Question 1

An element is emitting alpha,beta,and gamma radiation.Rank order them in terms of the thickness of protective shielding they will need for safety,from least to most.

Accepted Answer

A)  alpha,beta and gamma 
B)  gamma,beta and alpha 
C)  beta,gamma and alpha 
D)  alpha,gamma and beta 
A)  alpha,beta and gamma 
B)  gamma,beta and alpha 
C)  beta,gamma and alpha 
D)  alpha,gamma and beta

Question 2

The binding energy of a nucleus is equal to:

Accepted Answer

A)  the energy needed to remove one of the nucleons. 
B)  the average energy with which any nucleon is bound in the nucleus. 
C)  the energy needed to separate all the nucleons from each other. 
D)  the mass of the nucleus times c2. 
A)  the energy needed to remove one of the nucleons. 
B)  the average energy with which any nucleon is bound in the nucleus. 
C)  the energy needed to separate all the nucleons from each other. 
D)  the mass of the nucleus times c2.

Question 3

A rad is that amount of radiation that:

Accepted Answer

A)  produces 2.08 × 109 ion pairs per cm3 in air under standard conditions. 
B)  deposits 8.76 × 10-3 J of energy into 1 kg of air. 
C)  deposits 10-2 J of energy into 1 kg of absorbing material. 
D)  is also known as a rem. 
A)  produces 2.08 × 109 ion pairs per cm3 in air under standard conditions. 
B)  deposits 8.76 × 10-3 J of energy into 1 kg of air. 
C)  deposits 10-2 J of energy into 1 kg of absorbing material. 
D)  is also known as a rem.

Question 4

To what is the radiation damage in biological organisms primarily due?

Accepted Answer

A)  helium introduction 
B)  heating 
C)  induced radioactivity 
D)  ionization 
A)  helium introduction 
B)  heating 
C)  induced radioactivity 
D)  ionization

Question 5

What particle is emitted when 20Na decays to 20Ne? (atomic numbers of Na and Ne are,respectively,11 and 10)

Accepted Answer

A)  alpha 
B)  beta (electron) 
C)  beta (positron) 
D)  gamma quantum 
A)  alpha 
B)  beta (electron) 
C)  beta (positron) 
D)  gamma quantum

Question 6

In the four radioactive series,the nuclei decay by either emitting alpha particles or beta particles until they reach the stable end product.Each decay,therefore,results in a mass number change of either 4 (for alpha decay)or 0 (for beta decay).The radium isotope 226Ra is in one of these series.What is the starting isotope in the series containing 226Ra?

Accepted Answer

A)  238U 
B)  235U 
C)  232Th 
D)  237Np 
A)  238U 
B)  235U 
C)  232Th 
D)  237Np

Question 7

Certain stars at the end of their lives are thought to collapse combining their protons and electrons together to form a neutron star.Such a star could be thought of as a giant atomic nucleus.If a star of mass equal to that of the sun (M = 1.99 × 1030 kg)collapsed into neutrons (mn = 1.67 × 10−27 kg),what would be the radius of such a star? (Hint: r = r0A1/3,where r0 = 1.20 × 10−15 m).

Accepted Answer

A)  25.4 km 
B)  18.7 km 
C)  12.7 km 
D)  6.40 km 
A)  25.4 km 
B)  18.7 km 
C)  12.7 km 
D)  6.40 km

Question 8

Two nuclei collide,one originally at rest,in an endothermic nuclear reaction with Q = −2.05 MeV.Which of the following describes the minimum kinetic energy needed in the reactant nuclei for the reaction is to occur?

Accepted Answer

A)  equal to 2.05 MeV 
B)  greater than 2.05 MeV 
C)  less than 2.05 MeV 
D)  exactly half of 2.05 MeV 
A)  equal to 2.05 MeV 
B)  greater than 2.05 MeV 
C)  less than 2.05 MeV 
D)  exactly half of 2.05 MeV

Question 9

The half-life of 18N is 0.62 s.What is the decay constant for this isotope?

Accepted Answer

A)  0.43 s-1 
B)  1.1 s-1 
C)  1.7 × 10-11 Ci 
D)  The decay constant is not defined for a half-life of less than one second. 
A)  0.43 s-1 
B)  1.1 s-1 
C)  1.7 × 10-11 Ci 
D)  The decay constant is not defined for a half-life of less than one second.

Question 10

The fact that the binding energy per nucleon does not depend very strongly on the volume of the nucleus indicates that:

Accepted Answer

A)  the strong nuclear force saturates. 
B)  nucleons don't move throughout the nucleus. 
C)  all nuclei have the same volume. 
D)  the radius of a nucleus is directly proportional to the number of nucleons. 
A)  the strong nuclear force saturates. 
B)  nucleons don't move throughout the nucleus. 
C)  all nuclei have the same volume. 
D)  the radius of a nucleus is directly proportional to the number of nucleons.

Question 11

A proton is captured by an oxygen-16 atom which in turn emits a deuteron.What is the element and mass number of the product isotope?

Accepted Answer

A)  nitrogen-15 
B)  oxygen-17 
C)  oxygen-15 
D)  fluorine-15 
A)  nitrogen-15 
B)  oxygen-17 
C)  oxygen-15 
D)  fluorine-15

Question 12

A pure sample of 226Ra contains 2.1 × 1015 atoms of the isotope.If the half-life of 226Ra = 1.6 × 103 years,what is the decay rate of this sample? (1 Ci = 3.7 × 1010 decays/s)

Accepted Answer

A)  1.1E-6 Ci 
B)  2.9E+4 Ci 
C)  7.8E-7 Ci 
D)  2.5E+1 Ci 
E)  ​3.5E+1 Ci 
A)  1.1E-6 Ci 
B)  2.9E+4 Ci 
C)  7.8E-7 Ci 
D)  2.5E+1 Ci 
E)  ​3.5E+1 Ci

Question 13

An alpha particle (mass = 6.68 × 10−27 kg)is emitted from a radioactive nucleus with a kinetic energy of 4.55 MeV.How fast is the alpha particle moving in m/s? (1 MeV = 1.6 × 10−13 J)

Accepted Answer

A)  3.84E+3 m/s 
B)  1.48E+7 m/s 
C)  1.04E+7 m/s 
D)  3.82E+7 m/s 
E)  ​5.11E+6 m/s 
A)  3.84E+3 m/s 
B)  1.48E+7 m/s 
C)  1.04E+7 m/s 
D)  3.82E+7 m/s 
E)  ​5.11E+6 m/s

Question 14

Tritium (3H)has a half-life of 12.3 years and releases 0.018 6 MeV energy per decay.What is the activity of a 1.4-gram sample of tritium? (NA = 6.02 × 1023 mol-1,1 year = 3.16 × 107 s,1 MeV = 1.6 × 10-13 J,and mt = 3.016 05 u)

Accepted Answer

A)  9.3E+12 Bq 
B)  1.5E+26 Bq 
C)  5.0E+14 Bq 
D)  5.8E-1 Bq 
E)  ​1.7E+3 Bq 
A)  9.3E+12 Bq 
B)  1.5E+26 Bq 
C)  5.0E+14 Bq 
D)  5.8E-1 Bq 
E)  ​1.7E+3 Bq

Question 15

The Q of a nuclear reaction is equal to:

Accepted Answer

A)  the total charge involved. 
B)  energy associated with the change in mass. 
C)  energy associated with momentum conservation. 
D)  the exothermic endothermy. 
A)  the total charge involved. 
B)  energy associated with the change in mass. 
C)  energy associated with momentum conservation. 
D)  the exothermic endothermy.

Question 16

The neutrino is:

Accepted Answer

A)  a little neutron. 
B)  another name for a positron. 
C)  the particle detected in carbon dating. 
D)  a particle proposed to account for "missing" energy and momentum in beta decay. 
A)  a little neutron. 
B)  another name for a positron. 
C)  the particle detected in carbon dating. 
D)  a particle proposed to account for "missing" energy and momentum in beta decay.

Question 17

The original nucleus and the final nucleus will be different isotopes of the same element for which decay scheme of the original nucleus?

Accepted Answer

A)  alpha decay followed by two beta (electron)decays 
B)  two gamma decays 
C)  a beta (electron)decay followed by an alpha decay 
D)  a beta (electron)decay followed by neutron emission 
A)  alpha decay followed by two beta (electron)decays 
B)  two gamma decays 
C)  a beta (electron)decay followed by an alpha decay 
D)  a beta (electron)decay followed by neutron emission

Question 18

Of the main types of radiation emitted from naturally radioactive isotopes,which of the following is the most penetrating?

Accepted Answer

A)  alpha 
B)  beta (electron) 
C)  gamma 
D)  beta (positron) 
A)  alpha 
B)  beta (electron) 
C)  gamma 
D)  beta (positron)

Question 19

An ancient building was known to have been built 3 000 years ago.Approximately what proportion of Carbon-14 atoms are yet in the building's wooden framing compared to the number which were present at the time of its construction? (half life of 14C = 5 730 years)

Accepted Answer

A)  0.425 
B)  0.500 
C)  0.517 
D)  0.696 
A)  0.425 
B)  0.500 
C)  0.517 
D)  0.696

Question 20

For every stable nucleus except hydrogen,if the number of nucleons is doubled,the quantity that will change least is the:

Accepted Answer

A)  mass. 
B)  charge. 
C)  volume. 
D)  density. 
A)  mass. 
B)  charge. 
C)  volume. 
D)  density.

Exam 29: Nuclear Physics

An element is emitting alpha,beta,and gamma radiation.Rank order them in terms of the thickness of protective shielding they will need for safety,from least to most.

The binding energy of a nucleus is equal to:

A rad is that amount of radiation that:

To what is the radiation damage in biological organisms primarily due?

What particle is emitted when 20Na decays to 20Ne? (atomic numbers of Na and Ne are,respectively,11 and 10)

Two nuclei collide,one originally at rest,in an endothermic nuclear reaction with Q = −2.05 MeV.Which of the following describes the minimum kinetic energy needed in the reactant nuclei for the reaction is to occur?

The half-life of 18N is 0.62 s.What is the decay constant for this isotope?

The fact that the binding energy per nucleon does not depend very strongly on the volume of the nucleus indicates that:

A proton is captured by an oxygen-16 atom which in turn emits a deuteron.What is the element and mass number of the product isotope?

A pure sample of 226Ra contains 2.1 × 1015 atoms of the isotope.If the half-life of 226Ra = 1.6 × 103 years,what is the decay rate of this sample? (1 Ci = 3.7 × 1010 decays/s)

An alpha particle (mass = 6.68 × 10−27 kg)is emitted from a radioactive nucleus with a kinetic energy of 4.55 MeV.How fast is the alpha particle moving in m/s? (1 MeV = 1.6 × 10−13 J)

Tritium (3H)has a half-life of 12.3 years and releases 0.018 6 MeV energy per decay.What is the activity of a 1.4-gram sample of tritium? (NA = 6.02 × 1023 mol-1,1 year = 3.16 × 107 s,1 MeV = 1.6 × 10-13 J,and mt = 3.016 05 u)

The Q of a nuclear reaction is equal to:

The neutrino is:

The original nucleus and the final nucleus will be different isotopes of the same element for which decay scheme of the original nucleus?

Of the main types of radiation emitted from naturally radioactive isotopes,which of the following is the most penetrating?

An ancient building was known to have been built 3 000 years ago.Approximately what proportion of Carbon-14 atoms are yet in the building's wooden framing compared to the number which were present at the time of its construction? (half life of 14C = 5 730 years)

For every stable nucleus except hydrogen,if the number of nucleons is doubled,the quantity that will change least is the:

Introduction

Introduction: Part A

Motion in One Dimension

Motion in One Dimension: Part A

Vectors and Two-Dimensional Motion

Vectors and Two-Dimensional Motion: Part A

The Laws of Motion

The Laws of Motion: Part A

Energy

Energy: Part A

Momentum and Collisions

Momentum and Collisions: Part A

Rotational Motion and the Law of Gravity

Rotational Motion and the Law of Gravity: Part A

Rotational Equilibrium and Rotational Dynamics

Rotational Equilibrium and Rotational Dynamics: Part A

Solids and Fluids

Solids and Fluids: Part A

Thermal Physics

Thermal Physics: Part A

Energy in Thermal Processes Heat and Internal Energy

Energy in Thermal Processes Heat and Internal Energy: Part A

The Laws of Thermodynamics Work in Thermodynamic Processes

The Laws of Thermodynamics Work in Thermodynamic Processes: Part A

Vibrations and Waves

Vibrations and Waves: Part A

Sound

Sound: Part A

Electric Forces and Electric Fields

Electric Forces and Electric Fields: Part A

Electrical Energy and Capacitance

Electrical Energy and Capacitance: Part A

Current and Resistance Electric Current

Current and Resistance Electric Current: Part A

Direct-Current Circuits Sources of EMF

Direct-Current Circuits Sources of EMF: Part A

Magnetism Magnets

Magnetism Magnets: Part A

Induced Voltages and Inductance

Induced Voltages and Inductance: Part A

Alternating-Current Circuits and Electromagnetic Waves

Alternating-Current Circuits and Electromagnetic Waves: Part A

Reflection and Refraction of Light

Reflection and Refraction of Light: Part A

Mirrors and Lenses

Mirrors and Lenses: Part A

Wave Optics

Wave Optics: Part A

Optical Instruments

Optical Instruments: Part A

Relativity

Relativity: Part A

Quantum Physics Blackbody Radiation and Plancks Hypothesis

Quantum Physics Blackbody Radiation and Plancks Hypothesis: Part A

Atomic Physics

Atomic Physics: Part A

Nuclear Physics: Part A

Nuclear Energy and Elementary Particles

Nuclear Energy and Elementary Particles: Part A

Particle Collisions, Mediating Photons, and Quark Structures: Exploring the Fundamentals of Physics

Filters

What particle is emitted when ²⁰Na decays to ²⁰Ne? (atomic numbers of Na and Ne are,respectively,11 and 10)

The half-life of ¹⁸N is 0.62 s.What is the decay constant for this isotope?

A pure sample of ²²⁶Ra contains 2.1 × 10¹⁵ atoms of the isotope.If the half-life of ²²⁶Ra = 1.6 × 10³ years,what is the decay rate of this sample? (1 Ci = 3.7 × 10¹⁰ decays/s)

An alpha particle (mass = 6.68 × 10−²⁷ kg)is emitted from a radioactive nucleus with a kinetic energy of 4.55 MeV.How fast is the alpha particle moving in m/s? (1 MeV = 1.6 × 10−¹³ J)

Tritium (³H)has a half-life of 12.3 years and releases 0.018 6 MeV energy per decay.What is the activity of a 1.4-gram sample of tritium? (N_A = 6.02 × 10²³ mol^-1,1 year = 3.16 × 10⁷ s,1 MeV = 1.6 × 10^-13 J,and m_t = 3.016 05 u)

An ancient building was known to have been built 3 000 years ago.Approximately what proportion of Carbon-14 atoms are yet in the building's wooden framing compared to the number which were present at the time of its construction? (half life of ¹⁴C = 5 730 years)