Question 1

Which of the following might be considered a viable application of a radioactive tracer?

Accepted Answer

A) adding a stream of radioisotopes to waste water to examine where pollution goes when it flows into the ocean 
B) placing radioactive sources around a room to trace the location of people as they move through the room 
C) embedding a radioactive plug in a valuable necklace so that its location can be determined using a Geiger counter 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above 
A) adding a stream of radioisotopes to waste water to examine where pollution goes when it flows into the ocean 
B) placing radioactive sources around a room to trace the location of people as they move through the room 
C) embedding a radioactive plug in a valuable necklace so that its location can be determined using a Geiger counter 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above

Question 2

If three samples have the half-lives listed below, which sample would remain radioactive the longest?

Accepted Answer

A) a sample with a half-life of 20 minutes 
B) a sample with a half-life of 20 hours 
C) a sample with a half-life of 20 years 
D) a sample with a half-life of 20 million years 
E) none of the above 
A) a sample with a half-life of 20 minutes 
B) a sample with a half-life of 20 hours 
C) a sample with a half-life of 20 years 
D) a sample with a half-life of 20 million years 
E) none of the above

Question 3

If an atom has 104 electrons, 157 neutrons, and 104 protons, what is its approximate atomic mass?

Accepted Answer

A) The approximate atomic mass is 365. 
B) The approximate atomic mass is 261. 
C) The approximate atomic mass is 157. 
D) The approximate atomic mass is cannot be determined with the information given. 
A) The approximate atomic mass is 365. 
B) The approximate atomic mass is 261. 
C) The approximate atomic mass is 157. 
D) The approximate atomic mass is cannot be determined with the information given.

Question 4

Why might the following nuclear reaction not be very good for energy production in a fission reactor?   Fe →   Si +   Mg + 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 energy from the missing mass due to strong nuclear force. 
C) The products are not the right size to obtain much energy from the missing mass due to the strong nuclear force. 
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 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 energy from the missing mass due to strong nuclear force. 
C) The products are not the right size to obtain much energy from the missing mass due to the strong nuclear force. 
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 separation of the atoms from the unstable nuclei.

Question 5

Complete the following nuclear equation: ?? →   At +   e

Accepted Answer

A)    Ra 
B)    At 
C)    Po 
D)    Rn 
E) none of the above 
A)    Ra 
B)    At 
C)    Po 
D)    Rn 
E) none of the above

Question 6

The age of the Dead Sea Scrolls was found by carbon-14 dating. Could this technique have worked if they were carved in stone tablets? Explain.

Accepted Answer

A) Yes, because there are appreciable levels of carbon even in stone. 
B) No, this method of dating requires a material that was once living. 
C) Yes, because X-ray images could be collected instead. 
D) No, the stones in the arid environment of the Dead Sea would have lost all of their carbon-14 by now. 
A) Yes, because there are appreciable levels of carbon even in stone. 
B) No, this method of dating requires a material that was once living. 
C) Yes, because X-ray images could be collected instead. 
D) No, the stones in the arid environment of the Dead Sea would have lost all of their carbon-14 by now.

Question 7

If a fusion reaction produces no appreciable radioactive isotopes, why does a hydrogen bomb produce significant radioactive fallout?

Accepted Answer

A) The fallout is only the radioactive remnants of the bomb's structure and casing. 
B) It is a misconception that fusion reactions produce no appreciable radioactive isotopes. Therefore, radioactive fallout is unavoidable. 
C) The radioactive fallout is a result of the fission reaction used to ignite the thermonuclear fusion reaction. 
D) Once a hydrogen bomb is exploded, all matter within nearly 100 miles becomes radioactive fallout. 
A) The fallout is only the radioactive remnants of the bomb's structure and casing. 
B) It is a misconception that fusion reactions produce no appreciable radioactive isotopes. Therefore, radioactive fallout is unavoidable. 
C) The radioactive fallout is a result of the fission reaction used to ignite the thermonuclear fusion reaction. 
D) Once a hydrogen bomb is exploded, all matter within nearly 100 miles becomes radioactive fallout.

Question 8

Which of the following nuclear equations correctly describes alpha emission?

Accepted Answer

A)    Th →   Pa +   e 
B)    Th →   Ac +   e 
C)    Th →   Pa +   e 
D)    Th →   e 
E) none of the above 
A)    Th →   Pa +   e 
B)    Th →   Ac +   e 
C)    Th →   Pa +   e 
D)    Th →   e 
E) none of the above

Question 9

Does the average distance that a neutron travels through fissionable material before escaping increase or decrease when two pieces of fissionable material are assembled into one piece? Does this assembly increase or decrease the probability of an explosion?

Accepted Answer

A) The average distance increases while the probability of an explosion also increases. 
B) The average distance decreases while the probability of an explosion decreases. 
C) The average distance increases while the probability of an explosion decreases. 
D) The average distance decreases while the probability of an explosion increases. 
A) The average distance increases while the probability of an explosion also increases. 
B) The average distance decreases while the probability of an explosion decreases. 
C) The average distance increases while the probability of an explosion decreases. 
D) The average distance decreases while the probability of an explosion increases.

Question 10

Why might the following nuclear reaction not be very good for energy production in a fusion reactor?   Fe +   Fe →   Te

Accepted Answer

A) The material only produces a few neutrons so the chain reaction will not be very efficient. 
B) The reactants are too stable and it would cost energy to produce the product due to strong nuclear force. 
C) The products are not the right size to obtain any energy from the missing mass due to the strong nuclear force. 
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 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 stable and it would cost energy to produce the product due to strong nuclear force. 
C) The products are not the right size to obtain any energy from the missing mass due to the strong nuclear force. 
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 separation of the atoms from the unstable nuclei.

Question 11

Which process would release energy from gold, fission or fusion? From carbon?

Accepted Answer

A) gold: fission; carbon: fusion 
B) gold: fusion; carbon: fission 
C) gold: fission; carbon: fission 
D) gold: fusion; carbon: fusion 
A) gold: fission; carbon: fusion 
B) gold: fusion; carbon: fission 
C) gold: fission; carbon: fission 
D) gold: fusion; carbon: fusion

Question 12

What are some of the optimistic worldwide changes that may follow the advent of successful fusion reactors?

Accepted Answer

A) Economies will be geared to relative abundance rather than scarcity. 
B) Humans will have more opportunities to focus on social issues, such as world hunger. 
C) There will be fewer hostilities between nations. 
D) all of the above 
A) Economies will be geared to relative abundance rather than scarcity. 
B) Humans will have more opportunities to focus on social issues, such as world hunger. 
C) There will be fewer hostilities between nations. 
D) all of the above

Question 13

Which of the following statements about fusion is true?

Accepted Answer

A) Fusion reactions have no critical-mass requirement. 
B) Fusion is easier than fission. 
C) Fusion reactions can be easily controlled to make energy. 
D) Fusion produces no harmful radiation. 
E) none of the above 
A) Fusion reactions have no critical-mass requirement. 
B) Fusion is easier than fission. 
C) Fusion reactions can be easily controlled to make energy. 
D) Fusion produces no harmful radiation. 
E) none of the above

Question 14

The half-life of carbon-14 is 5,730 years. A sample is found to have one-eighth the original amount of carbon-14 in it. How old is the sample?

Accepted Answer

A) 5,730 years 
B) 716 years 
C) 4,5800 years 
D) 17,200 years 
E) none of the above 
A) 5,730 years 
B) 716 years 
C) 4,5800 years 
D) 17,200 years 
E) none of the above

Question 15

Which of the following statements about carbon-14 dating is true?

Accepted Answer

A) Carbon-14 dating is very accurate because the amount of carbon-14 in the atmosphere is constant. 
B) Carbon-14 can be used to date anything younger than 50,000 years. 
C) Carbon-14 dating can be used to date stone tools as well as bone. 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above 
A) Carbon-14 dating is very accurate because the amount of carbon-14 in the atmosphere is constant. 
B) Carbon-14 can be used to date anything younger than 50,000 years. 
C) Carbon-14 dating can be used to date stone tools as well as bone. 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above

Question 16

How come an animal's carbon-14 levels do not start to decrease until it dies?

Accepted Answer

A) because it constantly replenishes its carbon-14 supply by eating plants with carbon-14 in them 
B) because it constantly replenishes its carbon-14 supply by breathing air with carbon-14 in it 
C) because it is constantly being bombarded with cosmic rays 
D) carbon-14 only starts to decay after the animal dies 
E) the carbon-14 levels do not decrease because the carbon-13 in its skin protects it from cosmic rays 
A) because it constantly replenishes its carbon-14 supply by eating plants with carbon-14 in them 
B) because it constantly replenishes its carbon-14 supply by breathing air with carbon-14 in it 
C) because it is constantly being bombarded with cosmic rays 
D) carbon-14 only starts to decay after the animal dies 
E) the carbon-14 levels do not decrease because the carbon-13 in its skin protects it from cosmic rays

Question 17

How many alpha particles are emitted in the series of radioactive decay events from a U-238 nucleus to a Pb-206 nucleus?

Accepted Answer

A) 32 
B) 16 
C) 8 
D) 4 
A) 32 
B) 16 
C) 8 
D) 4

Question 18

What is the main technical difficulty in dealing with fusion reactions?

Accepted Answer

A) The amount of energy needed to overcome the electrical repulsion of the reactants is extremely high. 
B) The reactants are highly toxic and extremely radioactive. 
C) The mass of the reactants is less than the mass of the products. 
D) It isn't possible to artificially generate the conditions needed for fusion. 
E) none of the above 
A) The amount of energy needed to overcome the electrical repulsion of the reactants is extremely high. 
B) The reactants are highly toxic and extremely radioactive. 
C) The mass of the reactants is less than the mass of the products. 
D) It isn't possible to artificially generate the conditions needed for fusion. 
E) none of the above

Question 19

Just after an alpha particle leaves the nucleus, would you expect it to speed up? Why?

Accepted Answer

A) No. Once the alpha particle leaves the nucleus it is slowed by the repulsion of the next closest atom's nucleus. 
B) No. As the alpha particle leaves the nucleus it is slowed by the constant attraction of the electrons surrounding the nucleus. 
C) Yes. Once the alpha particle leaves the nucleus there are no more forces acting on it and it therefore accelerates. 
D) Yes. Once the alpha particle leaves the nucleus it accelerates because of mutual electric repulsion with the nucleus from which it escaped. 
A) No. Once the alpha particle leaves the nucleus it is slowed by the repulsion of the next closest atom's nucleus. 
B) No. As the alpha particle leaves the nucleus it is slowed by the constant attraction of the electrons surrounding the nucleus. 
C) Yes. Once the alpha particle leaves the nucleus there are no more forces acting on it and it therefore accelerates. 
D) Yes. Once the alpha particle leaves the nucleus it accelerates because of mutual electric repulsion with the nucleus from which it escaped.

Question 20

Why wouldn't you use carbon-14 dating on a piece of shell that was estimated to be 1 million years old?

Accepted Answer

A) Sea shells do not have radioisotopes. 
B) Carbon dating is only useful on plants. 
C) Uranium dating is better for items older than 1/2 million years. 
D) Carbon dating can only be used on items that were once alive. 
E) The amount of radioactive carbon in the sample would probably too small to measure. 
A) Sea shells do not have radioisotopes. 
B) Carbon dating is only useful on plants. 
C) Uranium dating is better for items older than 1/2 million years. 
D) Carbon dating can only be used on items that were once alive. 
E) The amount of radioactive carbon in the sample would probably too small to measure.

Which of the following might be considered a viable application of a radioactive tracer?

If three samples have the half-lives listed below, which sample would remain radioactive the longest?

If an atom has 104 electrons, 157 neutrons, and 104 protons, what is its approximate atomic mass?

Why might the following nuclear reaction not be very good for energy production in a fission reactor? Fe → Si + Mg + 3 neutrons

Complete the following nuclear equation: ?? → At + e

The age of the Dead Sea Scrolls was found by carbon-14 dating. Could this technique have worked if they were carved in stone tablets? Explain.

If a fusion reaction produces no appreciable radioactive isotopes, why does a hydrogen bomb produce significant radioactive fallout?

Which of the following nuclear equations correctly describes alpha emission?

Does the average distance that a neutron travels through fissionable material before escaping increase or decrease when two pieces of fissionable material are assembled into one piece? Does this assembly increase or decrease the probability of an explosion?

Why might the following nuclear reaction not be very good for energy production in a fusion reactor? Fe + Fe → Te

Which process would release energy from gold, fission or fusion? From carbon?

What are some of the optimistic worldwide changes that may follow the advent of successful fusion reactors?

Which of the following statements about fusion is true?

The half-life of carbon-14 is 5,730 years. A sample is found to have one-eighth the original amount of carbon-14 in it. How old is the sample?

Which of the following statements about carbon-14 dating is true?

How come an animal's carbon-14 levels do not start to decrease until it dies?

How many alpha particles are emitted in the series of radioactive decay events from a U-238 nucleus to a Pb-206 nucleus?

What is the main technical difficulty in dealing with fusion reactions?

Just after an alpha particle leaves the nucleus, would you expect it to speed up? Why?

Why wouldn't you use carbon-14 dating on a piece of shell that was estimated to be 1 million years old?

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Exam 5: The Atomic Nucleus

Which of the following might be considered a viable application of a radioactive tracer?

If three samples have the half-lives listed below, which sample would remain radioactive the longest?

If an atom has 104 electrons, 157 neutrons, and 104 protons, what is its approximate atomic mass?

Why might the following nuclear reaction not be very good for energy production in a fission reactor? Fe → Si + Mg + 3 neutrons

Complete the following nuclear equation: ?? → At + e

The age of the Dead Sea Scrolls was found by carbon-14 dating. Could this technique have worked if they were carved in stone tablets? Explain.

If a fusion reaction produces no appreciable radioactive isotopes, why does a hydrogen bomb produce significant radioactive fallout?

Which of the following nuclear equations correctly describes alpha emission?

Does the average distance that a neutron travels through fissionable material before escaping increase or decrease when two pieces of fissionable material are assembled into one piece? Does this assembly increase or decrease the probability of an explosion?

Why might the following nuclear reaction not be very good for energy production in a fusion reactor? Fe + Fe → Te

Which process would release energy from gold, fission or fusion? From carbon?

What are some of the optimistic worldwide changes that may follow the advent of successful fusion reactors?

Which of the following statements about fusion is true?

The half-life of carbon-14 is 5,730 years. A sample is found to have one-eighth the original amount of carbon-14 in it. How old is the sample?

Which of the following statements about carbon-14 dating is true?

How come an animal's carbon-14 levels do not start to decrease until it dies?

How many alpha particles are emitted in the series of radioactive decay events from a U-238 nucleus to a Pb-206 nucleus?

What is the main technical difficulty in dealing with fusion reactions?

Just after an alpha particle leaves the nucleus, would you expect it to speed up? Why?

Why wouldn't you use carbon-14 dating on a piece of shell that was estimated to be 1 million years old?

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