a) Afree neutron decays by B-emission. Write a nuclear equation for this reaction. b) Compare and contrast the natural or artificial sources of ionizing radiation marks) (3 marks) c) In a reactor, a nucleus of the uranium isotope 235U undergoes fission when it absorbs a neutron (}_(0)^1n One possible pair of products is ()_(36)^90K and ()_{56)^143Ba i)Write an equation for this reaction showing all the particles produced ii) Explain with the aid of a diagram, how a chain reaction is produced (7 marks) d) Fission occurs with neutrons of kinetic energy 0.025eV 1) Express 0.025cV in joules (6 marks) Determine the speed of the 0.025eV neutrons

a) The nuclear equation for the decay of a free neutron by beta-emission is: b) Natural sources of ionizing radiation include radioactive materials found in the environment, such as uranium, thorium, and radon. These materials emit alpha, beta, and gamma radiation as they decay. Artificial sources of ionizing radiation are produced through human activities, such as nuclear power generation, medical imaging, and the production of certain consumer products. Both natural and artificial sources can pose risks to human health and the environment if not properly managed.c) i) The equation for the fission reaction of uranium-235 absorbing a neutron is: ii) A chain reaction is produced when a fission reaction releases additional neutrons that can then induce further fission reactions in nearby uranium-235 nuclei. This process can lead to a self-sustaining series of reactions, resulting in a chain reaction. A diagram showing this process would typically depict a uranium-235 nucleus absorbing a neutron, undergoing fission, and releasing additional neutrons that can induce further fission reactions.d) 1) To express 0.025 eV in joules, we can use the conversion factor 1 eV = 1.60218 × 10^-19 J. Therefore, 0.025 eV is equivalent to:0.025 eV × 1.60218 × 10^-19 J/eV = 4.005 × 10^-21 J2) To determine the speed of the 0.025 eV neutrons, we can use the formula: where E is the kinetic energy of the neutron, m is the mass of the neutron, and v is the speed of the neutron. Rearranging the formula to solve for v, we get: Using the given kinetic energy of 0.025 eV and the mass of a neutron (approximately 1.675 × 10^-27 kg), we can calculate the speed of the neutrons: