Lesson 11.2.1

11.2.1 Background radiation, radiation types and nuclear equations Quiz: Pearson Edexcel Physics, Unit 11

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

In partnership with Revision Ninja

Lesson 11.2.1, Background radiation, radiation types and nuclear equations: 20 multiple choice questions for the Pearson Edexcel Physics (9PH0), Unit 11: Nuclear Radiation, written with Revision Ninja.

Host it live on the board and students join with a game code on their own devices, or revise alone with Free Play. The answers are revealed in the game.

Host this setFree Play

The 20 questions

  1. Which radiation has the greatest ionising power?

    • Beta
    • Alpha
    • Gamma
    • Visible light photon

  2. Which radiation has the greatest penetrating power?

    • Beta
    • Visible light photon
    • Alpha
    • Gamma

  3. What is an alpha particle?

    • A helium-4 nucleus, consisting of two protons and two neutrons.
    • A high-energy photon emitted from a nucleus.
    • A proton with no neutrons emitted from a nucleus.
    • A high-speed electron emitted from a nucleus.

  4. In beta-minus decay, what happens inside the nucleus?

    • A neutron is emitted and the nucleus keeps all its protons.
    • A proton and a neutron fuse to form a helium nucleus.
    • A proton changes into a neutron, emitting a positron and a neutrino.
    • A neutron changes into a proton, emitting an electron and an antineutrino.

  5. What happens in gamma emission?

    • A nucleus captures an electron, which lowers its proton number.
    • An alpha particle is emitted and the mass number increases.
    • A high-energy photon is released from the nucleus, with no change in mass number or proton number.
    • A nucleus emits two protons and changes its element.

  6. What is the main source of background radiation for most people?

    • Medical X-rays alone.
    • Natural sources such as radon gas from the ground.
    • Nuclear power stations near their homes.
    • Cosmic rays only, with no contribution from the ground.

  7. Which material is most effective at reducing gamma radiation among those listed?

    • Thick lead
    • A few centimetres of air
    • A sheet of card
    • Thin paper

  8. Which radiation is stopped by a sheet of paper?

    • Gamma
    • Beta
    • Visible light photon
    • Alpha

  9. Complete the nuclear equation: 238/92 U -> 234/90 Th + X. What is X?

    • Neutron, 1/0 n
    • Alpha particle, 4/2 He
    • Electron, 0/-1 e
    • Gamma photon, 0/0 gamma

  10. Complete the nuclear equation: 14/6 C -> 14/7 N + X. What is X?

    • Electron, 0/-1 e
    • Gamma photon, 0/0 gamma
    • Alpha particle, 4/2 He
    • Proton, 1/1 p

  11. Polonium-210 undergoes alpha decay. What is the product nucleus?

    • 208/82 Pb
    • 206/82 Pb
    • 206/84 Po
    • 210/82 Pb

  12. In the reaction 14/7 N + 4/2 He -> 17/8 O + X, what is X?

    • A neutron, 1/0 n
    • An alpha particle, 4/2 He
    • An electron, 0/-1 e
    • A proton, 1/1 p

  13. A measured count is 400 counts per minute and background is 40 counts per minute. What is the corrected count rate?

    • 440 counts per minute
    • 400 counts per minute
    • 40 counts per minute
    • 360 counts per minute

  14. The background dose rate is 0.5 mSv per year. What dose is received over 10 years from background alone?

    • 10.5 mSv
    • 5 mSv
    • 0.05 mSv
    • 50 mSv

  15. Why must background radiation be subtracted in a count-rate experiment?

    • The detector records background counts too, so subtraction isolates the source's own rate.
    • It changes the half-life of the source material, which must be measured again afterwards.
    • It converts gamma radiation into beta radiation, which the detector can then count more easily.
    • It removes the source's own count rate, so that only the background counts remain for analysis.

  16. Which order lists the radiations in increasing penetrating power?

    • Alpha, beta, gamma
    • Alpha, gamma, beta
    • Beta, alpha, gamma
    • Gamma, beta, alpha

  17. Which statement about alpha, beta and gamma radiation is correct?

    • Gamma ionises most strongly, while alpha penetrates furthest.
    • Alpha ionises most strongly, while gamma penetrates furthest.
    • Beta ionises most strongly and has the shortest range in air.
    • Alpha and gamma have the same range in all materials.

  18. Which radiation consists of high-speed electrons emitted from a nucleus?

    • X-ray
    • Gamma
    • Beta
    • Alpha

  19. When a nucleus emits gamma radiation, what happens to its mass number?

    • It increases by 1.
    • It decreases by 1.
    • It decreases by 4.
    • It does not change.

  20. Which of the following is a man-made source of background radiation?

    • Rocks and soil
    • Radon gas
    • Medical X-rays
    • Cosmic rays

All Pearson Edexcel Physics quizzes