Question 1

Which of the 4 fundamental forces binds the nucleus together, and which binds the atom [the electron orbits] together?

Accepted Answer

A)  Gravity binds the nucleus, electric force binds the atom. 
B)  Strong nuclear force binds the nucleus, weak nuclear force binds the atom. 
C)  Electric force binds the nucleus, strong nuclear force binds the atom. 
D)  Weak nuclear force binds the nucleus, strong nuclear force binds the atom. 
E)  Strong nuclear force binds the nucleus, electric force binds the atom. 
A)  Gravity binds the nucleus, electric force binds the atom. 
B)  Strong nuclear force binds the nucleus, weak nuclear force binds the atom. 
C)  Electric force binds the nucleus, strong nuclear force binds the atom. 
D)  Weak nuclear force binds the nucleus, strong nuclear force binds the atom. 
E)  Strong nuclear force binds the nucleus, electric force binds the atom.

Question 2

If you start with one gram of pure 14C [half- life 6000 years], the amount remaining after 36,000 years will be

Accepted Answer

A)  1/128 gram. 
B)  1/6 gram. 
C)  1/32 gram. 
D)  1/64 gram. 
E)  None. 
A)  1/128 gram. 
B)  1/6 gram. 
C)  1/32 gram. 
D)  1/64 gram. 
E)  None.

Question 3

One of the radioactive isotopes that fell on the land and got into the food chain after the Chernobyl accident was 131I. Its half- life is 8 days. How long was it, following its deposit on the land, before its radioactivity had fallen to 1/32-- about 3%-- of its initial value?

Accepted Answer

A)  48 days 
B)  40 days 
C)  several years 
D)  16 days 
E)  It is impossible to say, even approximately. 
A)  48 days 
B)  40 days 
C)  several years 
D)  16 days 
E)  It is impossible to say, even approximately.

Question 4

Except for such nuclear processes as nuclear reactors, nuclear bombs, and radioactivity, all of the common forces we see around us are due to just two underlying or "fundamental" forces. One of these two forces is the gravitational force. The other is

Accepted Answer

A)  the color force. 
B)  the chemical force. 
C)  contact forces. 
D)  the frictional force. 
E)  the electromagnetic force. 
A)  the color force. 
B)  the chemical force. 
C)  contact forces. 
D)  the frictional force. 
E)  the electromagnetic force.

Question 5

Nuclear energies are much larger than chemical energies because

Accepted Answer

A)  the electromagnetic force has such a long range compared to the nuclear force. 
B)  the nuclear force is so much stronger than the electromagnetic force. 
C)  there are so many sub- atomic particles in the nucleus. 
D)  the nuclear force is so much stronger than the gravitational force. 
E)  nuclear forces act over such a long range. 
A)  the electromagnetic force has such a long range compared to the nuclear force. 
B)  the nuclear force is so much stronger than the electromagnetic force. 
C)  there are so many sub- atomic particles in the nucleus. 
D)  the nuclear force is so much stronger than the gravitational force. 
E)  nuclear forces act over such a long range.

Question 6

Except for such nuclear processes as nuclear reactors, nuclear bombs, and radioactivity, all of the common forces we see around us daily are due to just two underlying or "fundamental" forces. One of these two forces is the electromagnetic force. The other is

Accepted Answer

A)  the strong nuclear force. 
B)  the frictional force. 
C)  the chemical force. 
D)  contact forces. 
E)  the gravitational force. 
A)  the strong nuclear force. 
B)  the frictional force. 
C)  the chemical force. 
D)  contact forces. 
E)  the gravitational force.

Question 7

At Chernobyl, one of the harmful radioactive isotopes was 131I, a beta emitter with a halflife of 8 days. The mass number of the nucleus that remains after this isotope decays is

Accepted Answer

A)  131. 
B)  129. 
C)  132. 
D)  130. 
E)  127. 
A)  131. 
B)  129. 
C)  132. 
D)  130. 
E)  127.

Question 8

A saber- toothed- tiger's bones contain 1/32 of the amount of 14C that is contained in the bone material of living animals. The half- life of 14C is 6000 years. From this information, we can conclude

Accepted Answer

A)  that the tiger died about 30,000 years ago. 
B)  that the tiger died about 18,000 years ago. 
C)  nothing at all, because of the uncertainties associated with radioactive decay. 
D)  nothing at all, because 14C dating is known to be inaccurate. 
E)  that the tiger died about [i.e., plus or minus a few thousand years] 42,000 years ago. 
A)  that the tiger died about 30,000 years ago. 
B)  that the tiger died about 18,000 years ago. 
C)  nothing at all, because of the uncertainties associated with radioactive decay. 
D)  nothing at all, because 14C dating is known to be inaccurate. 
E)  that the tiger died about [i.e., plus or minus a few thousand years] 42,000 years ago.

Question 9

We cannot predict the precise decay time of a particular radioactive 14C nucleus because

Accepted Answer

A)  of the quantum entanglement of its protons and neutrons. 
B)  a single nucleus is too small to be seen or directly detected. 
C)  of quantum uncertainties. 
D)  the calculation is too difficult for today's computers. 
E)  of the difficulty of determining the precise initial states of all its protons and neutron. 
A)  of the quantum entanglement of its protons and neutrons. 
B)  a single nucleus is too small to be seen or directly detected. 
C)  of quantum uncertainties. 
D)  the calculation is too difficult for today's computers. 
E)  of the difficulty of determining the precise initial states of all its protons and neutron.

Question 10

Radioactive dating methods and other dating methods indicate that hominids have been on Earth for about

Accepted Answer

A)  5 billion years. 
B)  5000 years. 
C)  5 million years. 
D)  15 billion years. 
E)  100,000 years. 
A)  5 billion years. 
B)  5000 years. 
C)  5 million years. 
D)  15 billion years. 
E)  100,000 years.

Question 11

According to most scientists, when did the first hominids-- direct human forbears that were fully separated from the apes-- appear on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  about a billion years ago 
B)  a few billion years ago 
C)  a few million years ago 
D)  a few thousand years ago 
E)  about 100 billion years ago 
A)  about a billion years ago 
B)  a few billion years ago 
C)  a few million years ago 
D)  a few thousand years ago 
E)  about 100 billion years ago

Question 12

234 Th beta- decays. The resulting nucleus has mass number

Accepted Answer

A)  234. 
B)  230. 
C)  91. 
D)  88. 
E)  90. 
A)  234. 
B)  230. 
C)  91. 
D)  88. 
E)  90.

Question 13

14C has a half- life of 6000 years. An ancient corpse is uncovered and found to have 1/32-- one thirty- second-- of the normal amount of 14C found in the bodies of people now living. How long has the body been dead?

Accepted Answer

A)  30,000 years 
B)  24,000 years 
C)  12,000 years 
D)  36,000 years 
E)  6000 years 
A)  30,000 years 
B)  24,000 years 
C)  12,000 years 
D)  36,000 years 
E)  6000 years

Question 14

A bone is dug up and analyzed and found to contain 1/16-- one sixteenth-- of the amount of 14C radioactivity of normal bones in living bodies. The half- life of 14C is 6000 years. Roughly how long has the individual been dead?

Accepted Answer

A)  24, 000 years 
B)  30,000 years 
C)  6000 years 
D)  36,000 years 
E)  Impossible to tell from the given information. 
A)  24, 000 years 
B)  30,000 years 
C)  6000 years 
D)  36,000 years 
E)  Impossible to tell from the given information.

Question 15

The half- life of radium is

Accepted Answer

A)  half of the total time during which a quantity of radium will radioactively decay. 
B)  the time during which half of a large number of radium atoms will decay. 
C)  half the lifetime of the individual radium atom. 
D)  the life- time of the individual radium atom. 
E)  the time after which an individual radium atom splits in half. 
A)  half of the total time during which a quantity of radium will radioactively decay. 
B)  the time during which half of a large number of radium atoms will decay. 
C)  half the lifetime of the individual radium atom. 
D)  the life- time of the individual radium atom. 
E)  the time after which an individual radium atom splits in half.

Question 16

Suppose that Al the physicist observes a single radioactive nucleus. The length of time until that particular nucleus decays is

Accepted Answer

A)  unpredictable because of fundamental uncertainties arising from quantum physics 
B)  predictable, provided Al knows the precise nuclear state of this nucleus. 
C)  predictable from the known half- life of the nucleus. 
D)  unpredictable because of the practical difficulties of obtaining all the information needed to make the prediction. 
E)  unpredictable because of fundamental uncertainties arising from Newtonian physics. 
A)  unpredictable because of fundamental uncertainties arising from quantum physics 
B)  predictable, provided Al knows the precise nuclear state of this nucleus. 
C)  predictable from the known half- life of the nucleus. 
D)  unpredictable because of the practical difficulties of obtaining all the information needed to make the prediction. 
E)  unpredictable because of fundamental uncertainties arising from Newtonian physics.

Question 17

How old is Earth, according to the vast majority of scientists?

Accepted Answer

A)  a few million years 
B)  about a billion years 
C)  about 100 billion years 
D)  a few thousand years 
E)  a few billion years 
A)  a few million years 
B)  about a billion years 
C)  about 100 billion years 
D)  a few thousand years 
E)  a few billion years

Question 18

How does the mass of a 4 He nucleus compare with the mass of a 1 H nucleus? 2 1

Accepted Answer

A)  "4 He is half as massive." 
B)  "4 He has about the same mass and 1 H. 2 1" 
C)  "4 He is four times as massive." 
D)  "4 He is twice as massive." 
E)  "It is impossible to answer this without further information." 
A)  "4 He is half as massive." 
B)  "4 He has about the same mass and 1 H. 2 1" 
C)  "4 He is four times as massive." 
D)  "4 He is twice as massive." 
E)  "It is impossible to answer this without further information."

Question 19

When the radioactive isotope 14 C undergoes beta- decay, the atomic number of the resulting nucleus is

Accepted Answer

A)  8. 
B)  6. 
C)  5. 
D)  7. 
E)  4. 
A)  8. 
B)  6. 
C)  5. 
D)  7. 
E)  4.

Question 20

Two different isotopes of the same element have

Accepted Answer

A)  the same chemical properties, but different properties in nuclear processes. 
B)  different chemical properties, but the same properties in nuclear processes. 
C)  the same chemical properties, and also the same properties in nuclear processes. 
D)  different chemical properties, and also different properties in nuclear processes. 
E)  None of the above. 
A)  the same chemical properties, but different properties in nuclear processes. 
B)  different chemical properties, but the same properties in nuclear processes. 
C)  the same chemical properties, and also the same properties in nuclear processes. 
D)  different chemical properties, and also different properties in nuclear processes. 
E)  None of the above.

Which of the 4 fundamental forces binds the nucleus together, and which binds the atom [the electron orbits] together?

If you start with one gram of pure ¹⁴C [half- life 6000 years], the amount remaining after 36,000 years will be

One of the radioactive isotopes that fell on the land and got into the food chain after the Chernobyl accident was ¹³¹I. Its half- life is 8 days. How long was it, following its deposit on the land, before its radioactivity had fallen to 1/32-- about 3%-- of its initial value?

Except for such nuclear processes as nuclear reactors, nuclear bombs, and radioactivity, all of the common forces we see around us are due to just two underlying or "fundamental" forces. One of these two forces is the gravitational force. The other is

Nuclear energies are much larger than chemical energies because

Except for such nuclear processes as nuclear reactors, nuclear bombs, and radioactivity, all of the common forces we see around us daily are due to just two underlying or "fundamental" forces. One of these two forces is the electromagnetic force. The other is

At Chernobyl, one of the harmful radioactive isotopes was ¹³¹I, a beta emitter with a halflife of 8 days. The mass number of the nucleus that remains after this isotope decays is

A saber- toothed- tiger's bones contain 1/32 of the amount of ¹⁴C that is contained in the bone material of living animals. The half- life of ¹⁴C is 6000 years. From this information, we can conclude

We cannot predict the precise decay time of a particular radioactive ¹⁴C nucleus because

Radioactive dating methods and other dating methods indicate that hominids have been on Earth for about

According to most scientists, when did the first hominids-- direct human forbears that were fully separated from the apes-- appear on Earth?

²³⁴Th beta- decays. The resulting nucleus has mass number

¹⁴C has a half- life of 6000 years. An ancient corpse is uncovered and found to have 1/32-- one thirty- second-- of the normal amount of ¹⁴C found in the bodies of people now living. How long has the body been dead?

A bone is dug up and analyzed and found to contain 1/16-- one sixteenth-- of the amount of ¹⁴C radioactivity of normal bones in living bodies. The half- life of ¹⁴C is 6000 years. Roughly how long has the individual been dead?

The half- life of radium is

Suppose that Al the physicist observes a single radioactive nucleus. The length of time until that particular nucleus decays is

How old is Earth, according to the vast majority of scientists?

How does the mass of a ⁴He nucleus compare with the mass of a ¹H nucleus? 2 1

When the radioactive isotope ¹⁴C undergoes beta- decay, the atomic number of the resulting nucleus is

Two different isotopes of the same element have

The Way of Science: Experience and Reason

Atoms: the Nature of Things

How Things Move: Galileo Asks the Right Questions

Why Things Move As They Do

Newtons Universe

Conservation of Energy: You Cant Get Ahead

Second Law of Thermodynamics: and You Cant Even Break Even

Light and Electromagnetism

Electromagnetism Radiation and Global Climate Change

The Special Theory of Relativity

The General Theory of Relativity and the New Cosmology

The Quantum Idea

The Quantum Universe

Fusion and Fission: and a New Energy

The Energy Challenge

Quantum Fields: Relativity Meets the Quantum

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Exam 14: The Nucleus and Radioactivity: an New Force

Which of the 4 fundamental forces binds the nucleus together, and which binds the atom [the electron orbits] together?

If you start with one gram of pure 14C [half- life 6000 years], the amount remaining after 36,000 years will be

One of the radioactive isotopes that fell on the land and got into the food chain after the Chernobyl accident was 131I. Its half- life is 8 days. How long was it, following its deposit on the land, before its radioactivity had fallen to 1/32-- about 3%-- of its initial value?

Except for such nuclear processes as nuclear reactors, nuclear bombs, and radioactivity, all of the common forces we see around us are due to just two underlying or "fundamental" forces. One of these two forces is the gravitational force. The other is

Nuclear energies are much larger than chemical energies because

Except for such nuclear processes as nuclear reactors, nuclear bombs, and radioactivity, all of the common forces we see around us daily are due to just two underlying or "fundamental" forces. One of these two forces is the electromagnetic force. The other is

At Chernobyl, one of the harmful radioactive isotopes was 131I, a beta emitter with a halflife of 8 days. The mass number of the nucleus that remains after this isotope decays is

A saber- toothed- tiger's bones contain 1/32 of the amount of 14C that is contained in the bone material of living animals. The half- life of 14C is 6000 years. From this information, we can conclude

We cannot predict the precise decay time of a particular radioactive 14C nucleus because

Radioactive dating methods and other dating methods indicate that hominids have been on Earth for about

According to most scientists, when did the first hominids-- direct human forbears that were fully separated from the apes-- appear on Earth?

234 Th beta- decays. The resulting nucleus has mass number

14C has a half- life of 6000 years. An ancient corpse is uncovered and found to have 1/32-- one thirty- second-- of the normal amount of 14C found in the bodies of people now living. How long has the body been dead?

A bone is dug up and analyzed and found to contain 1/16-- one sixteenth-- of the amount of 14C radioactivity of normal bones in living bodies. The half- life of 14C is 6000 years. Roughly how long has the individual been dead?

The half- life of radium is

Suppose that Al the physicist observes a single radioactive nucleus. The length of time until that particular nucleus decays is

How old is Earth, according to the vast majority of scientists?

How does the mass of a 4 He nucleus compare with the mass of a 1 H nucleus? 2 1

When the radioactive isotope 14 C undergoes beta- decay, the atomic number of the resulting nucleus is

Two different isotopes of the same element have

The Way of Science: Experience and Reason

Atoms: the Nature of Things

How Things Move: Galileo Asks the Right Questions

Why Things Move As They Do

Newtons Universe

Conservation of Energy: You Cant Get Ahead

Second Law of Thermodynamics: and You Cant Even Break Even

Light and Electromagnetism

Electromagnetism Radiation and Global Climate Change

The Special Theory of Relativity

The General Theory of Relativity and the New Cosmology

The Quantum Idea

The Quantum Universe

Fusion and Fission: and a New Energy

The Energy Challenge

Quantum Fields: Relativity Meets the Quantum

Filters

If you start with one gram of pure ¹⁴C [half- life 6000 years], the amount remaining after 36,000 years will be

One of the radioactive isotopes that fell on the land and got into the food chain after the Chernobyl accident was ¹³¹I. Its half- life is 8 days. How long was it, following its deposit on the land, before its radioactivity had fallen to 1/32-- about 3%-- of its initial value?

At Chernobyl, one of the harmful radioactive isotopes was ¹³¹I, a beta emitter with a halflife of 8 days. The mass number of the nucleus that remains after this isotope decays is

A saber- toothed- tiger's bones contain 1/32 of the amount of ¹⁴C that is contained in the bone material of living animals. The half- life of ¹⁴C is 6000 years. From this information, we can conclude

We cannot predict the precise decay time of a particular radioactive ¹⁴C nucleus because

²³⁴Th beta- decays. The resulting nucleus has mass number

¹⁴C has a half- life of 6000 years. An ancient corpse is uncovered and found to have 1/32-- one thirty- second-- of the normal amount of ¹⁴C found in the bodies of people now living. How long has the body been dead?

A bone is dug up and analyzed and found to contain 1/16-- one sixteenth-- of the amount of ¹⁴C radioactivity of normal bones in living bodies. The half- life of ¹⁴C is 6000 years. Roughly how long has the individual been dead?

How does the mass of a ⁴He nucleus compare with the mass of a ¹H nucleus? 2 1

When the radioactive isotope ¹⁴C undergoes beta- decay, the atomic number of the resulting nucleus is