P4 – Revision Quiz
RADIATION FOR LIFE
Questions with (H) are higher content only
the other questions are both foundation and higher.
Q1. Statics
A plastic ruler is charged by rubbing the ruler with a
woollen cloth. The ruler gains a positive charge.
1.
2.
3.
Explain how the ruler becomes charged.
What charge ends up on the cloth? Why?
Why would this not work on a metal ruler?
When the ruler is brought close to some paper the
paper is attracted to the ruler.
3.
4.
What charge does the paper have before the ruler is brought
close?
Explain how the ruler picks up the paper.
Questions with (H) are higher content only the other questions are both foundation and higher.
Q2. Dangers and uses.
When Fredrick is getting out of his car he gets a shock
as he closes the car door.
1.
2.
3.
4.
How does the static charge build up on the car?
What causes the shock and how does it happen?
In what situations could a static shock be dangerous?
How can the build up of static charge be safely removed from cars and
lorries? (H) Explain how the process works.
Static charge and sparks can also be very useful.
1.
2.
List 5 situations or devices that use Static charge or static
shocks in a safe and useful way and also to save lives.
(H) Pick one situation and explain how it works and how the
static charge is used to full advantage.
Questions with (H) are higher content only the other questions are both foundation and higher.
Q3. Plug Wires
Draw a diagram of a standard plug.
Label the wires and pins of the plug.
Label the colours of each wire.
Label the fuse and clearly show which wire it is on.
(H) Explain how does a fuse works.
How does a fuse differ from a circuit breaker?
What is the function of the earth wire? What is it
connected to in an electronic device?
8. (H) Explain why the charge will travel down an earth
wire rather than a you on a faulty device.
9. (H) Why don’t double insulated devices need a earth
wire?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Q4. Circuits.
Draw a series circuit with a light bulb and a variable
resistor (Rheostat) connected onto a battery.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Define the terms voltage (potential difference), current and
resistance.
How are voltage, current and resistance linked in a circuit.
Where would you find a circuit like this in real life?
Explain what changes in the circuit in terms of current and voltage
when the resistance of the variable resistor (Rheostat) is
increased?
If this circuit was switched to have the rheostat in parallel with the
bulb what would happen when the resistance of the rheostat was
changed.
(H) If the circuit has a supply of 12 V and a resistance of 100 Ω
what is the current in this circuit?
Q5. Ultrasound.
Ultrasound a useful tool used in many medical
applications.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
List 3 medical uses of ultrasound.
Pick one of the medical uses and describe how it works.
How does ultrasound differ from sound?
What type of a wave is ultrasound?
(H) How do the particles in this type of wave move compared
to other types of wave?
(H) Explain the advantages and disadvantages of ultrasound
versus X-rays for scanning the human body.
Q6. Nuclear Radiation.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
List the 3 main types of nuclear radiation.
Describe what each type of radiation is and its main
properties. (Include size, speed, charge and penetrating
power)
What is Ionisation?
How is radiation harmful to humans?
(H)What can radiation be used for in medical
applications?
Explain the similarities and difference between X-rays
and Gamma rays (Both in uses and properties).
(H) Describe how X-rays and Gamma rays are
produced.
Q7. Radioactivity
Radiation can be measured using a device called a
Geiger counter.
1.
2.
3.
What units is radiation measured in?
Describe how the strength of radiation changes over
time?
(H) Explain the concept of half-life. Use a graph in your
explanation.
Q8. Natural radiation.
Radiation exists naturally in the world and can be
detected using a Geiger counter.
1.
2.
3.
4.
What is the name given to this natural radiation?
Why is it not harmful?
What are the main natural sources of this natural
radiation?
(H) This natural radiation has been added to by man,
explain where this extra radiation in the environment
comes from.
Q9. Using Radiation.
Radiation has many uses in technology and medicine.
 Smoke Detectors.
1.
2.
What type of radiation do smoke detectors use?
How does a smoke detector work?
Tracers in industry.

1.
2.
What is a tracer?
How is radiation used in the process?
(H)Dating rocks.

1.
2.
Explain how ratios of atomic isotopes and elements is used in the
process of dating rocks (Uranium/Lead ratio for example).
Carbon dating is a specific process used to date objects on earth.
Explain how carbon can be used.
Q10. Fission
Nuclear Fission is used in nuclear power stations to
produce electricity.
1.
2.
3.
4.
What is the main fuel used in Nuclear fission power stations?
Draw a simple flow diagram to illustrate how the nuclear fuel
is used to produce electricity.
What is the difference between using nuclear fission in a
power station versus it’s use in atomic bombs (include the
term chain reaction)?
(H) Fully explain what a chain reaction is and how it can be
controlled in a nuclear power station.
Q11. Reactor
1.
Describe the advantages and disadvantages of
nuclear power stations.
Be sure to discuss the following




Waste products
Pollution.
Heat.
Radioactivity.
2. How do materials become radioactive?