Question 1

Complete the following nuclear equation:   Po → ?? +   He

Accepted Answer

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

Question 2

A certain radioactive element has a half-life of one hour. If you start with a 1-g sample of the element at noon, how much of this same element will be left at 3:00 PM?

Accepted Answer

A) 0)5 gram 
B) 0)25 gram 
C) 0)125 gram 
D) 0)0625 gram 
A) 0)5 gram 
B) 0)25 gram 
C) 0)125 gram 
D) 0)0625 gram C

Question 3

Why is the combination of two protons and two neutrons stable, but two protons and one neutron is not?

Accepted Answer

A) There are not enough neutrons to overcome the electrical repulsion of the protons. 
B) There are not enough neutrons to overcome the nuclear repulsion of the protons. 
C) The nuclear attraction between protons is greater than that between neutrons. 
D) The electrical repulsion between the two protons is greater in one case than the other. 
E) none of the above 
A) There are not enough neutrons to overcome the electrical repulsion of the protons. 
B) There are not enough neutrons to overcome the nuclear repulsion of the protons. 
C) The nuclear attraction between protons is greater than that between neutrons. 
D) The electrical repulsion between the two protons is greater in one case than the other. 
E) none of the above A

Question 4

Which of the following statements about fission is true?

Accepted Answer

A) The amount of energy released in the fission of large nuclei is very large. 
B) The amount of energy released in the fusion of small nuclei is very large. 
C) Bombarding a nucleus with neutrons always leads to fission. 
D) The fragments of a fusion reaction are always the same size. 
E) none of the above 
A) The amount of energy released in the fission of large nuclei is very large. 
B) The amount of energy released in the fusion of small nuclei is very large. 
C) Bombarding a nucleus with neutrons always leads to fission. 
D) The fragments of a fusion reaction are always the same size. 
E) none of the above

Question 5

Which of the following statements best describes the strong nuclear force?

Accepted Answer

A) The force is very strong but has a very short range. 
B) The electrical force is stronger than the nuclear force. 
C) The force is very strong and works over very long distances. 
D) The strength of the force increases with distance. 
E) The force has two sides: the light side and the dark side. 
A) The force is very strong but has a very short range. 
B) The electrical force is stronger than the nuclear force. 
C) The force is very strong and works over very long distances. 
D) The strength of the force increases with distance. 
E) The force has two sides: the light side and the dark side.

Question 6

Light nuclei can be split. For example, a deuteron, which is a proton-neutron combination, can split into a separate proton and separate neutron. Does such a process yield energy or cost energy? Why?

Accepted Answer

A) Yields energy. Splitting nuclei of any sort is a basic example of a nuclear reaction releasing massive amounts of energy. 
B) Neither. The amount of energy required to split the light nuclei is exactly the same as that released. This is the basis of the Law of Conservation of Energy. 
C) Costs energy. This fact is consistent with the sum of the masses of the separated proton and neutron being greater than the mass of the original deuteron. 
D) Yields energy. This fact is consistent with the sum of the masses of the separated proton and neutron being less than the mass of the original deuteron. 
A) Yields energy. Splitting nuclei of any sort is a basic example of a nuclear reaction releasing massive amounts of energy. 
B) Neither. The amount of energy required to split the light nuclei is exactly the same as that released. This is the basis of the Law of Conservation of Energy. 
C) Costs energy. This fact is consistent with the sum of the masses of the separated proton and neutron being greater than the mass of the original deuteron. 
D) Yields energy. This fact is consistent with the sum of the masses of the separated proton and neutron being less than the mass of the original deuteron.

Question 7

What is a rem?

Accepted Answer

A) A rem is a unit for measuring radiation exposure. 
B) A rem is the maximum exposure limit for occupational safety. 
C) Rem stands for Rapid Electron Motion. 
D) A rem is the number of radiation particles absorbed per second. 
E) Rem is an '80s rock group. 
A) A rem is a unit for measuring radiation exposure. 
B) A rem is the maximum exposure limit for occupational safety. 
C) Rem stands for Rapid Electron Motion. 
D) A rem is the number of radiation particles absorbed per second. 
E) Rem is an '80s rock group.

Question 8

The element uranium (U, atomic no. = 92)often has 146 (or more)neutrons but it will still undergo radioactive decay. Which statement might best describe why?

Accepted Answer

A) The attractive force of the nucleons has a limited range. 
B) The isolated neutron is not stable and will undergo spontaneous transformation into a proton and an electron. 
C) The force is strong with U, but tainted with the dark side it is. 
D) both A and B 
E) none of the above 
A) The attractive force of the nucleons has a limited range. 
B) The isolated neutron is not stable and will undergo spontaneous transformation into a proton and an electron. 
C) The force is strong with U, but tainted with the dark side it is. 
D) both A and B 
E) none of the above

Question 9

Which of the following does not describe a nuclear fission reaction?

Accepted Answer

A) The number of nucleons in the products is different from the number of nucleons in the starting material. 
B) The mass of the products is less than the mass of the reactants. 
C) The energy released is proportional to the mass difference in the system. 
D) All of the above describe a fusion reaction. 
E) None of the above describe a fusion reaction. 
A) The number of nucleons in the products is different from the number of nucleons in the starting material. 
B) The mass of the products is less than the mass of the reactants. 
C) The energy released is proportional to the mass difference in the system. 
D) All of the above describe a fusion reaction. 
E) None of the above describe a fusion reaction.

Question 10

The isotope Cesium-137, which has a half-life of 30 years, is a product of nuclear power plants. How long will it take for this isotope to decay to about one-sixteenth its original amount?

Accepted Answer

A) 480 years 
B) 240 years 
C) 120 years 
D) 960 years 
A) 480 years 
B) 240 years 
C) 120 years 
D) 960 years

Question 11

Which of the following types of radiation might be best for medical imaging?

Accepted Answer

A) Gamma radiation would be best because it penetrates the best. 
B) Alpha radiation would be best because it penetrates the least and therefore does the least damage. 
C) Beta radiation would be best because it can be measured electrically. 
D) Only X-rays are used for medical imaging. 
E) none of the above 
A) Gamma radiation would be best because it penetrates the best. 
B) Alpha radiation would be best because it penetrates the least and therefore does the least damage. 
C) Beta radiation would be best because it can be measured electrically. 
D) Only X-rays are used for medical imaging. 
E) none of the above

Question 12

What are the three types of rays produced in radioactive decay? Which will penetrate farther into material?

Accepted Answer

Alpha rays, beta rays, and gamma rays: A

Question 13

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 14

Radioactivity is a tendency for an element or a material to

Accepted Answer

A) emit radiation. 
B) emit light. 
C) emit electrons. 
D) glow in the dark. 
E) radiate heat. 
A) emit radiation. 
B) emit light. 
C) emit electrons. 
D) glow in the dark. 
E) radiate heat.

Question 15

Why is carbon better than lead as a moderator in nuclear reactors?

Accepted Answer

A) Carbon produces the high energy, high speed neutrons necessary for maintaining the nuclear chain reaction. 
B) Carbon slows down the neutrons making them more effective in stimulating the nuclear chain reaction. 
C) Lead absorbs the neutrons rather than allowing them to rebound to maintain the nuclear chain reaction. 
D) Lead slows down the neutrons making them less effective in stimulating the nuclear chain reaction. 
A) Carbon produces the high energy, high speed neutrons necessary for maintaining the nuclear chain reaction. 
B) Carbon slows down the neutrons making them more effective in stimulating the nuclear chain reaction. 
C) Lead absorbs the neutrons rather than allowing them to rebound to maintain the nuclear chain reaction. 
D) Lead slows down the neutrons making them less effective in stimulating the nuclear chain reaction.

Question 16

If three samples have the half-lives listed below, which is the most radioactive?

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 17

People who work around radioactivity wear film badges to monitor the amount of radiation that reaches their bodies. These badges consist of small pieces of photographic film enclosed in a light-proof wrapper. What kind of radiation do these devices monitor?

Accepted Answer

A) alpha radiation 
B) beta radiation 
C) gamma radiation 
D) all of the above 
A) alpha radiation 
B) beta radiation 
C) gamma radiation 
D) all of the above

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 19

If a nucleus of   Th absorbs a neutron and the resulting nucleus undergoes two successive beta decays (emitting electrons), what nucleus results?

Accepted Answer

A) Americium-232 
B) Plutonium-232 
C) Thorium-233 
D) Uranium-233 
A) Americium-232 
B) Plutonium-232 
C) Thorium-233 
D) Uranium-233

Question 20

Which of the following professions would likely have the highest occupational exposure to radiation per year?

Accepted Answer

A) airline pilot 
B) quarterback for the Denver Broncos 
C) center for the L.A. Lakers 
D) deep sea diver 
E) lifeguard 
A) airline pilot 
B) quarterback for the Denver Broncos 
C) center for the L.A. Lakers 
D) deep sea diver 
E) lifeguard

Exam 10: The Atomic Nucleus and Radioactivity

Complete the following nuclear equation: Po → ?? + He

A certain radioactive element has a half-life of one hour. If you start with a 1-g sample of the element at noon, how much of this same element will be left at 3:00 PM?

Why is the combination of two protons and two neutrons stable, but two protons and one neutron is not?

Which of the following statements about fission is true?

Which of the following statements best describes the strong nuclear force?

Light nuclei can be split. For example, a deuteron, which is a proton-neutron combination, can split into a separate proton and separate neutron. Does such a process yield energy or cost energy? Why?

What is a rem?

The element uranium (U, atomic no. = 92)often has 146 (or more)neutrons but it will still undergo radioactive decay. Which statement might best describe why?

Which of the following does not describe a nuclear fission reaction?

The isotope Cesium-137, which has a half-life of 30 years, is a product of nuclear power plants. How long will it take for this isotope to decay to about one-sixteenth its original amount?

Which of the following types of radiation might be best for medical imaging?

What are the three types of rays produced in radioactive decay? Which will penetrate farther into material?

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

Radioactivity is a tendency for an element or a material to

Why is carbon better than lead as a moderator in nuclear reactors?

If three samples have the half-lives listed below, which is the most radioactive?

People who work around radioactivity wear film badges to monitor the amount of radiation that reaches their bodies. These badges consist of small pieces of photographic film enclosed in a light-proof wrapper. What kind of radiation do these devices monitor?

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

If a nucleus of Th absorbs a neutron and the resulting nucleus undergoes two successive beta decays (emitting electrons), what nucleus results?

Which of the following professions would likely have the highest occupational exposure to radiation per year?

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