Question 1

The atomic number of an element is:

Accepted Answer

A) the whole number nearest to its mass 
B) the number of protons in its nucleus 
C) the nearest whole number of hydrogen atoms having the same mass as a single atom of the given element 
D) the number of neutrons in its nucleus 
E) its order of discovery 
A) the whole number nearest to its mass 
B) the number of protons in its nucleus 
C) the nearest whole number of hydrogen atoms having the same mass as a single atom of the given element 
D) the number of neutrons in its nucleus 
E) its order of discovery

Question 2

In the Rutherford scattering experiment, an alpha particle is aimed directly at a gold nucleus.The distance of closest approach of the alpha particle to the nucleus occurs when:

Accepted Answer

A) the alpha particle hits the nucleus 
B) the alpha particle hits the electron cloud 
C) the kinetic energy of the alpha particle is completely transformed to potential energy due to the nuclear force 
D) the kinetic energy of the alpha particle is completely transformed to potential energy due to the electric field of the nucleus 
E) the kinetic energy of the alpha particle is completely transformed to potential energy due to the electric field of the electrons 
A) the alpha particle hits the nucleus 
B) the alpha particle hits the electron cloud 
C) the kinetic energy of the alpha particle is completely transformed to potential energy due to the nuclear force 
D) the kinetic energy of the alpha particle is completely transformed to potential energy due to the electric field of the nucleus 
E) the kinetic energy of the alpha particle is completely transformed to potential energy due to the electric field of the electrons

Question 3

Radioactive polonium, 214Po (Z = 84), decays by alpha emission to:

Accepted Answer

A) "214Po (Z = 84)" 
B) "210Pb (Z = 82)" 
C) "214At (Z = 85)" 
D) "218Po (Z = 84)" 
E) "210Bi (Z = 83)" 
A) "214Po (Z = 84)" 
B) "210Pb (Z = 82)" 
C) "214At (Z = 85)" 
D) "218Po (Z = 84)" 
E) "210Bi (Z = 83)"

Question 4

Which of the following nuclides is least stable?

Accepted Answer

A) "52Fe (Z = 26)" 
B) "115Nd (Z = 60)" 
C) "175Lu (Z = 71)" 
D) "208Pb (Z = 82)" 
E) "238U (Z = 92)" 
A) "52Fe (Z = 26)" 
B) "115Nd (Z = 60)" 
C) "175Lu (Z = 71)" 
D) "208Pb (Z = 82)" 
E) "238U (Z = 92)"

Question 5

A nucleus with a mass number of 64 has a mean radius of about:

Accepted Answer

A) 4.8 fm 
B) 9.6 fm 
C) 77 fm 
D) 260 fm 
E) 2.6 * 105 fm 
A) 4.8 fm 
B) 9.6 fm 
C) 77 fm 
D) 260 fm 
E) 2.6 * 105 fm

Question 6

Aluminum has atomic number 13, helium has atomic number 2, and silicon has atomic number 14.In the nuclear reaction 27Al + 4He $\rightarrow$30Si + ( )the missing particle is:

Accepted Answer

A) an $\alpha$ particle 
B) a positron 
C) an electron 
D) a proton 
E) a neutron 
A) an $\alpha$ particle 
B) a positron 
C) an electron 
D) a proton 
E) a neutron

Question 7

Two protons are separated by 10-16 m.The nuclear (N), electrostatic (E), and gravitational (G)forces between these protons when written in order of increasing strength are:

Accepted Answer

A) N, E, G 
B) N, G, E 
C) G, E, N 
D) G, N, E 
E) E, G, N 
A) N, E, G 
B) N, G, E 
C) G, E, N 
D) G, N, E 
E) E, G, N

Question 8

A typical mammogram X-ray results in a radiation dose equivalent of 70 mrem.What absorbed dose does this correspond to?

Accepted Answer

A) 70 mGy 
B) 70 Sv 
C) 7.0 Gy 
D) 0.70 Sv 
E) 0.70 Gy 
A) 70 mGy 
B) 70 Sv 
C) 7.0 Gy 
D) 0.70 Sv 
E) 0.70 Gy

Question 9

The relation between the disintegration constant $\lambda$and the half-life T of a radioactive substance is:

Accepted Answer

A) "$\lambda$ = 2T" 
B) "$\lambda$ = 1/T" 
C) "$\lambda$ = 2/T" 
D) "$\lambda$T = ln 2" 
E) "$\lambda$T = ln(1/2)" 
A) "$\lambda$ = 2T" 
B) "$\lambda$ = 1/T" 
C) "$\lambda$ = 2/T" 
D) "$\lambda$T = ln 2" 
E) "$\lambda$T = ln(1/2)"

Question 10

Starting with a sample of pure 66Cu, 7/8 of it decays into Zn in 15 minutes.The corresponding half-life is:

Accepted Answer

A) 3.75 minutes 
B) 5 minutes 
C) 7 minutes 
D) 10 minutes 
E) 15 minutes 
A) 3.75 minutes 
B) 5 minutes 
C) 7 minutes 
D) 10 minutes 
E) 15 minutes

Question 11

210Bi (an isotope of bismuth)has a half-life of 5.0 days.The time for three-quarters of a sample of 210Bi to decay is:

Accepted Answer

A) 2.5 days 
B) 3.75 days 
C) 10 days 
D) 15 days 
E) 20 days 
A) 2.5 days 
B) 3.75 days 
C) 10 days 
D) 15 days 
E) 20 days

Question 12

1 atomic mass unit is about:

Accepted Answer

A) 1.66 * 10-31 kg 
B) 9.11* 10-31 kg 
C) 1.66 * 10-27 kg 
D) 9.11 * 10-27 kg 
E) 1.66 * 10-25 kg 
A) 1.66 * 10-31 kg 
B) 9.11* 10-31 kg 
C) 1.66 * 10-27 kg 
D) 9.11 * 10-27 kg 
E) 1.66 * 10-25 kg

Question 13

40K decays to 40Ar with a half-life of 1.25 x 109 yr.Assume that rocks contain no 40Ar when they form, and that the only way 40Ar can be present is through the decay of 40K.If the ratio of 40K to 40Ar in a particular rock is found to be 1:3, what is the age of the rock?

Accepted Answer

A) 1.25 x 109 yr 
B) 2.50 x 109 yr 
C) 3.75 x 109 yr 
D) 5.00 x 109 yr 
E) cannot be determined without knowing how much 40K was in the rock to begin with 
A) 1.25 x 109 yr 
B) 2.50 x 109 yr 
C) 3.75 x 109 yr 
D) 5.00 x 109 yr 
E) cannot be determined without knowing how much 40K was in the rock to begin with

Question 14

The isotopes of an element:

Accepted Answer

A) cannot be separated at all 
B) occur well separated in nature 
C) have similar chemical behavior 
D) cannot be separated by physical methods 
E) have equal masses 
A) cannot be separated at all 
B) occur well separated in nature 
C) have similar chemical behavior 
D) cannot be separated by physical methods 
E) have equal masses

Question 15

Which expression correctly describes the radioactive decay of a substance whose half-life is T?

Accepted Answer

A) N(t)= N0e-(t ln2)/T 
B) N(t)= N0e-t/T 
C) N(t)= N0e-tT 
D) N(t)= N0e-tT ln2 
E) N(t)= N0e-t/T ln2 
A) N(t)= N0e-(t ln2)/T 
B) N(t)= N0e-t/T 
C) N(t)= N0e-tT 
D) N(t)= N0e-tT ln2 
E) N(t)= N0e-t/T ln2

Question 16

A femtometer is:

Accepted Answer

A) larger than 10-9 m 
B) 10-9 m 
C) 10-12 m 
D) 10-15 m 
E) 10-18 m 
A) larger than 10-9 m 
B) 10-9 m 
C) 10-12 m 
D) 10-15 m 
E) 10-18 m

Question 17

A proton in a large nucleus:

Accepted Answer

A) has a net attractive force on all other protons in the nucleus 
B) has a net repulsive force on all other protons in the nucleus 
C) has a net repulsive force on all other neutrons in the nucleus 
D) has a net attractive force on some protons in the nucleus and a net repulsive force on others 
E) has a net attractive force on some neutrons in the nucleus and a net repulsive force on others 
A) has a net attractive force on all other protons in the nucleus 
B) has a net repulsive force on all other protons in the nucleus 
C) has a net repulsive force on all other neutrons in the nucleus 
D) has a net attractive force on some protons in the nucleus and a net repulsive force on others 
E) has a net attractive force on some neutrons in the nucleus and a net repulsive force on others

Question 18

The smallest particle of any chemical element that can exist by itself and yet retain the qualities that distinguish it as that element is:

Accepted Answer

A) an electron 
B) a proton 
C) a neutron 
D) an atom 
E) a molecule 
A) an electron 
B) a proton 
C) a neutron 
D) an atom 
E) a molecule

Question 19

In an alpha decay the disintegration energy appears as:

Accepted Answer

A) photon energies 
B) the kinetic energies of the alpha and the daughter nucleus 
C) the excitation energy of the daughter nucleus 
D) the excitation energy of the alpha particle 
E) heat 
A) photon energies 
B) the kinetic energies of the alpha and the daughter nucleus 
C) the excitation energy of the daughter nucleus 
D) the excitation energy of the alpha particle 
E) heat

Question 20

If 204Tl (Z = 81)emits a $\beta$- particle from its nucleus:

Accepted Answer

A) "stable Tl is formed" 
B) "202Hg (Z = 80)is formed" 
C) "204Pb (Z = 82)is formed" 
D) "radioactive Tl is formed" 
E) "197Au (Z = 79)is formed" 
A) "stable Tl is formed" 
B) "202Hg (Z = 80)is formed" 
C) "204Pb (Z = 82)is formed" 
D) "radioactive Tl is formed" 
E) "197Au (Z = 79)is formed"

Exam 42: Nuclear Physics

The atomic number of an element is:

In the Rutherford scattering experiment, an alpha particle is aimed directly at a gold nucleus.The distance of closest approach of the alpha particle to the nucleus occurs when:

Radioactive polonium, 214Po (Z = 84), decays by alpha emission to:

Which of the following nuclides is least stable?

A nucleus with a mass number of 64 has a mean radius of about:

Aluminum has atomic number 13, helium has atomic number 2, and silicon has atomic number 14.In the nuclear reaction 27Al + 4He →\rightarrow→ 30Si + ( )the missing particle is:

Two protons are separated by 10-16 m.The nuclear (N), electrostatic (E), and gravitational (G)forces between these protons when written in order of increasing strength are:

A typical mammogram X-ray results in a radiation dose equivalent of 70 mrem.What absorbed dose does this correspond to?

The relation between the disintegration constant λ\lambdaλ and the half-life T of a radioactive substance is:

Starting with a sample of pure 66Cu, 7/8 of it decays into Zn in 15 minutes.The corresponding half-life is:

210Bi (an isotope of bismuth)has a half-life of 5.0 days.The time for three-quarters of a sample of 210Bi to decay is:

1 atomic mass unit is about:

40K decays to 40Ar with a half-life of 1.25 x 109 yr.Assume that rocks contain no 40Ar when they form, and that the only way 40Ar can be present is through the decay of 40K.If the ratio of 40K to 40Ar in a particular rock is found to be 1:3, what is the age of the rock?

The isotopes of an element:

Which expression correctly describes the radioactive decay of a substance whose half-life is T?

A femtometer is:

A proton in a large nucleus:

The smallest particle of any chemical element that can exist by itself and yet retain the qualities that distinguish it as that element is:

In an alpha decay the disintegration energy appears as:

If 204Tl (Z = 81)emits a β\betaβ - particle from its nucleus:

Measurement

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Vector

Motion in Two and Three Dimensions

Force and Motion I

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Relativity

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Filters

Radioactive polonium, ²¹⁴Po (Z = 84), decays by alpha emission to:

Aluminum has atomic number 13, helium has atomic number 2, and silicon has atomic number 14.In the nuclear reaction ²⁷Al + ⁴He $\rightarrow$ ³⁰Si + ( )the missing particle is:

Two protons are separated by 10^-16 m.The nuclear (N), electrostatic (E), and gravitational (G)forces between these protons when written in order of increasing strength are:

The relation between the disintegration constant $\lambda$ and the half-life T of a radioactive substance is:

Starting with a sample of pure ⁶⁶Cu, 7/8 of it decays into Zn in 15 minutes.The corresponding half-life is:

²¹⁰Bi (an isotope of bismuth)has a half-life of 5.0 days.The time for three-quarters of a sample of ²¹⁰Bi to decay is:

If ²⁰⁴Tl (Z = 81)emits a $\beta$ ^- particle from its nucleus: