Question 1

The half-life of a radioactive substance is:

Accepted Answer

A)  half the time it takes for the entire substance to decay 
B)  usually about 50 years 
C)  the time for radium to change into lead 
D)  calculated from E = mc2 
E)  the time for half the substance to decay 
A)  half the time it takes for the entire substance to decay 
B)  usually about 50 years 
C)  the time for radium to change into lead 
D)  calculated from E = mc2 
E)  the time for half the substance to decay

Question 2

The sievert is the correct unit to use in reporting the measurement of:

Accepted Answer

A)  the rate of decay of a radioactive source 
B)  the ability of a beam of gamma ray photons to produce ions in a target 
C)  the energy delivered by radiation to a target 
D)  the biological effect of radiation 
E)  none of the above 
A)  the rate of decay of a radioactive source 
B)  the ability of a beam of gamma ray photons to produce ions in a target 
C)  the energy delivered by radiation to a target 
D)  the biological effect of radiation 
E)  none of the above

Question 3

A beta particle is:

Accepted Answer

A)  a helium nucleus 
B)  an electron or a positron 
C)  a radioactive element 
D)  any negative particle 
E)  a hydrogen atom 
A)  a helium nucleus 
B)  an electron or a positron 
C)  a radioactive element 
D)  any negative particle 
E)  a hydrogen atom

Question 4

65Cu will be turned into 66Cu, with no accompanying product except a gamma ray, if bombarded with:

Accepted Answer

A)  protons 
B)  neutrons 
C)  deuterons 
D)  electrons 
E)  alpha particles 
A)  protons 
B)  neutrons 
C)  deuterons 
D)  electrons 
E)  alpha particles

Question 5

The half-life of a radioactive isotope is 140 days. In how many days does the decay rate of a sample of this isotope decrease to one fourth its initial decay rate?

Accepted Answer

A)  35 
B)  105 
C)  187 
D)  210 
E)  280 
A)  35 
B)  105 
C)  187 
D)  210 
E)  280

Question 6

Which of the following nuclides is least likely to be detected?

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 7

Rank the following collections of particles according to the total binding energy of all the particles in each collection, least to greatest.

Accepted Answer

A)  1,2,3 
B)  3,2,1 
C)  2,1,3 
D)  1,3,2 
E)  2,3,1 
A)  1,2,3 
B)  3,2,1 
C)  2,1,3 
D)  1,3,2 
E)  2,3,1

Question 8

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

Question 9

Stable nuclei generally:

Accepted Answer

A)  have a greater number of protons than neutrons 
B)  have low mass numbers 
C)  have high mass numbers 
D)  are beta emitters 
E)  none of the above 
A)  have a greater number of protons than neutrons 
B)  have low mass numbers 
C)  have high mass numbers 
D)  are beta emitters 
E)  none of the above

Question 10

A nucleus with mass number A and atomic number Z undergoes $\beta$- decay. The mass number and atomic number, respectively, of the daughter nucleus are:

Accepted Answer

A)  A, Z - 1 
B)  A - 1, Z 
C)  A + 1, Z - 1 
D)  A, Z + 1 
A)  A, Z - 1 
B)  A - 1, Z 
C)  A + 1, Z - 1 
D)  A, Z + 1

Question 11

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 12

If a nucleus has mass M, Z protons (mass mp) and N neutrons (mass mn) its binding energy is equal to:

Accepted Answer

A)  Mc2 
B)  (M - Zmp - Nmn)c2 
C)  (Zmp + Nmn - M)c2 
D)  (Zmp + Nmn)c2 
E)  (Zmp - M)c2 
A)  Mc2 
B)  (M - Zmp - Nmn)c2 
C)  (Zmp + Nmn - M)c2 
D)  (Zmp + Nmn)c2 
E)  (Zmp - M)c2

Question 13

When ordinary sulfur, 32S (Z = 16), is bombarded with neutrons, the products are 32P (Z = 15) and:

Accepted Answer

A)  an alpha particle 
B)  a proton 
C)  a deuteron 
D)  a gamma ray 
E)  an electron 
A)  an alpha particle 
B)  a proton 
C)  a deuteron 
D)  a gamma ray 
E)  an electron

Question 14

Of the following which has the smallest rest energy?

Accepted Answer

A)  A neutron 
B)  An electron 
C)  An ion 
D)  A proton 
E)  An atom 
A)  A neutron 
B)  An electron 
C)  An ion 
D)  A proton 
E)  An atom

Question 15

In addition to the daughter nucleus and an electron or positron, the products of a beta decay include:

Accepted Answer

A)  a neutron 
B)  a neutrino 
C)  a proton 
D)  an alpha particle 
E)  no other particle 
A)  a neutron 
B)  a neutrino 
C)  a proton 
D)  an alpha particle 
E)  no other particle

Question 16

The energies of electrons emitted in $\beta$- decays have a continuous spectrum because:

Accepted Answer

A)  the original neutron has a continuous spectrum 
B)  the neutrino can carry off energy 
C)  the emitted electron is free 
D)  energy is not conserved 
E)  the daughter nucleus may have any energy 
A)  the original neutron has a continuous spectrum 
B)  the neutrino can carry off energy 
C)  the emitted electron is free 
D)  energy is not conserved 
E)  the daughter nucleus may have any energy

Question 17

Iron has atomic number 26. Naturally mined iron contains isotopes of mass numbers 54, 56, 57, and 58. Which of the following statements is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A)  every atom of iron has 26 protons 
B)  some iron atoms have 30 neutrons 
C)  some iron atoms have 54 neutrons 
D)  the isotopes may be separated in a mass spectrometer 
E)  there are four kinds of naturally occurring iron atoms with the same chemical properties 
A)  every atom of iron has 26 protons 
B)  some iron atoms have 30 neutrons 
C)  some iron atoms have 54 neutrons 
D)  the isotopes may be separated in a mass spectrometer 
E)  there are four kinds of naturally occurring iron atoms with the same chemical properties

Question 18

Radioactive element A decays to the stable element B with a half-life T. Starting with a sample of pure A and no B, which graph below correctly shows the number of A atoms, NA, as a function of time t?

Accepted Answer

A)  I 
B)  II 
C)  III 
D)  IV 
E)  V 
A)  I 
B)  II 
C)  III 
D)  IV 
E)  V

Question 19

An atom of 235U (Z = 92) disintegrates to 207Pb (Z = 82) with a half-life of about a billion years by emitting seven alpha particles and ______ $\beta$- particles:

Accepted Answer

A)  3 
B)  4 
C)  5 
D)  6 
E)  7 
A)  3 
B)  4 
C)  5 
D)  6 
E)  7

Question 20

A radioactive atom X emits a $\beta$- particle. The resulting atom:

Accepted Answer

A)  must be very reactive chemically 
B)  has an atomic number that is one more than that of X 
C)  has a mass number that is one less than that of X 
D)  must be radioactive 
E)  is the same chemical element as X 
A)  must be very reactive chemically 
B)  has an atomic number that is one more than that of X 
C)  has a mass number that is one less than that of X 
D)  must be radioactive 
E)  is the same chemical element as X

Exam 42: Nuclear Physics

The half-life of a radioactive substance is:

The sievert is the correct unit to use in reporting the measurement of:

A beta particle is:

65Cu will be turned into 66Cu, with no accompanying product except a gamma ray, if bombarded with:

The half-life of a radioactive isotope is 140 days. In how many days does the decay rate of a sample of this isotope decrease to one fourth its initial decay rate?

Which of the following nuclides is least likely to be detected?

Rank the following collections of particles according to the total binding energy of all the particles in each collection, least to greatest.

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

Stable nuclei generally:

A nucleus with mass number A and atomic number Z undergoes β\betaβ - decay. The mass number and atomic number, respectively, of the daughter nucleus are:

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

If a nucleus has mass M, Z protons (mass mp) and N neutrons (mass mn) its binding energy is equal to:

When ordinary sulfur, 32S (Z = 16), is bombarded with neutrons, the products are 32P (Z = 15) and:

Of the following which has the smallest rest energy?

In addition to the daughter nucleus and an electron or positron, the products of a beta decay include:

The energies of electrons emitted in β\betaβ - decays have a continuous spectrum because:

Iron has atomic number 26. Naturally mined iron contains isotopes of mass numbers 54, 56, 57, and 58. Which of the following statements is FALSE?

Radioactive element A decays to the stable element B with a half-life T. Starting with a sample of pure A and no B, which graph below correctly shows the number of A atoms, NA, as a function of time t?

An atom of 235U (Z = 92) disintegrates to 207Pb (Z = 82) with a half-life of about a billion years by emitting seven alpha particles and ______ β\betaβ - particles:

A radioactive atom X emits a β\betaβ - particle. The resulting atom:

Measurement

Motion Along a Straight Line

Vector

Motion in Two and Three Dimensions

Force and Motion I

Force and Motion II

Kinetic Energy and Work

Potential Energy and Conservation of Energy

Center of Mass and Linear Momentum

Rotation

Rolling, Torque, and Angular Momentum

Equilibrium and Elasticity

Gravitation

Fluids

Oscillations

Waves I

Waves II

Temperature, Heat, and the First Law of Thermodynamics

The Kinetic Theory of Gases

Entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics

Electric Charge

Electric Fields

Gauss Law

Electric Potential

Capacitance

Current and Resistance

Circuits

Magnetic Fields

Magnetic Fields Due to Currents

Induction and Inductance

Electromagnetic Oscillations and Alternating Current

Maxwells Equations; Magnetism of Matter

Electromagnetic Waves

Images

Interference

Diffraction

Relativity

Photons and Matter Waves

More About Matter Waves

All About Atoms

Conduction of Electricity in Solids

Energy From the Nucleus

Quarks, Leptons, and the Big Bang

Filters

⁶⁵Cu will be turned into ⁶⁶Cu, with no accompanying product except a gamma ray, if bombarded with:

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

A nucleus with mass number A and atomic number Z undergoes $\beta$ ^- decay. The mass number and atomic number, respectively, of the daughter nucleus are:

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

If a nucleus has mass M, Z protons (mass m_p) and N neutrons (mass m_n) its binding energy is equal to:

When ordinary sulfur, ³²S (Z = 16), is bombarded with neutrons, the products are ³²P (Z = 15) and:

The energies of electrons emitted in $\beta$ ^- decays have a continuous spectrum because:

Radioactive element A decays to the stable element B with a half-life T. Starting with a sample of pure A and no B, which graph below correctly shows the number of A atoms, N_A, as a function of time t?

An atom of ²³⁵U (Z = 92) disintegrates to ²⁰⁷Pb (Z = 82) with a half-life of about a billion years by emitting seven alpha particles and ______ $\beta$ ^- particles:

A radioactive atom X emits a $\beta$ ^- particle. The resulting atom: