) Radioactive materials should be stored in thick lead containers.
(iii) (a) The phenomenon due to which certain substances decay on their own by emitting alpha particles, or beta particles or gamma rays is called radioactivity.
(b) A neutron decays inside the nucleus into an electron and proton. The proton is retained by the nucleus, but the electron is ejected out as beta particle.
(c) ${ }_Z^A X-\beta \longrightarrow{ }_{Z+1}^A X_1$
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Question 43 Marks
(i) A mucleus ${ }_2^{ A } X$ emits an alpha particle followed by $\gamma$ emission; thereafter it emits two $\beta$ particles to form $X _3$.
(a) Copy and complete the values of A and Z for $X _3$ :
$\frac{Z}{Z} X \xrightarrow{-a} X_1 \xrightarrow{-y} X_2 \xrightarrow{-28} \underset{\ldots}{\cdots} X_3$
(b) Out of alpha ( $\alpha$ ), beta ( $\beta$ ) and gamma ( $\gamma$ ) radiations -
(i) Which radiation is the most penetrating?
(ii) Which radiations are negatively charged?
(ii) (a) What happens to the atomic number of an element, when it emits :
(i) an alpha particle;
(ii) a beta particle?
(b) Explain why alpha and beta particles are deflected in an electric or a magnetic field but gamma rays are not deflected in such a field.
(iii) A nucleus ${ }_{11} Na ^{24}$ emits a beta particle to change into magnesium ( Mg ).
(a) Write the symbolic equation for the process.
(b) What are numbers 24 and 11 called?
(c) What is the general name of ${ }_{12}^{24} Mg$ with respect to ${ }_{11}^{24} Na$ ?
Answer
(i) (a) $\frac{ A }{ A } X \xrightarrow{- a } \frac{ A -4}{ Z -2} X _1 \xrightarrow{- Y } \frac{ A -4}{ Z -2} X _2 \xrightarrow{-2 p }{ }_{ Z }^{ A -4} X _3$
(b) (i) Gamma ( $\gamma$ ) radiations are most penetrating.
(ii) Beta ( $B$ ) radiations are negntively charged.
(ii) (a) (i) The atomic mass of the element decreases by 4 units and atomic number by 2 units. Thus, the element transmutates into another element whose position is two place behind in the periodic table.
(ii) The atomic mass of the element remains same, but atomic number increases by 1 unit. Thus, the element transmutates into another element, whose position is one place ahead in the periodic table.
(b) Alpha particles are positively charged and beta particles are negatively charged. The charge on these particles interacts with the electric or magnetic fields, and hence, they get deflected.
However, $\gamma$-radiations are pure energy, and hence, do not interact with electric or magnetic fields. Thus, they are not deflected.
(iii) (a) ${ }_{11} Na ^{24} \rightarrow{ }_{12} Mg ^{24}+{ }_{-1} e^0(\beta$ particle $)$
(b) 24 represents mass number and 11 atomic number of sodium.
(c) ${ }^{24} Mg$ is daughter nuclide and 34 Na is parent nuclide.
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Question 53 Marks
(a) Is it possible for a hydrogen ( ${ }^{( H )}$ ) nucleus to emit an alpha particle? Give a reason for your answer.
(b) (i) Define nuclear fission.
(ii) Rewrite and complete the following nuclear reaction by filling in the atomic number of Ba and mass number of Kr :
$\text { 238U }+bn \longrightarrow{ }_{144} Ba+{ }_{36} Kr+3 dn+\text { Energy }$
(c) (i) Why is a nuclear fusion reaction called a thermo nuclear reaction?
(ii) Complete the reaction:
${ }^3 He_2+{ }^2 H_1 \longrightarrow{ }^4 He_2+\ldots \ldots \ldots \ldots \ldots+\text { Energy }$
Answer
(a) No, it is not possible for a hydrogen ( $H ^{ H }$ ) nucleus to emit an alpha particle. Because the nucleus of hydrogen has only 1 proton cannot eject 2 protons and 2 neutrons.
(b) (i) Nuclear fission : The process by which a heavy radioactive nucleus is broken into light nuclei by the bombardment of slow neutron, so as to liberate energy and more neutrons than used for bombardment is called nuclear fission.
(c) (i) It is found that to fuse hydrogen atoms, the minium temperature required is $1000,000{ }^{\circ} C$. It is for this particular high temperature, the nuclear fusion reaction is called a thermo nuclear reaction.
(ii) ${ }^3 He _2+{ }^2 H _{ L } \longrightarrow{ }^4 He _2+{ }^1 H _1+$ Energy
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[3 Mark Question Answer] - Physics STD 10 Questions - Vidyadip