11p2 Nuclear Radiation

Question 1

use the binding energy per nucleon curve to explain how fusion and fission both release energy

Answer 1

fusion involves an increase in binding energy as the number of nucleons increase, fission involves an increase in binding energy as the number of nucleons decreases, if binding energy per nucleon increases, energy is released

Question 2

when using test sources why is a sample with a longer half life more suitable

Answer 2

so the proportion of unstable nuclei does not change significantly over time

Question 3

why must activity be corrected

Answer 3

background radiation increases count rate

Question 4

how can the accuracy of activity measurements be improved

Answer 4

record the count for a long period of time

Question 5

what is meant by the activity of a radioactive source

Answer 5

rate of decay of nuclei