Sample exam questions - radioactivity - EdexcelThree and four mark questions

As this is a four mark question, you should be looking to mention at least four different points.

For example:

The fission causes 2 or 3 neutrons to be released.

These neutrons can be absorbed by other nuclei.

This causes further uranium nuclei to fission.

This releases further neutrons that can be absorbed again, leading to a chain reaction.

As this is a three mark question, you should be looking to mention at least three different points.

For example:

If the neutrons become too fast moving, the reaction will slow down.

This is because there are fewer fissions because:

Fission is more likely with slower neutrons.

As this is a three mark question, you should be looking to mention at least three different points.

For example:

The reactor is surrounded by coolant.

Thermal energy from the chain reaction heats the coolant.

The hot coolant is used to turn water into steam, which is used to drive a turbine.