Question 1

The mass density of an atomic nucleus:

Accepted Answer

A)  is about 1015 kg/m3 
B)  is about 1012 kg/m3 
C)  increases with increasing nuclear mass 
D)  increases with decreasing nuclear radius 
E)  is roughly constant independent of atomic number 
A)  is about 1015 kg/m3 
B)  is about 1012 kg/m3 
C)  increases with increasing nuclear mass 
D)  increases with decreasing nuclear radius 
E)  is roughly constant independent of atomic number

Question 2

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 3

The atomic number of an element is:

Accepted Answer

A)  the whole number nearest to its mass 
B)  the number of protons in its nucleus 
C)  the nearest whole number of hydrogen atoms having the same mass as a single atom of the given element 
D)  the number of neutrons in its nucleus 
E)  its order of discovery 
A)  the whole number nearest to its mass 
B)  the number of protons in its nucleus 
C)  the nearest whole number of hydrogen atoms having the same mass as a single atom of the given element 
D)  the number of neutrons in its nucleus 
E)  its order of discovery

Question 4

The Rutherford scattering experiment showed that:

Accepted Answer

A)  light has both particle-like and wavelike properties 
B)  atoms are electrically neutral 
C)  the positive and negative charges in the atom are uniformly distributed throughout its volume 
D)  the wavelength of scattered light depends on the scattering angle 
E)  the atom consists of a very tiny, massive, positively charged nucleus surrounded by almost empty space 
A)  light has both particle-like and wavelike properties 
B)  atoms are electrically neutral 
C)  the positive and negative charges in the atom are uniformly distributed throughout its volume 
D)  the wavelength of scattered light depends on the scattering angle 
E)  the atom consists of a very tiny, massive, positively charged nucleus surrounded by almost empty space

Question 5

The half-life of radium is about 1600 years. If a rock initially contains 1 g of radium, the amount left after 8000 years will be about:

Accepted Answer

A)  200 mg 
B)  63 mg 
C)  31 mg 
D)  16 mg 
E)  less than 1 mg 
A)  200 mg 
B)  63 mg 
C)  31 mg 
D)  16 mg 
E)  less than 1 mg

Question 6

Radioactive polonium, 214Po (Z = 84), decays by alpha emission to:

Accepted Answer

A)  214Po (Z = 84) 
B)  210Pb (Z = 82) 
C)  214At (Z = 85) 
D)  218Po (Z = 84) 
E)  210Bi (Z = 83) 
A)  214Po (Z = 84) 
B)  210Pb (Z = 82) 
C)  214At (Z = 85) 
D)  218Po (Z = 84) 
E)  210Bi (Z = 83)

Question 7

Two protons are separated by 10-16 m. The nuclear (N), electrostatic (E), and gravitational (G) forces between these protons when written in order of increasing strength are:

Accepted Answer

A)  N, E, G 
B)  N, G, E 
C)  G, E, N 
D)  G, N, E 
E)  E, G, N 
A)  N, E, G 
B)  N, G, E 
C)  G, E, N 
D)  G, N, E 
E)  E, G, N

Question 8

Aluminum has atomic number 13, helium has atomic number 2, and silicon has atomic number 14. In the nuclear reaction 27Al + 4He $\rightarrow$30Si + ( ) the missing particle is:

Accepted Answer

A)  an$\alpha$ particle 
B)  a positron 
C)  an electron 
D)  a proton 
E)  a neutron 
A)  an$\alpha$ particle 
B)  a positron 
C)  an electron 
D)  a proton 
E)  a neutron

Question 9

Beta particles from various radioactive sources all have:

Accepted Answer

A)  the same mass 
B)  the same speed 
C)  the same charge 
D)  the same deflection 
E)  the same energy in a magnetic field 
A)  the same mass 
B)  the same speed 
C)  the same charge 
D)  the same deflection 
E)  the same energy in a magnetic field

Question 10

A fly caught in amber is thought to be 3 million years old. Why would it not be useful to confirm its age using radiocarbon dating?

Accepted Answer

A)  The fly contains no carbon. 
B)  The fly is too small to contain a measurable amount of carbon. 
C)  The fly is too old to contain a measureable amount of carbon-14. 
D)  The carbon-14 doesn't begin to decay until the fly is removed from the amber. 
E)  Radiocarbon dating is too inaccurate to be useful. 
A)  The fly contains no carbon. 
B)  The fly is too small to contain a measurable amount of carbon. 
C)  The fly is too old to contain a measureable amount of carbon-14. 
D)  The carbon-14 doesn't begin to decay until the fly is removed from the amber. 
E)  Radiocarbon dating is too inaccurate to be useful.

Question 11

A nucleus with mass number A and atomic number Z emits an alpha particle. The mass number and atomic number, respectively, of the daughter nucleus are:

Accepted Answer

A)  A, Z -2 
B)  A - 2, Z - 2 
C)  A - 2, Z 
D)  A - 4, Z 
E)  A - 4, Z - 2 
A)  A, Z -2 
B)  A - 2, Z - 2 
C)  A - 2, Z 
D)  A - 4, Z 
E)  A - 4, Z - 2

Question 12

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

Question 13

Bombardment of 28Si (Z = 14) with alpha particles may produce:

Accepted Answer

A)  a proton and 31P (Z = 15) 
B)  hydrogen and 32S (Z = 16) 
C)  a deuteron and 27Al (Z = 13) 
D)  helium and 31P (Z = 15) 
E)  35Cl (Z = 17) 
A)  a proton and 31P (Z = 15) 
B)  hydrogen and 32S (Z = 16) 
C)  a deuteron and 27Al (Z = 13) 
D)  helium and 31P (Z = 15) 
E)  35Cl (Z = 17)

Question 14

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 15

Two protons are about 10-10 m apart. Their relative motion is chiefly determined by:

Accepted Answer

A)  gravitational forces 
B)  electrical forces 
C)  nuclear forces 
D)  magnetic forces 
E)  torque due to electric dipole moments 
A)  gravitational forces 
B)  electrical forces 
C)  nuclear forces 
D)  magnetic forces 
E)  torque due to electric dipole moments

Question 16

A femtometer is:

Accepted Answer

A)  larger than 10-9 m 
B)  10-9 m 
C)  10-12 m 
D)  10-15 m 
E)  10-18 m 
A)  larger than 10-9 m 
B)  10-9 m 
C)  10-12 m 
D)  10-15 m 
E)  10-18 m

Question 17

The becquerel 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 18

A large collection of nuclei are undergoing alpha decay. The rate of decay at any instant is proportional to:

Accepted Answer

A)  the number of undecayed nuclei present at that instant 
B)  the time since the decays started 
C)  the time remaining before all have decayed 
D)  the half-life of the decay 
E)  the average time between decays 
A)  the number of undecayed nuclei present at that instant 
B)  the time since the decays started 
C)  the time remaining before all have decayed 
D)  the half-life of the decay 
E)  the average time between decays

Question 19

The gray 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 20

Which expression correctly describes the radioactive decay of a substance whose half-life is T?

Accepted Answer

A)  N(t) = N0e-(t ln2)/T 
B)  N(t) = N0e-t/T 
C)  N(t) = N0e-tT 
D)  N(t) = N0e-tT ln2 
E)  N(t) = N0e-t/T ln2 
A)  N(t) = N0e-(t ln2)/T 
B)  N(t) = N0e-t/T 
C)  N(t) = N0e-tT 
D)  N(t) = N0e-tT ln2 
E)  N(t) = N0e-t/T ln2

Exam 42: Nuclear Physics

The mass density of an atomic nucleus:

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

The atomic number of an element is:

The Rutherford scattering experiment showed that:

The half-life of radium is about 1600 years. If a rock initially contains 1 g of radium, the amount left after 8000 years will be about:

Radioactive polonium, 214Po (Z = 84), decays by alpha emission to:

Two protons are separated by 10-16 m. The nuclear (N), electrostatic (E), and gravitational (G) forces between these protons when written in order of increasing strength are:

Aluminum has atomic number 13, helium has atomic number 2, and silicon has atomic number 14. In the nuclear reaction 27Al + 4He →\rightarrow→ 30Si + ( ) the missing particle is:

Beta particles from various radioactive sources all have:

A fly caught in amber is thought to be 3 million years old. Why would it not be useful to confirm its age using radiocarbon dating?

A nucleus with mass number A and atomic number Z emits an alpha particle. The mass number and atomic number, respectively, of the daughter nucleus are:

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:

Bombardment of 28Si (Z = 14) with alpha particles may produce:

Stable nuclei generally:

Two protons are about 10-10 m apart. Their relative motion is chiefly determined by:

A femtometer is:

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

A large collection of nuclei are undergoing alpha decay. The rate of decay at any instant is proportional to:

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

Which expression correctly describes the radioactive decay of a substance whose half-life is T?

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

Radioactive polonium, ²¹⁴Po (Z = 84), decays by alpha emission to:

Two protons are separated by 10^-16 m. The nuclear (N), electrostatic (E), and gravitational (G) forces between these protons when written in order of increasing strength are:

Aluminum has atomic number 13, helium has atomic number 2, and silicon has atomic number 14. In the nuclear reaction ²⁷Al + ⁴He $\rightarrow$ ³⁰Si + ( ) the missing particle is:

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:

Bombardment of ²⁸Si (Z = 14) with alpha particles may produce:

Two protons are about 10^-10 m apart. Their relative motion is chiefly determined by: