Deck 32: Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Radiation

Question 1

The two strongest forces that act between protons in a nucleus are

A)the weak nuclear and electromagnetic forces.
B)the weak nuclear and the gravitational forces.
C)the electrostatic and the gravitational forces.
D)the strong nuclear and the electrostatic forces.

Answer 1

the strong nuclear and the electrostatic forces.

Question 2

The symbol for a certain isotope of polonium is
Po.How many neutrons are there in the nucleus of this isotope?

A)84
B)130
C)214
D)298
E)314

Answer 2

130

Question 3

All nuclei of a given element have the same number of

A)neutrons.
B)protons.
C)nucleons.
D)protons + neutrons.

Answer 3

protons.

Question 4

The main reason that there is a limit to the size of a stable nucleus is

A)the limited range of the gravitational force.
B)the short range nature of the strong nuclear force.
C)the weakness of the gravitational force.
D)the weakness of the electrostatic force.

Question 5

The symbol for a certain isotope of radium is
Ra.How many nucleons are there in the nucleus of this isotope?

A)88
B)138
C)214
D)226
E)314

Question 6

The mass number of an atom is equal to the number of what particles in the nucleus?

A)protons
B)neutrons
C)nucleons
D)electrons
E)positrons

Question 7

The atomic number and mass number for calcium-39 are 20 and 39,respectively.How many neutrons are in one atom?

A)1
B)19
C)20
D)39
E)59

Question 8

The symbol for a certain isotope of strontium is
Sr.What is the mass number of this isotope?

A)38
B)52
C)88
D)90
E)128

Question 9

In massive stars,three helium nuclei fuse together,forming a carbon nucleus,and this reaction heats the core of the star.The net mass of the three helium nuclei must therefore be

A)higher than that of the carbon nucleus.
B)less than that of the carbon nucleus.
C)the same as that of the carbon nucleus because mass is always conserved.
D)the same as that of the carbon nucleus because energy is always conserved.

Question 10

A stable nucleus contains many protons very close to each other,all positively charged.Why do the protons not fly apart due to mutual Coulomb repulsion?

A)An attractive nuclear force in the nucleus counteracts the effect of the Coulomb forces.
B)There are an equal number of electrons in the nucleus which neutralize the protons.
C)The neutrons in the nucleus shield the protons from each other.
D)The Coulomb force does not operate within nuclei.
E)The gravity of the protons and neutrons overcomes their repulsion at such close distances.

Question 11

Atomic nuclei that are all isotopes of an element all have the same

A)number of nucleons.
B)mass.
C)number of protons.
D)number of neutrons.

Question 12

The atomic mass unit is defined as

A)the mass of a proton.
B)the mass of an electron.
C)the mass of a hydrogen-1 atom.
D)one twelfth the mass of a carbon-12 atom.
E)the mass of a carbon-12 nucleus.

Question 13

What is true of an element of atomic number 15 that has an isotope of mass number 32? (There could be more than one correct choice. )

A)The number of protons in the nucleus is 15.
B)The number of neutrons in the nucleus is 15.
C)The number of protons in the nucleus is 32.
D)The number of nucleons in the nucleus is 47.
E)The number of neutrons in the nucleus is 17.

Question 14

In a
Nb nucleus,how many protons,neutrons,and electrons are found there?

A)41,52,93
B)41,52,41
C)52,41,41
D)41,52,0
E)93,41,93

Question 15

The primary reason that very large nuclei are unstable is due to

A)the cumulative repulsive force of the protons.
B)the cumulative attractive force between the protons and the orbiting electrons.
C)the repulsive force between the neutrons and the protons.
D)the extreme weakness of the gravitational attraction of the protons.

Question 16

A fusion reaction releases energy because the binding energy of the resulting nucleus

A)is greater than the binding energy of the original nuclei.
B)is equal to the binding energy of the original nuclei.
C)is less than the binding energy of the original nuclei.
D)is released in the process.
E)is absorbed in the process.

Question 17

The atomic number of an atom is equal to the number of what particles in the nucleus?

A)protons
B)neutrons
C)nucleons
D)electrons
E)positrons

Question 18

The binding energy per nucleon of a nucleus

A)increases steadily as we go to heavier elements.
B)decreases steadily as we go to heavier elements.
C)is approximately constant throughout the periodic table,except for very light nuclei.
D)has a maximum near iron in the periodic table and decreases after that for heavier elements.
E)has a minimum near iron in the periodic table and increases after that for heavier elements.

Question 19

An yttrium isotope has 39 protons and 50 neutrons in its nucleus.Which one of the following symbols accurately represents this isotope?

A) Y
B) Y
C) Y
D) Y
E) Y

Question 20

Which of the following statements is not true of the strong nuclear force?

A)The nuclear force has a short range,of the order of nuclear dimensions.
B)For two protons that are very close together,the nuclear force and the electric force have about the same magnitudes.
C)The nuclear force does not depend on charge.
D)A nucleon in a large nucleus interacts via the nuclear force only with nearby nucleons,not with ones far away in the nucleus.
E)The nuclear force affects both neutrons and protons.

Question 21

During β^- decay

A)a neutron is transformed to a proton.
B)a proton is transformed to a neutron.
C)a neutron is ejected from the nucleus.
D)a proton is ejected from the nucleus.
E)the number of nucleons increases.

Question 22

In β^- decay,the number of protons in the nucleus is

A)decreased by 1.
B)decreased by 2.
C)increased by 1.
D)increased by 2.
E)remains unchanged.

Question 23

A radioactive isotope of atomic number Z emits a beta-minus particle,and then the daughter nucleus emits a gamma ray.What is the atomic number of the resulting nucleus after both processes?

A)Z - 1
B)Z + 1
C)Z - 2
D)Z - 3

Question 24

The nuclei of
He are also known as

A)α particles.
B)β particles.
C)γ rays.
D)x-rays.
E)positrons.

Question 25

A β⁺ particle is also known as

A)an electron.
B)a positron.
C)a helium nucleus.
D)a high-energy photon.

Question 26

A radioactive isotope of atomic number Z emits an alpha particle,and the daughter nucleus then emits a beta-minus particle.What is the atomic number of the resulting nucleus?

A)Z -1
B)Z + 1
C)Z - 2
D)Z - 3

Question 27

Polonium-216 decays to lead-212 by emitting what kind of nuclear radiation?

A)alpha
B)beta-minus
C)beta-plus
D)gamma
E)x-rays.

Question 28

In positron decay,the number of protons in the nucleus is

A)decreased by 1.
B)decreased by 2.
C)increased by 1.
D)increased by 2.
E)remains unchanged.

Question 29

When a β⁺ particle is emitted from an unstable nucleus,the atomic number of the nucleus

A)increases by 1.
B)decreases by 1.
C)increases by 2.
D)decreases by 2.
E)does not change.

Question 30

What is the mass number of alpha particles?

A)1
B)2
C)3
D)4
E)6

Question 31

In beta-minus decay

A)a proton is emitted.
B)a neutron is emitted.
C)an electron is emitted.
D)an electron decays into another particle.
E)a proton is transformed into a neutron.

Question 32

During β⁺ decay

A)a neutron is transformed to a proton.
B)a proton is transformed to a neutron.
C)a neutron is ejected from the nucleus.
D)a proton is ejected from the nucleus.
E)the number of nucleons decreases.

Question 33

When a β^- particle is emitted from an unstable nucleus,the atomic mass number of the nucleus

A)increases by 1.
B)decreases by 1.
C)increases by 2.
D)does not change.

Question 34

The atom
Fr decays to
Ra by emitting what kind of nuclear radiation?

A)alpha
B)beta-minus
C)beta-plus
D)gamma
E)x-rays.

Question 35

When a β^- particle is emitted from an unstable nucleus,the atomic number of the nucleus

A)increases by 1.
B)decreases by 1.
C)increases by 2.
D)decreases by 2.
E)does not change.

Question 36

An α particle is also known as

A)an electron.
B)a positron.
C)a helium nucleus.
D)a high-energy photon.

Question 37

A β^- decay occurs in an unstable nucleus when

A)a proton is converted to an electron by the strong force.
B)a proton is converted to a neutron by the strong force.
C)a neutron is converted to a proton by the weak force.
D)a neutron is converted to an alpha particle by the weak force.
E)a neutron is converted to a positron by the weak force.

Question 38

In β^- decay,the number of neutrons in the nucleus is

A)decreased by 1.
B)decreased by 2.
C)increased by 1.
D)increased by 2.
E)remains unchanged.

Question 39

A gamma ray is also known as

A)an electron.
B)a positron.
C)a helium nucleus.
D)a high-energy photon.

Question 40

A β^- particle is also known as

A)an electron.
B)a positron.
C)a helium nucleus.
D)a high-energy photon.

Question 41

Carbon-14 decays by β^- emission.What nucleus is left after this decay?

A)carbon-13
B)carbon-14
C)carbon-15
D)nitrogen-14
E)nitrogen-15

Question 42

The chief hazard of radiation damage to living cells is

A)due to heating.
B)due to ionization.
C)due to the creation of chemical impurities.
D)the creation of new isotopes within the body.
E)the creation of radioactive material within the body.

Question 43

Modern in-air nuclear bomb tests have created an extra high level of ¹⁴C in our atmosphere.If future archaeologists date samples from this era,without knowing of this testing,will their carbon-14 dates be too young,too old,or correct? If correct,why?

A)Too young.
B)Too old.
C)Correct,since ¹⁴C from bomb tests is different from that produced naturally.
D)Correct,because modern biological materials do not gather ¹⁴C from bomb tests.

Question 44

Leptons can interact by which of the following forces?

A)strong nuclear force,weak nuclear force,electromagnetic force,gravitation
B)strong nuclear force,weak nuclear force,electromagnetic force
C)weak nuclear force,electromagnetic force,gravitation
D)strong nuclear force,weak nuclear force
E)strong nuclear force,electromagnetic force,gravitation

Question 45

When an unstable nucleus decays by emitting an alpha particle,the atomic mass number A of the nucleus

A)increases by 4.
B)increases by 2.
C)decreases by 2.
D)decreases by 4.
E)remains unchanged.

Question 46

The proton is made up of which one of the following quark combinations (up,down,strange,charm,top,bottom)?

A)uud
B)ddu
C)udd
D)ttb
E)bst

Question 47

Elementary particles that experience the weak nuclear force but not the strong nuclear force are called

A)leptons.
B)hadrons.
C)mesons.
D)bosons.
E)baryons.

Question 48

What happens to the half-life of a radioactive substance as we increase its temperature?

A)It does not change.
B)It increases.
C)It decreases at a constant rate.
D)It decreases at an exponential rate.

Question 49

Two radioactive isotopes,X and Y,both decay to stable products.The half-life of X is about a day,while that of Y is about a week.Suppose a radioactive sample consists of a mixture of these two nuclides.If the mixture is such that the activities arising from X and Y are initially equal,then a few days later the activity of the sample will be due

A)predominantly to Y.
B)predominantly to X.
C)entirely to Y.
D)to X and Y equally.

Question 50

The neutron is made up of which one of the following quark combinations (up,down,strange,charm,top,bottom)?

A)uud
B)ddu
C)udd
D)ttb
E)bst

Question 51

Suppose the half-life of an isotope is 2 days.You purchase 10 grams of the isotope,but it was produced in a laboratory 4 days before it was delivered to you.How much of this isotope will you have 3 days after it was delivered to you?

A)more than 2.5 grams but less than 5 grams
B)2.5 grams
C)more than 1.25 grams but less than 2.5 grams
D)1.25 grams
E)less than 1.25 grams

Question 52

If the half-life of a material is 45 years,how much of it will be left after 100 years?

A)more than 1/2
B)less than 1/2 but more than 1/4
C)more than 1/4 but less than 1/2
D)less than 1/4 but more than 1/8
E)less than 1/8

Question 53

Inside the nucleus,the weakest of the four fundamental forces is

A)the weak nuclear force.
B)the electromagnetic force.
C)the gravitational force.
D)the strong nuclear force.

Question 54

When an unstable nucleus decays by emitting an alpha particle,the atomic number Z of the nucleus

A)increases by 4.
B)increases by 2.
C)decreases by 2.
D)decreases by 4.
E)remains unchanged.

Question 55

Which of the following particles are leptons? (There may be more than one correct choice. )

A)protons
B)neutrons
C)electrons
D)photons
E)quarks

Question 56

Inside the nucleus,the strongest of the four fundamental forces is

A)the weak nuclear force.
B)the electromagnetic force.
C)the gravitational force.
D)the strong nuclear force.

Question 57

The half-life of cobalt-60 is 5.3 years,while that of strontium-90 is about 29 years.Suppose you have samples of both isotopes,and that they initially have the same activity (number of decays per second).What must be true of the numbers of cobalt-60 and strontium-90 nuclei in these samples?

A)There are more strontium-90 than cobalt-60 nuclei.
B)There are equal numbers of cobalt-60 and strontium-90 nuclei.
C)There are more cobalt-60 than strontium-90 nuclei.
D)It is not possible to compare numbers of nuclei without knowing the masses of the samples.

Question 58

What happens to the half-life of a radioactive substance as it decays?

A)It remains constant.
B)It increases.
C)It decreases at a constant rate.
D)It decreases at an exponential rate.

Question 59

A person receives an absorbed dose of protons of 20 millirads.The RBE of protons is 5.What is this person's equivalent dose in rem?

A)4 millirem
B)15 millirem
C)20 millirem
D)25 millirem
E)100 millirem

Question 60

The half-life of cobalt-60 is 5.3 years,while that of strontium-90 is about 29 years.Suppose you have samples of both isotopes,and that they initially contain equal numbers of atoms of these isotopes.How will the activities (number of decays per second)of the samples compare?

A)The activity of the cobalt-60 sample will be greater.
B)The activities cannot be compared without more information.
C)The activities will be equal.
D)The activity of the strontium-90 sample will be greater.

Question 61

What are the possible charges of a quark (not an antiquark)?

A)-e,0,e
B)-2/3 e,-1/3 e,+1/3 e,+2/3 e
C)-2/3 e,+1/3 e
D)-1/3 e,+2/3 e
E)-1/3 e,+1/3 e

Question 62

Which of the following particles are not made up of quarks? (There could be more than one correct choice. )

A)alpha particle
B)electron
C)proton
D)positron
E)neutron

Question 63

A beryllium-8 nucleus at rest undergoes double alpha decay as follows:
Be →
He +
He
The known atomic masses are:
He: 4.002603 u
Be: 8.005305 u
What is the kinetic energy of each departing alpha particle? (1 u = 931.5 MeV/c²)

A)46 keV
B)65 keV
C)92 keV
D)130 keV
E)180 keV

Question 64

One of the fusion reactions that occurs in the sun is:
He +
He →
He +
H +
H
The following atomic masses are known:
H: 1.007825 u
He: 3.016029 u
He: 4.002603 u
What is the reaction energy released in this fusion reaction? (1 u = 931.5 MeV/c²)

A)11 MeV
B)13 MeV
C)15 MeV
D)17 MeV
E)19 MeV

Question 65

How many quarks are in a deuteron,
H?

A)2
B)3
C)4
D)6
E)9

Question 66

The diameter of an atom is 1.4 × 10^-10 m and the diameter of its nucleus is 1.0 × 10^-14 m.What fraction of the atom's volume is occupied by its nucleus?

A)3.6 × 10^-13
B)7.1 × 10^-5
C)5.1 × 10^-9
D)2.6 × 10^-17

Question 67

The stability of
Cl with respect to alpha,beta-plus and beta-minus decay is to be determined.The following atomic masses are known:
He: 4.002603 u
P: 31.973907 u
S: 35.967081 u
Cl: 35.968307 u
Ar: 35.967546 u
The
Cl nucleus is

A)not subject to alpha,beta-plus or beta-minus decay.
B)subject to alpha decay only.
C)subject to beta-plus decay only.
D)subject to beta-minus decay only.
E)subject to beta-plus or beta-minus decay,but not to alpha decay.

Question 68

When a stationary plutonium-239,
Pu,decays into uranium-235 plus an alpha particle,the energy released in the process is 5.24 MeV.The following masses are known:
He: 4.002603 u
U: 235.043924 u
What is the mass of the
Pu nucleus,in amu? (1 u = 931.494 MeV/c²)

A)239.05215 u
B)239.02775 u
C)239.00189 u
D)238.99919 u
E)238.98884 u

Question 69

The neutral deuterium atom,
H,has a mass of 2.014102 u;a neutral ordinary hydrogen atom has a mass of 1.007825 u;a neutron has a mass of 1.008665 u;and a proton has a mass of 1.007277 u.What is the binding energy of the deuterium nucleus? (1 u = 931.5 MeV/c²)

A)1.1 MeV
B)1.7 MeV
C)2.2 MeV
D)2.9 MeV
E)3.4 MeV

Question 70

Uranium-238 decays into thorium-234 plus an alpha particle.The known masses are
He: 4.002603 u
Th: 234.043583 u
U: 238.050786 u
How much energy is released in this process? (1 u = 931.5 MeV/c²)

A)4.28 MeV
B)3.76 MeV
C)3.18 MeV
D)2.89 MeV
E)5.05 MeV

Question 71

How many quarks are in a tritium isotope,
H?

A)2
B)3
C)4
D)6
E)9

Question 72

The following masses are known:
N 1.008665 u
H 1.007825 u
Ra 226.025403 u
What is the binding energy of
Ra? (1 u = 931.5 MeV/c²)

A)1,700 MeV
B)1,900 MeV
C)2,100 MeV
D)2,300 MeV
E)2,500 MeV

Question 73

Radium-226 decays into radon-222 plus an alpha particle.The relevant masses are
He: 4.002603 u
Rn: 222.017570 u
Ra: 226.025402 u
How much energy is released in this process? (1 u = 931.5 MeV/c²)

A)4.24 MeV
B)3.76 MeV
C)4.87 MeV
D)5.05 MeV
E)5.39 MeV

Question 74

Bismuth
Bi is known to be radioactive.The stability of
Bi with respect to alpha,beta-plus and beta-minus decay is to be determined.The following atomic masses are known:
He: 4.002603 u
Tl: 207.981998 u
Pb: 211.991871 u
Bi: 211.991255 u
Po: 211.988842 u
The
Bi nucleus is

A)subject to alpha decay only.
B)subject to beta-plus decay only.
C)subject to beta-minus decay only.
D)subject to alpha or beta-plus decay,but not beta-minus decay.
E)subject to alpha or beta-minus decay,but not beta-plus decay.

Question 75

A carbon-14 nucleus decays to a nitrogen-14 nucleus by beta-minus decay.How much energy (in MeV)is released if carbon-14 has a mass of 14.003242 u and nitrogen-14 has a mass of 14.003074 u? (1 u = 931.5 MeV/c²)

A)0.0156 MeV
B)0.156 MeV
C)1.56 MeV
D)15.6 MeV

Question 76

The neutral helium atom,
He,has a mass of 4.002603 u,a neutron has a mass of 1.008665 u,a proton has a mass of 1.007277 u,and a neutral hydrogen atom has a mass of 1.007825 u.What is the binding energy of the
He nucleus? (1 u = 931.5 MeV/c²)

A)20.5 MeV
B)22.4 MeV
C)27.3 MeV
D)28.3 MeV
E)23.4 MeV

Question 77

A summary of the nuclear reactions that power our sun is 4p → ⁴He + 2e^-,with masses of 938.272 MeV/c² for a proton,3727.38 MeV/c² for the helium nucleus,and 0.511 MeV/c² for each electron.How much energy is released by each of these reactions?

A)24.69 MeV
B)28.3 MeV
C)2790.13 MeV
D)279.01 MeV

Question 78

Which of the following particles (or groups of particles)are made up of quarks?

A)protons,neutrons,and electrons
B)electrons and neutrinos
C)photons
D)protons and neutrons
E)All particles except for photons are made up of quarks.

Question 79

When a stationary plutonium-239 nucleus decays into a uranium-235 nucleus plus an alpha particle,the energy released in the process is 5.24 MeV.The following masses are known:
He: 4.002603 u
U: 235.043924 u
What is the kinetic energy of the
U nucleus? (1 u = 931.5 MeV/c²)

A)0.0829 MeV
B)0.0837 MeV
C)0.0852 MeV
D)0.0863 MeV
E)0.0877 MeV

Question 80

The stability of
C with respect to alpha,beta-plus and beta-minus decay is to be determined.The following atomic masses are known:
He: 4.002603 u
Be: 7.016928 u
B: 11.009305 u
C: 11.011433 u
N: 11.026742 u
The
C nucleus is

A)not subject to alpha,beta-plus or beta-minus decay.
B)subject to alpha decay only.
C)subject to beta-plus decay only.
D)subject to beta-minus decay only.
E)subject to beta-plus or beta-minus decay,but not to alpha decay.