AQA GCSE Physics
AQA GCSE Physics 4.4.3 Hazards and Uses of Radioactive Emissions and of Background Radiation Exam Questions
Free AQA GCSE Physics exam questions for 4.4.3 Hazards and Uses of Radioactive Emissions and of Background Radiation, with a mark scheme for every pack. Covers background radiation sources, radiation dose in sieverts, choosing isotopes by half-life, and medical uses including tracers and radiotherapy.
4.4.3 Hazards and Uses of Radioactive Emissions and of Background Radiation exam questions
2 question packs of real past exam questions, each with its mark scheme. Do not stop after a few: answer as many as you can without notes, then mark every answer with the mark scheme. The more questions you do, the more quickly you will spot how examiners ask about each idea.
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About AQA GCSE Physics 4.4.3 Hazards and Uses of Radioactive Emissions and of Background Radiation
This physics only section of AQA GCSE Physics, examined on Paper 1, looks at where background radiation comes from, how radiation dose is measured, why half-life matters when choosing an isotope, and how nuclear radiation is used in medicine. You need to weigh up risks and benefits, for example explaining why a medical tracer should emit gamma radiation and have a short half-life. Examiners commonly test justified choices of isotope based on type of radiation and half-life, using data given in a table.
What you need to know
- Background radiation Background radiation is around us all the time. It comes from natural sources such as rocks and cosmic rays from space, and from man-made sources such as fallout from nuclear weapons testing and nuclear accidents.
- Variation in dose The level of background radiation and radiation dose may be affected by occupation and/or location, for example pilots and people living in areas with granite rock receive more.
- Measuring dose Radiation dose is measured in sieverts (Sv). 1000 millisieverts (mSv) = 1 Sv.
- Different half-lives Radioactive isotopes have a very wide range of half-life values. Isotopes with long half-lives remain hazardous for a long time; those with short half-lives are very active at first but decay quickly.
- Medical tracers Tracers are injected or swallowed to explore internal organs. A suitable tracer emits gamma (so it passes out of the body to the detector and is weakly ionising) and has a short half-life (hours), so the dose to the patient is low.
- Radiotherapy Nuclear radiation is used to control or destroy unwanted tissue such as cancer cells, using carefully targeted beams of gamma rays or implants inside the body.
- Evaluating risk Weigh up the perceived risks and the consequences against the benefits. Precautions include limiting time of exposure, increasing distance and using shielding.
Common mistakes in 4.4.3 Hazards and Uses of Radioactive Emissions and of Background Radiation
- Saying background radiation only comes from man-made sources. Most comes from natural sources such as rocks (including radon gas) and cosmic rays.
- Choosing an alpha emitter as a medical tracer. Alpha cannot pass out of the body to be detected and is highly ionising, so it would harm cells.
- Choosing a tracer with a long half-life. It would continue irradiating the patient long after the scan.
- Mixing up the units: activity is in becquerels (Bq), dose is in sieverts (Sv).
Try three 4.4.3 Hazards and Uses of Radioactive Emissions and of Background Radiation exam-style questions
1. Name two natural sources of background radiation. (2 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
Rocks (e.g. granite, radon gas); cosmic rays from space.
2. A hospital needs a radioactive tracer to check a patient's kidneys. Explain the type of radiation and half-life the isotope should have. (4 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
Gamma emitter; because gamma can pass out of the body to be detected outside and is weakly ionising so causes less damage; short half-life (a few hours); so it remains active long enough for the scan but the patient's dose is low as activity falls quickly.
3. Explain why a worker at a nuclear power station might receive a higher radiation dose than other people, and one way this is controlled. (2 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
Their occupation exposes them to radioactive sources; controlled by shielding, limiting exposure time, keeping distance or wearing a dosimeter to monitor dose.
4.4.3 Hazards and Uses of Radioactive Emissions and of Background Radiation FAQs
What does AQA GCSE Physics 4.4.3 cover?
It covers sources of background radiation, measuring radiation dose in sieverts, why different half-lives matter, and the medical uses of nuclear radiation such as tracers and radiotherapy.
Is 4.4.3 on Combined Science?
No. Hazards and uses of radioactive emissions and background radiation is physics only, so it is only on the separate AQA GCSE Physics Paper 1.
How do I choose the best isotope in a data question?
Check the type of radiation (gamma to escape the body, alpha or beta to stay local) and the half-life (long enough for the task, short enough to limit dose), then justify both.
