Deck 13: Nuclear Reactions

Question 1

Isotopes with an even number of both protons and neutrons are generally stable.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Nuclear power reactors cannot explode like an atom bomb because there is not enough of the fissionable U-235 in a reactor to maintain a chain reaction.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

The basic requirement for a fusion reaction is (are)

A)temperature on the order of 100 million ^$\circ$ C.
B)dense concentration of hydrogen nuclei.
C)confinement at 10 atmospheres pressure for at least one second.
D)All of the above.

Answer 3

All of the above.

Question 4

This type of radiation can easily pass through a human.

A)alpha
B)beta
C)gamma
D)All of the above.

Question 5

This type of radiation ionizes atoms and molecules.

A)alpha
B)beta
C)gamma
D)All of the above.

Question 6

Alpha radiation is the least dangerous as alpha particles can be stopped by your skin.

Question 7

An alpha particle is really a high-energy electron ejected from the nucleus.

Question 8

When undergoes beta-decay, the product is .

Question 9

The decay rate of a radioactive isotope can be increased by increasing the

A)temperature.
B)pressure.
C)size of the sample.
D)None of the above.

Question 10

Airline crews receive roughly three times the background radiation of those of us who spend most of our time on the ground.

Question 11

Which of the following correctly balances this decay reaction? ___

A)
B)
C)
D)

Question 12

Isotope A has a half-life measured in minutes, whereas isotope B has a half-life of millions of years.Which is more radioactive?

A)isotope A
B)isotope B
C)Both are equally dangerous.
D)It depends on the temperature of each.

Question 13

A radioactive decay reaction produces a simpler, more stable nucleus.

Question 14

The mass of a nucleus is slightly greater than the sum of the masses of the individual protons and neutrons.

Question 15

This type of radiation is really the nucleus of a helium atom.

A)alpha
B)beta
C)gamma
D)All of the above.

Question 16

Which of the following correctly balances this nuclear fission reaction?

A)
B)
C)
D)

Question 17

This type of radiation is released when decays to .

A)alpha
B)beta
C)gamma
D)All of the above.

Question 18

X undergoes radioactive decay to Y with a half-life of five minutes.After 10 minutes, the sample of X has completely decayed to Y.

Question 19

Nuclei with a higher than desired neutron-to-proton ratios tend to undergo which type of decay?

A)alpha
B)beta
C)gamma
D)All of the above.

Question 20

The threshold model proposes that under a certain level, your body can repair the damage produced by radiation.

Question 21

The amount of radiation we are naturally exposed to during a year is nearly

A)150 rem.
B)100 rem.
C)1 rem.
D)0.150 rem.

Question 22

The protons in a nucleus stay together due to the

A)electrostatic force of attraction.
B)nuclear force.
C)gravitational force.
D)binding force.

Question 23

As the size of nuclei increases, the ratio of neutrons to protons in the band of stability increases to

A)1.25 to 1.
B)1.5 to 1.
C)2 to 1.
D)None of the above.

Question 24

The radioactive isotope Z has a half-life of 12 hours.After 2 days, the fraction of the original amount remaining is

A)1/2.
B)1/4.
C)1/8.
D)1/16.

Question 25

When an isotope releases gamma radiation the atomic number

A)decreases by two and the mass number decreases by four.
B)increases by one and the mass number remains the same.
C)and the mass number decrease by one.
D)and the mass number remain the same.

Question 26

A measure of radiation that takes into account the possible biological damage produced by different types of radiation is called a

A)rem.
B)rad.
C)roentgen.
D)curie.

Question 27

Reactor control rods are made of a substance that

A)absorbs neutrons.
B)emits neutrons.
C)reflect neutrons.
D)slow down neutrons so they produce more fission.

Question 28

The isotope is most likely to emit

A)an alpha particle.
B)a beta particle.
C)a gamma ray.
D)It is not possible to predict.

Question 29

A Geiger counter measures radiation indirectly by measuring

A)flashes of light.
B)speaker static.
C)electrons released by ionization.
D)curies.

Question 30

Besides U-235, another isotope that can undergo nuclear fission is

A)U-238.
B)Pu-239.
C)Th-230.
D)Pb-210.