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 mark)
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(a) (ii) X-rays are an artificial source of background radiation.
Name another artificial source of background radiation.
(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.
How can you tell from the equation that ‘X’ is not an atom of radon?
(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.
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.
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.
(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?
(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?
(1 mark)
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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.
(1 mark)
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From Q3 P2 AQA January 2011 (Higher)