Atoms and Radiation – Question 5

Background radiation is all around us all the time.

(a) (i) Radon is a natural source of background radiation.

Name another natural source of background radiation.

1 line(1 mark)

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(a) (ii) X-rays are an artificial source of background radiation.

Name another artificial source of background radiation.

1 line(1 mark)

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(a) (iii) An atom of radon-222 decays by emitting an alpha particle.The equation representing the decay is shown below.

atoms-radiation-5a

How can you tell from the equation that ‘X’ is not an atom of radon?

2 lines(1 mark)

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(b) Having an X-ray taken increases your exposure to radiation.

The table gives:

  • the radiation doses received for 6 different medical X-rays;
  • the number of days of exposure to natural background radiation each dose is equivalent to.

atoms-radiation-5b

A hospital patient has an X-ray of the spine taken.

Calculate the number of days of exposure to natural background radiation that an X-ray of the spine is equivalent to.

Show how you work out your answer.

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Equivalent number of days = ...................................
(2 marks)

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(c) Scientists have shown that X-rays increase the risk of developing cancer.

The scientists came to this conclusion by studying the medical history of people placed in one of two groups, A or B.

The group into which people were put depended on their X-ray record.

(c) (i) Person J has been placed into group A.

Place each of the people, K, L, M, N and O, into the appropriate group, A or B.

atoms-radiation-5c(1 mark)

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(c) (ii) To be able to make a fair comparison, what is important about the number of people in each of the two groups studied by the scientists?

2 lines(1 mark)

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(c) (iii) What data would the scientists have compared in order to come to the conclusion that X-rays increase the risk of developing cancer?

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(c) (iv) The chance of developing cancer due to a CT head scan is about 1 in 10 000.

The chance of developing cancer naturally is about 1 in 4.

A hospital patient is advised by a doctor that she needs to have a CT head scan.
The doctor explains to the patient the risks involved.

Do you think that the patient should give her permission for the CT scan to be taken?

Draw a ring around your answer.

Yes No

Give a reason for your answer.

2 lines(1 mark)

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How did you do? Click to view the Mark Scheme Answers

atoms-radiation-5-MS

From Q3 P2 AQA January 2011 (Higher)

Atoms and Radiation – Question 5 was last modified: April 20th, 2016 by Olly Wedgwood

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