Question 1

Which of the following provides the minimum amount of protection you need to block the following form of radiation? beta

Accepted Answer

A) lead suit 
B) suntan lotion 
C) thick leather 
D) T-shirt 
E) none of the above 
A) lead suit 
B) suntan lotion 
C) thick leather 
D) T-shirt 
E) none of the above C

Question 2

The original reactor built in 1942 was just "barely" critical because the natural uranium that was used contained less than 1% of the fissionable isotope U-235 (half life 713 million years). What if, in 1942, the Earth had been 9 billion years old instead of 4.5 billion years old? Would this reactor have reached critical stage with natural uranium? Why?

Accepted Answer

A) No. The age of the Earth has nothing to do with the reactor reaching critical stage with U-235. 
B) No. 1% of the fissionable isotope U-235 is insufficient for the reactor to reach critical stage no matter what the age of the Earth. 
C) Yes. If the Earth had been twice as old there would have then been twice as much fissionable U-235 present and the reactor would have reached critical stage. 
D) No. The increased age of the Earth would mean that there would be a much smaller percentage of U-235, thus not enough for the reactor to reach critical stage. 
A) No. The age of the Earth has nothing to do with the reactor reaching critical stage with U-235. 
B) No. 1% of the fissionable isotope U-235 is insufficient for the reactor to reach critical stage no matter what the age of the Earth. 
C) Yes. If the Earth had been twice as old there would have then been twice as much fissionable U-235 present and the reactor would have reached critical stage. 
D) No. The increased age of the Earth would mean that there would be a much smaller percentage of U-235, thus not enough for the reactor to reach critical stage. D

Question 3

Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann discovered fission by bombarding uranium with neutrons. Their discovery was made possible by finding one of the fission products, barium (Ba, atomic no. = 56). What is a reasonable explanation for why they were unable to initially observe the other product, krypton (Kr, atomic no. = 36)?

Accepted Answer

A) Krypton is a noble gas and it may have diffused out of the sample. 
B) The isotope of krypton generated might have undergone radioactive decay to some other element. 
C) Krypton is a noble gas and therefore chemically unreactive, making it difficult to characterize by chemical means. 
D) all of the above 
A) Krypton is a noble gas and it may have diffused out of the sample. 
B) The isotope of krypton generated might have undergone radioactive decay to some other element. 
C) Krypton is a noble gas and therefore chemically unreactive, making it difficult to characterize by chemical means. 
D) all of the above D

Question 4

Which of the following statements about radiation is true?

Accepted Answer

A) Radiation can be a useful tool. Like fire, it is only dangerous when misused. 
B) Radiation is new: It is a man-made phenomenon. 
C) Radiation has no beneficial health applications. 
D) all of the above 
E) only A or B 
A) Radiation can be a useful tool. Like fire, it is only dangerous when misused. 
B) Radiation is new: It is a man-made phenomenon. 
C) Radiation has no beneficial health applications. 
D) all of the above 
E) only A or B

Question 5

Which of the beams is due to an energetic non-visible light wave?

Accepted Answer

A) a 
B) b 
C) c 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above 
A) a 
B) b 
C) c 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above

Question 6

Which of the following is a major disadvantage of nuclear-fission-based power plants?

Accepted Answer

A) The reactors can be used to produce their own fuel. 
B) The byproducts of the fission process are radioactive and have very long half-lives. 
C) The amount of energy per kilogram of fuel is greater than any other fuel source. 
D) The power plants are complex and there are many safety requirements to prevent contamination of the environment. 
E) B and D 
A) The reactors can be used to produce their own fuel. 
B) The byproducts of the fission process are radioactive and have very long half-lives. 
C) The amount of energy per kilogram of fuel is greater than any other fuel source. 
D) The power plants are complex and there are many safety requirements to prevent contamination of the environment. 
E) B and D

Question 7

If uranium were to split into three segments of equal size instead of two, would more energy or less energy be released?

Accepted Answer

A) Less energy would be released because of less mass per nucleon. 
B) Less energy would be released because of more mass per nucleon. 
C) More energy would be released because of less mass per nucleon 
D) More energy would be released because of more mass per nucleon. 
A) Less energy would be released because of less mass per nucleon. 
B) Less energy would be released because of more mass per nucleon. 
C) More energy would be released because of less mass per nucleon 
D) More energy would be released because of more mass per nucleon.

Question 8

When   Po emits a beta particle, it transforms into a new element. What are the atomic number and atomic mass of this new element?

Accepted Answer

A) atomic number = 84; atomic mass = 219 
B) atomic number = 86; atomic mass = 214 
C) atomic number = 85; atomic mass = 218 
D) atomic number = 82; atomic mass = 214 
A) atomic number = 84; atomic mass = 219 
B) atomic number = 86; atomic mass = 214 
C) atomic number = 85; atomic mass = 218 
D) atomic number = 82; atomic mass = 214

Question 9

Which of the beams is due to a positively charged helium nucleus?

Accepted Answer

A) a 
B) b 
C) c 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above 
A) a 
B) b 
C) c 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above

Question 10

Why might the following nuclear reaction not be very good for energy production in a fission reactor?   U →   Th +   He + 3 neutrons

Accepted Answer

A) The material only produces a few neutrons so the chain reaction will not be very efficient. 
B) The reactants are too small to obtain much energy from the missing mass due to the strong nuclear force. 
C) The products are not the right size to obtain much energy from missing mass due to strong nuclear force. 
D) The mass of the byproducts is too high and therefore the energy released will not be large enough. 
E) Interatomic attraction between the products will impede the separation of the atoms from the unstable nuclei. 
A) The material only produces a few neutrons so the chain reaction will not be very efficient. 
B) The reactants are too small to obtain much energy from the missing mass due to the strong nuclear force. 
C) The products are not the right size to obtain much energy from missing mass due to strong nuclear force. 
D) The mass of the byproducts is too high and therefore the energy released will not be large enough. 
E) Interatomic attraction between the products will impede the separation of the atoms from the unstable nuclei.

Question 11

Carbon-14 dating is fairly reliable for dating once-living materials that died up to ________.

Accepted Answer

A) 5000 years ago 
B) 50,00 years ago 
C) 250.000 years ago 
D) 2.5 million years ago 
A) 5000 years ago 
B) 50,00 years ago 
C) 250.000 years ago 
D) 2.5 million years ago

Question 12

Your friend says that the helium used to inflate balloons is a product of radioactive decay. Another friend says no way. With whom do you agree?

Accepted Answer

A) If helium were a product of radioactive decay, we would all be radioactive. Agree with the friend that says "no way." 
B) Radioactive decay produces alpha particles, not helium. Agree with the friend that says "no way." 
C) Your first friend is correct. Radioactive isotopes emit alpha particles which, in turn, capture electrons and become helium atoms. 
D) Helium is an element of the periodic table, not some product of any reaction. Agree with the friend that says "no way." 
A) If helium were a product of radioactive decay, we would all be radioactive. Agree with the friend that says "no way." 
B) Radioactive decay produces alpha particles, not helium. Agree with the friend that says "no way." 
C) Your first friend is correct. Radioactive isotopes emit alpha particles which, in turn, capture electrons and become helium atoms. 
D) Helium is an element of the periodic table, not some product of any reaction. Agree with the friend that says "no way."

Question 13

Radium-226 is a common isotope on Earth, but has a half-life of about 1600 years. Given that Earth is some 5 billions years old, why is there any radium at all?

Accepted Answer

A) Radium-226 is one of several self-transmutating isotopes of the elements of the periodic table and is able to replenish itself so that it is never depleted. 
B) Radium-226 and Radium-218 undergo a series of transmutation reactions of alpha and beta decay to repeatedly become one another approximately every 1600 years. 
C) Radium-226 is a "daughter" isotope and the result of the radioactive decay of uranium. 
D) Radium-226 and Astatine-218 are converted back and forth via transmutation to one another at each of their respective half-life cycles. 
A) Radium-226 is one of several self-transmutating isotopes of the elements of the periodic table and is able to replenish itself so that it is never depleted. 
B) Radium-226 and Radium-218 undergo a series of transmutation reactions of alpha and beta decay to repeatedly become one another approximately every 1600 years. 
C) Radium-226 is a "daughter" isotope and the result of the radioactive decay of uranium. 
D) Radium-226 and Astatine-218 are converted back and forth via transmutation to one another at each of their respective half-life cycles.

Question 14

Why might the following nuclear reaction not be very good for energy production in a fission reactor?   U →   Ba +   Kr + 1 neutron

Accepted Answer

A) The material only produces one neutron so the chain reaction will not be very efficient. 
B) The products are too large. 
C) There are too many products produced. 
D) The mass of the byproducts is too high and therefore the energy released will not be high enough. 
E) Interatomic attraction between the products will impede the efficient separation of the atoms from the unstable nuclei. 
A) The material only produces one neutron so the chain reaction will not be very efficient. 
B) The products are too large. 
C) There are too many products produced. 
D) The mass of the byproducts is too high and therefore the energy released will not be high enough. 
E) Interatomic attraction between the products will impede the efficient separation of the atoms from the unstable nuclei.

Question 15

Which of the beams is due to alpha particles?

Accepted Answer

A) a 
B) b 
C) c 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above 
A) a 
B) b 
C) c 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above

Question 16

If carbon-14 is a beta emitter, what is the likely product of radioactive decay?

Accepted Answer

A) nitrogen-14 
B) carbon-12 
C) oxygen-18 
D) berrylium-10 
E) none of the above 
A) nitrogen-14 
B) carbon-12 
C) oxygen-18 
D) berrylium-10 
E) none of the above

Question 17

When food is irradiated with gamma rays from a cobalt-60 source, does the food become radioactive? Why?

Accepted Answer

A) Yes. This is why irradiation with cobalt-60 is no longer approved by the FDA. 
B) Yes. However, the radioactivity resulting is well below the danger level established by the FDA. 
C) No. The gamma rays do not have sufficient energy to initiate the nuclear reaction in the atoms of the food. 
D) Yes and No. Although the gamma rays initiate the nuclear reaction the radioactivity does not show up until the food is ingested. 
A) Yes. This is why irradiation with cobalt-60 is no longer approved by the FDA. 
B) Yes. However, the radioactivity resulting is well below the danger level established by the FDA. 
C) No. The gamma rays do not have sufficient energy to initiate the nuclear reaction in the atoms of the food. 
D) Yes and No. Although the gamma rays initiate the nuclear reaction the radioactivity does not show up until the food is ingested.

Question 18

Which of the following statements best describes the role of neutrons in the nucleus?

Accepted Answer

A) The neutrons stabilize the nucleus by attracting protons and other neutrons. 
B) The neutrons stabilize the nucleus by forming bonds with other neutrons. 
C) The neutrons stabilize the nucleus by attracting protons. 
D) The neutrons stabilize the nucleus by balancing charge. 
E) The neutrons stabilize the nucleus by adding mass. 
A) The neutrons stabilize the nucleus by attracting protons and other neutrons. 
B) The neutrons stabilize the nucleus by forming bonds with other neutrons. 
C) The neutrons stabilize the nucleus by attracting protons. 
D) The neutrons stabilize the nucleus by balancing charge. 
E) The neutrons stabilize the nucleus by adding mass.

Question 19

Which type of radiation is being emitted in the following incomplete nuclear equation?   Pb →   Bi + ??

Accepted Answer

A) alpha 
B) beta 
C) gamma 
D) A and B 
E) none of the above 
A) alpha 
B) beta 
C) gamma 
D) A and B 
E) none of the above

Question 20

Which of the following provides the minimum amount of protection you need to block the following form of radiation? gamma

Accepted Answer

A) lead suit 
B) suntan lotion 
C) thick leather 
D) T-shirt 
E) none of the above 
A) lead suit 
B) suntan lotion 
C) thick leather 
D) T-shirt 
E) none of the above

Which of the following provides the minimum amount of protection you need to block the following form of radiation? beta

Which of the following statements about radiation is true?

Which of the beams is due to an energetic non-visible light wave?

Which of the following is a major disadvantage of nuclear-fission-based power plants?

If uranium were to split into three segments of equal size instead of two, would more energy or less energy be released?

When Po emits a beta particle, it transforms into a new element. What are the atomic number and atomic mass of this new element?

Which of the beams is due to a positively charged helium nucleus?

Why might the following nuclear reaction not be very good for energy production in a fission reactor? U → Th + He + 3 neutrons

Carbon-14 dating is fairly reliable for dating once-living materials that died up to ________.

Your friend says that the helium used to inflate balloons is a product of radioactive decay. Another friend says no way. With whom do you agree?

Radium-226 is a common isotope on Earth, but has a half-life of about 1600 years. Given that Earth is some 5 billions years old, why is there any radium at all?

Why might the following nuclear reaction not be very good for energy production in a fission reactor? U → Ba + Kr + 1 neutron

Which of the beams is due to alpha particles?

If carbon-14 is a beta emitter, what is the likely product of radioactive decay?

When food is irradiated with gamma rays from a cobalt-60 source, does the food become radioactive? Why?

Which of the following statements best describes the role of neutrons in the nucleus?

Which type of radiation is being emitted in the following incomplete nuclear equation? Pb → Bi + ??

Which of the following provides the minimum amount of protection you need to block the following form of radiation? gamma

About Science

Particles of Matter

Elements of Chemistry

Subatomic Particles

How Atoms Bond

How Molecules Mix

How Water Behaves

How Chemicals React

Acids and Bases in Our Environment

Oxidations and Reductions Charge the World

Organic Compounds

Nutrients of Life

Medicinal Chemistry

Optimizing Food Production

Protection Water and Air Resources

Capturing Energy

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Exam 5: The Atomic Nucleus

Which of the following provides the minimum amount of protection you need to block the following form of radiation? beta

Which of the following statements about radiation is true?

Which of the beams is due to an energetic non-visible light wave?

Which of the following is a major disadvantage of nuclear-fission-based power plants?

If uranium were to split into three segments of equal size instead of two, would more energy or less energy be released?

When Po emits a beta particle, it transforms into a new element. What are the atomic number and atomic mass of this new element?

Which of the beams is due to a positively charged helium nucleus?

Why might the following nuclear reaction not be very good for energy production in a fission reactor? U → Th + He + 3 neutrons

Carbon-14 dating is fairly reliable for dating once-living materials that died up to ________.

Your friend says that the helium used to inflate balloons is a product of radioactive decay. Another friend says no way. With whom do you agree?

Radium-226 is a common isotope on Earth, but has a half-life of about 1600 years. Given that Earth is some 5 billions years old, why is there any radium at all?

Why might the following nuclear reaction not be very good for energy production in a fission reactor? U → Ba + Kr + 1 neutron

Which of the beams is due to alpha particles?

If carbon-14 is a beta emitter, what is the likely product of radioactive decay?

When food is irradiated with gamma rays from a cobalt-60 source, does the food become radioactive? Why?

Which of the following statements best describes the role of neutrons in the nucleus?

Which type of radiation is being emitted in the following incomplete nuclear equation? Pb → Bi + ??

Which of the following provides the minimum amount of protection you need to block the following form of radiation? gamma

About Science

Particles of Matter

Elements of Chemistry

Subatomic Particles

How Atoms Bond

How Molecules Mix

How Water Behaves

How Chemicals React

Acids and Bases in Our Environment

Oxidations and Reductions Charge the World

Organic Compounds

Nutrients of Life

Medicinal Chemistry

Optimizing Food Production

Protection Water and Air Resources

Capturing Energy

Filters