DP Physics (last assessment 2024)

Question 21M.2.SL.TZ1.c.iii

Date	May 2021	Marks available	[Maximum mark: 2]	Reference code	21M.2.SL.TZ1.c.iii
Level	SL	Paper	2	Time zone	TZ1
Command term	Determine	Question number	c.iii	Adapted from	N/A

c.iii.

[Maximum mark: 2]

21M.2.SL.TZ1.c.iii

Radioactive uranium-238 $({}_{92}^{238}U)$ produces a series of decays ending with a stable nuclide of lead. The nuclides in the series decay by either alpha (α) or beta-minus (β⁻) processes.

The graph shows the variation with the nucleon number A of the binding energy per nucleon.

Uranium-235 ( ${}_{92}^{235}U$ ) is used as a nuclear fuel. The fission of uranium-235 can produce krypton-89 and barium-144.

Determine, in MeV and using the graph, the energy released by this fission.

[2]

Markscheme

any use of (value from graph) x (number of nucleons) ✓

$« 235 \times 7.6 - (89 \times 8.6 + 144 \times 8.2) = » 160 « MeV »$ ✓

Syllabus sections

Core

Core » Topic 7: Atomic, nuclear and particle physics » 7.2 – Nuclear reactions

Core » Topic 7: Atomic, nuclear and particle physics

Question 21M.2.SL.TZ1.c.iii

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