Nuclear Stability & Isotopes

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Nuclear Stability & Isotopes — Free MYP5 Physics Practice Questions

1QuestionConcept of nuclear forces: Strong nuclear force (basic idea)Concept Practice

2 marks~3 minCriterion A

The diagram shows a helium-4 nucleus containing two protons and two neutrons. Arrows indicate the electrostatic repulsion acting between the two protons due to their positive charges.

Identify the force responsible for holding the nucleus together despite this repulsion. [1]

Explain why this force does not cause the entire nucleus of a large atom, such as uranium-238, to collapse into a single point. [1]

Solutions

2QuestionDefinition of isotopesAssessment Practice

2 marks~3 minCriterion D

Technetium-99m (

^{99m}

Tc) is widely used in nuclear medicine imaging. It is produced in hospital generators from the decay of molybdenum-99 (

^{99}

Mo).

Identify the type of radiation emitted by

^{99m}

Tc and explain why this nuclear property, together with its half-life of 6 hours, makes it suitable for diagnostic imaging. [1]

Evaluate one limitation of using

^{99m}

Tc in clinical settings, considering both its nuclear properties and practical consequences for patient access. [1]

Solutions

3QuestionApplications of isotopes: Medical (tracers, cancer treatment), Industrial uses, Carbon dating (basic idea)Assessment Practice

2 marks~3 minCriterion A

Carbon-14 (

^{14}

C) is used in radiocarbon dating of ancient organic material. Both carbon-12 (

^{12}

C) and carbon-14 (

^{14}

C) have 6 protons.

State which isotope is radioactive and identify the subatomic particle whose differing number causes this instability. [1]

A sample of ancient wood contains only

^{14}

C and

^{12}

C. Deduce why the ratio of

^{14}

C to

^{12}

C decreases over time, but the number of

^{12}

C atoms remains constant. [1]

Solutions

4QuestionApplications of isotopes: Medical (tracers, cancer treatment), Industrial uses, Carbon dating (basic idea)Assessment Practice

3 marks~5 minCriterion D

The graph shows the percentage of carbon-14 (

^{14}

C) remaining in an organic sample plotted against time (years). The curve begins at 100% at

t = 0

, falls to 50% at

t = 5730

years, to 25% at

t = 11\,460

years, and to 12.5% at

t = 17\,190

years.

Use the graph to deduce the half-life of carbon-14. [1]

Explain the relationship between time elapsed and the percentage of

^{14}

C remaining shown by the graph. [1]

A piece of ancient wood contains 25% of its original carbon-14. Deduce the age of the wood and justify why carbon-14, rather than a isotope with a much shorter half-life, is more suitable for dating objects thousands of years old. [1]

Solutions

5QuestionNotation of isotopes (e.g., ¹⁴C)Assessment Practice

4 marks~6 minCriterion D

A museum uses carbon-14 dating to estimate the age of a wooden artifact. Carbon-14 is represented by the notation

^{14}_{6}\text{C}

, where the half-life of

^{14}_{6}\text{C}

is 5730 years. Analysis indicates the artifact is approximately 50,000 years old.

State two assumptions that must be made for carbon-14 dating to yield an accurate age. [2]

The artifact is claimed to be 50,000 years old. Discuss why this age estimate is likely to be unreliable, referring to the half-life of

^{14}_{6}\text{C}

and the impact on measurement accuracy. [2]

Solutions

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