Question 1

When a nucleus of a given isotope decays, it

Accepted Answer

A)  cannot produce a daughter with the same mass number. 
B)  always produces a daughter with a lower mass number. 
C)  cannot produce a daughter with a lower mass number. 
D)  cannot produce a daughter with a higher mass number. 
E)  always produces a daughter with a higher mass number. 
A)  cannot produce a daughter with the same mass number. 
B)  always produces a daughter with a lower mass number. 
C)  cannot produce a daughter with a lower mass number. 
D)  cannot produce a daughter with a higher mass number. 
E)  always produces a daughter with a higher mass number.

Question 2

How many neutrons are in a 15C nucleus?

Accepted Answer

A)  7 
B)  8 
C)  6 
D)  9 
A)  7 
B)  8 
C)  6 
D)  9

Question 3

Complete the following induced reaction:   +   →   + ?

Accepted Answer

A)    
B)    
C)    
D)    
A)    
B)    
C)    
D)

Question 4

It is common to illustrate the density of nuclear matter by discussing the mass of a teaspoon of nuclear material. The volume of a teaspoon is about 5 cm3. Using the relationship r = (1.2 fm) A1/3 together with the mass of a proton, 1.67 × 10−27 kg, estimate the mass of a teaspoon of nuclear material.

Accepted Answer

A)  3.8 × 1011 kg 
B)  9.6 × 1011kg 
C)  1.53 × 1012 kg 
D)  1.15 × 1012 kg 
A)  3.8 × 1011 kg 
B)  9.6 × 1011kg 
C)  1.53 × 1012 kg 
D)  1.15 × 1012 kg

Question 5

If each nuclear fission reaction in a nuclear power plant releases 173 MeV, what quantity of uranium-235 must be consumed each day to keep a 350 MW plant producing at capacity? Assume the power plant is 35% efficient.

Accepted Answer

A)  5.2 kg 
B)  1.8 kg 
C)  0.43 kg 
D)  1.2 kg 
A)  5.2 kg 
B)  1.8 kg 
C)  0.43 kg 
D)  1.2 kg

Question 6

Manganese-67   is an unstable nuclide. Which type of radioactive decay is it most likely to undergo?

Accepted Answer

A)  gamma decay 
B)  β+decay 
C)  β− decay 
D)  α decay 
E)  spontaneous fission 
A)  gamma decay 
B)  β+decay 
C)  β− decay 
D)  α decay 
E)  spontaneous fission

Question 7

The particles in the nucleus referred to as nucleons are

Accepted Answer

A)  electrons and protons. 
B)  protons and neutrons. 
C)  neutrons and electrons. 
D)  electrons and photons. 
A)  electrons and protons. 
B)  protons and neutrons. 
C)  neutrons and electrons. 
D)  electrons and photons.

Question 8

How many neutrons are produced in the following induced fission reaction? n1 +   →   r +   e + neutrons

Accepted Answer

A)  2 
B)  0 
C)  1 
D)  3 
A)  2 
B)  0 
C)  1 
D)  3

Question 9

What is the mass defect of an alpha particle?

Accepted Answer

A)  0.03038 u 
B)  0.30377 u 
C)  0.03147 u 
D)  0.02928 u 
A)  0.03038 u 
B)  0.30377 u 
C)  0.03147 u 
D)  0.02928 u

Question 10

One mole of 40Ar (Z = 18) has about what mass?

Accepted Answer

A)  18 g 
B)  22 g 
C)  40 kg 
D)  40 g 
E)  22 kg 
A)  18 g 
B)  22 g 
C)  40 kg 
D)  40 g 
E)  22 kg

Question 11

The isotope A261 decays by beta-plus decay. What is the daughter nucleus?

Accepted Answer

A)  (27Al) 
B)  (25Al) 
C)  (26Mg) 
D)  (26Si) 
E)  (26Al) 
A)  (27Al) 
B)  (25Al) 
C)  (26Mg) 
D)  (26Si) 
E)  (26Al)

Question 12

What is the radius of the nuclide   ?

Accepted Answer

A)  7.4 fm 
B)  5.4 fm 
C)  290 fm 
D)  1.8 fm 
A)  7.4 fm 
B)  5.4 fm 
C)  290 fm 
D)  1.8 fm

Question 13

A neutron star has approximately the same density as nuclear material. A typical neutron star has a radius of 8.0 km. Using the relationship r = (1.2 fm) A1/3 together with the mass of a neutron, 1.67 × 10−27kg, estimate the mass of a neutron star.

Accepted Answer

A)  0.65 × 1030 kg 
B)  1.5 × 1030 kg 
C)  0.16 × 1030 kg 
D)  0.49 × 1030 kg 
A)  0.65 × 1030 kg 
B)  1.5 × 1030 kg 
C)  0.16 × 1030 kg 
D)  0.49 × 1030 kg

Question 14

A nuclear chain reaction is possible (for the isotopes that can participate in a chain reaction) because when each nucleus fissions, it produces

Accepted Answer

A)  more neutrons than are required to induce fission in one nucleus. 
B)  more energy than is required to induce fission in one nucleus. 
C)  daughters that can also be induced to fission to produce more energy. 
D)  daughters that can fuse together to make more of the same isotope. 
A)  more neutrons than are required to induce fission in one nucleus. 
B)  more energy than is required to induce fission in one nucleus. 
C)  daughters that can also be induced to fission to produce more energy. 
D)  daughters that can fuse together to make more of the same isotope.

Question 15

What is the density of the 238U nucleus?

Accepted Answer

A)  2.3 × 1017 kg/m3 
B)  9.6 × 1014 kg/m3 
C)  3.2 × 1014 kg/m3 
D)  2.38 × 105 kg/m3 
E)  1.0 × 103 kg/m3 
A)  2.3 × 1017 kg/m3 
B)  9.6 × 1014 kg/m3 
C)  3.2 × 1014 kg/m3 
D)  2.38 × 105 kg/m3 
E)  1.0 × 103 kg/m3

Question 16

Stars are powered by nuclear fusion in their cores, which, starting with hydrogen, produce progressively heavier elements. Near the end of a star's lifetime, stellar cores produce iron by fusion. The reason this process doesn't proceed beyond iron is that

Accepted Answer

A)  iron in stellar cores tends to undergo spontaneous fission. 
B)  iron is the most dense material in solid form. 
C)  iron nuclei have the greatest binding energy per nucleon. 
D)  iron is ferromagnetic. 
E)  iron is heavy. 
A)  iron in stellar cores tends to undergo spontaneous fission. 
B)  iron is the most dense material in solid form. 
C)  iron nuclei have the greatest binding energy per nucleon. 
D)  iron is ferromagnetic. 
E)  iron is heavy.

Question 17

Barium-137 emits a gamma ray in the decay from an excited state (137Ba*). What is the resulting daughter nuclide?

Accepted Answer

A)  (137Cs) 
B) ( 137Ba) 
C) ( 137La) 
D) ( 136Ba) 
E)  (136Cs) 
A)  (137Cs) 
B) ( 137Ba) 
C) ( 137La) 
D) ( 136Ba) 
E)  (136Cs)

Question 18

The three most common types of radiation emitted by radioactive nuclei were originally named alpha, beta, and gamma rays, after the first letters of the Greek alphabet. In order of increasing ability to penetrate matter, these are

Accepted Answer

A)  alpha, beta, gamma. 
B)  beta, gamma, alpha. 
C)  gamma, alpha, beta. 
D)  alpha, gamma, beta. 
E)  gamma, beta, alpha. 
A)  alpha, beta, gamma. 
B)  beta, gamma, alpha. 
C)  gamma, alpha, beta. 
D)  alpha, gamma, beta. 
E)  gamma, beta, alpha.

Question 19

Compared to the sum of the masses of its constituents, the mass of a nucleus (other than 1H) is

Accepted Answer

A)  the same. 
B)  greater. 
C)  less. 
D)  could be any of the above. 
A)  the same. 
B)  greater. 
C)  less. 
D)  could be any of the above.

Question 20

A unstable medium-sized nucleus with an equal number of protons and neutrons (Z = N) is most likely to decay via

Accepted Answer

A)  gamma decay 
B)  β+ decay 
C)  β− decay 
D)  α decay 
E)  spontaneous fission 
A)  gamma decay 
B)  β+ decay 
C)  β− decay 
D)  α decay 
E)  spontaneous fission

Exam 29: Nuclear Physics

When a nucleus of a given isotope decays, it

How many neutrons are in a 15C nucleus?

Complete the following induced reaction: + → + ?

If each nuclear fission reaction in a nuclear power plant releases 173 MeV, what quantity of uranium-235 must be consumed each day to keep a 350 MW plant producing at capacity? Assume the power plant is 35% efficient.

Manganese-67 is an unstable nuclide. Which type of radioactive decay is it most likely to undergo?

The particles in the nucleus referred to as nucleons are

How many neutrons are produced in the following induced fission reaction? n1 + → r + e + neutrons

What is the mass defect of an alpha particle?

One mole of 40Ar (Z = 18) has about what mass?

The isotope A261 decays by beta-plus decay. What is the daughter nucleus?

What is the radius of the nuclide ?

A neutron star has approximately the same density as nuclear material. A typical neutron star has a radius of 8.0 km. Using the relationship r = (1.2 fm) A1/3 together with the mass of a neutron, 1.67 × 10−27kg, estimate the mass of a neutron star.

A nuclear chain reaction is possible (for the isotopes that can participate in a chain reaction) because when each nucleus fissions, it produces

What is the density of the 238U nucleus?

Stars are powered by nuclear fusion in their cores, which, starting with hydrogen, produce progressively heavier elements. Near the end of a star's lifetime, stellar cores produce iron by fusion. The reason this process doesn't proceed beyond iron is that

Barium-137 emits a gamma ray in the decay from an excited state (137Ba*). What is the resulting daughter nuclide?

The three most common types of radiation emitted by radioactive nuclei were originally named alpha, beta, and gamma rays, after the first letters of the Greek alphabet. In order of increasing ability to penetrate matter, these are

Compared to the sum of the masses of its constituents, the mass of a nucleus (other than 1H) is

A unstable medium-sized nucleus with an equal number of protons and neutrons (Z = N) is most likely to decay via

Introduction

Motion Along a Line

Motion in a Plane

Force and Newtons Laws of Motion

Circular Motion

Conservation of Energy

Linear Momentum

Torque and Angular Momentum

Fluids

Elasticity and Oscillations

Waves

Sound

Temperature and the Ideal Gas

Heat

Thermodynamics

Electric Forces and Fields

Electric Potential

Electric Current and Circuits

Magnetic Forces and Fields

Electromagnetic Induction

Alternating Current

Electromagnetic Waves

Reflection and Refraction of Light

Optical Instruments

Interference and Diffraction

Relativity

Early Quantum Physics and the Photon

Quantum Physics

Particle Physics

Filters

How many neutrons are in a ¹⁵C nucleus?

How many neutrons are produced in the following induced fission reaction? n₁ + → r + e + neutrons

One mole of ⁴⁰Ar (Z = 18) has about what mass?

The isotope A₂₆1 decays by beta-plus decay. What is the daughter nucleus?

A neutron star has approximately the same density as nuclear material. A typical neutron star has a radius of 8.0 km. Using the relationship r = (1.2 fm) A^1/3 together with the mass of a neutron, 1.67 × 10⁻²⁷kg, estimate the mass of a neutron star.

What is the density of the ²³⁸U nucleus?

Barium-137 emits a gamma ray in the decay from an excited state (¹³⁷Ba^*). What is the resulting daughter nuclide?

Compared to the sum of the masses of its constituents, the mass of a nucleus (other than ¹H) is