Question 1

When the isotope bismuth-213 emits an alpha particle, what new element results?

Accepted Answer

A) lead 
B) platinum 
C) polonium 
D) thallium 
A) lead 
B) platinum 
C) polonium 
D) thallium

Question 2

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.

Question 3

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 4

Why doesn't the uranium ore in mines spontaneously explode?

Accepted Answer

The uranium ore is primarily t

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

After a uranium fuel rod reaches the end of its fuel cycle (typically 3 years)most of its energy comes from the fissioning of plutonium because

Accepted Answer

A) fissionable Pu-239 is formed as the U-238 absorbs neutrons from the fissioning U-235. 
B) fissionable Pu-239 is formed as the U-235 absorbs neutrons from the fissioning U-238. 
C) fissionable Pu-239 is formed as the U-238 absorbs alpha particles from the fissioning U-235. 
D) fissionable Pu-239 is formed as the U-235 absorbs alpha particles from the fissioning U-238. 
A) fissionable Pu-239 is formed as the U-238 absorbs neutrons from the fissioning U-235. 
B) fissionable Pu-239 is formed as the U-235 absorbs neutrons from the fissioning U-238. 
C) fissionable Pu-239 is formed as the U-238 absorbs alpha particles from the fissioning U-235. 
D) fissionable Pu-239 is formed as the U-235 absorbs alpha particles from the fissioning U-238.

Question 7

Explain how radioactive decay has always warmed the earth from the inside, and nuclear fusion has always warmed the earth from the outside.

Accepted Answer

A) Much heat was released as matter coalesced to form the earth. This heat resulted in the production of radioactive isotopes, which still reside within the earth today and are a source of internal heat. Our primary external source of heat is from the fusion of hydrogen within the sun. 
B) The inner Earth is made of fissioning heavy elements while the sun is made of lighter fusing elements. 
C) Radioactive elements have been within Earth since it was created while the sun is made of fusing hydrogen atoms. 
D) All of the above are reasonable answers. 
A) Much heat was released as matter coalesced to form the earth. This heat resulted in the production of radioactive isotopes, which still reside within the earth today and are a source of internal heat. Our primary external source of heat is from the fusion of hydrogen within the sun. 
B) The inner Earth is made of fissioning heavy elements while the sun is made of lighter fusing elements. 
C) Radioactive elements have been within Earth since it was created while the sun is made of fusing hydrogen atoms. 
D) All of the above are reasonable answers.

Question 8

How do fission power plants work?

Accepted Answer

A) The heat from a nuclear reaction is used to boil water. 
B) The neutrons from a nuclear reaction undergo fusion with water to produce hydrogen gas, which drives a turbine. 
C) The electrons from a nuclear reaction are harnessed to produce an electrical current. 
D) The krypton gas generated in the fission process is used to drive a turbine. 
E) none of the above 
A) The heat from a nuclear reaction is used to boil water. 
B) The neutrons from a nuclear reaction undergo fusion with water to produce hydrogen gas, which drives a turbine. 
C) The electrons from a nuclear reaction are harnessed to produce an electrical current. 
D) The krypton gas generated in the fission process is used to drive a turbine. 
E) none of the above

Question 9

If a material has a half-life of 24 hours, how long do you have to wait until the amount of radioisotope is 1/4 its original amount?

Accepted Answer

A) 12 hours 
B) 24 hours 
C) 48 hours 
D) 72 hours 
E) practically forever, but it may be safe by then 
A) 12 hours 
B) 24 hours 
C) 48 hours 
D) 72 hours 
E) practically forever, but it may be safe by then

Question 10

Which type of radiation-alpha, beta, or gamma-results in the greatest change in atomic mass number?

Accepted Answer

A) alpha radiation 
B) beta radiation 
C) gamma radiation 
D) They all result in the same change in atomic mass number. 
A) alpha radiation 
B) beta radiation 
C) gamma radiation 
D) They all result in the same change in atomic mass number.

Question 11

Which of the beams is due to an energetic light wave?

Accepted Answer

A) a 
B) b 
C) c 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above 
A) a 
B) b 
C) c 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above

Question 12

Which of the following statements about chain reactions is true?

Accepted Answer

A) The key requirement for a chain reaction is that more neutrons are produced than are absorbed. 
B) Three or more neutrons must be released to sustain a chain reaction. 
C) Only uranium isotopes are capable of supporting a chain reaction. 
D) It is not possible to stop or control a chain reaction once it has been started. 
E) A chain reaction will only take place when a critical mass of material has been assembled. 
A) The key requirement for a chain reaction is that more neutrons are produced than are absorbed. 
B) Three or more neutrons must be released to sustain a chain reaction. 
C) Only uranium isotopes are capable of supporting a chain reaction. 
D) It is not possible to stop or control a chain reaction once it has been started. 
E) A chain reaction will only take place when a critical mass of material has been assembled.

Question 13

A neutron makes a better nuclear bullet than a proton or an electron because it

Accepted Answer

A) has the greatest mass. 
B) carries no electrical charge. 
C) can be accelerated by electromagnetic fields. 
D) all of the above 
A) has the greatest mass. 
B) carries no electrical charge. 
C) can be accelerated by electromagnetic fields. 
D) all of the above

Question 14

Which type of radiation is being emitted in the following incomplete nuclear equation:   Po →   Pb + ??

Accepted Answer

A) alpha 
B) beta 
C) gamma 
D) A and B 
E) none of the above 
A) alpha 
B) beta 
C) gamma 
D) A and B 
E) none of the above

Question 15

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 16

You and your friend journey to the mountain foothills to get closer to nature and escape such things as radioactivity. While bathing in the warmth of a natural hot spring she wonders aloud how the spring gets its heat. What do you tell her? You tell her that the hot water is the result of

Accepted Answer

A) industrial thermal pollution. 
B) radioactivity. 
C) chemical reactions involving the atomic nucleus. 
D) nuclear fission. 
A) industrial thermal pollution. 
B) radioactivity. 
C) chemical reactions involving the atomic nucleus. 
D) nuclear fission.

Question 17

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 18

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 19

To predict the approximate energy release of either a fission or a fusion reaction, explain how a physicist uses a table of nuclear masses and the equation E = mc2.

Accepted Answer

A) find the change in mass and divide by the speed of light squared 
B) find the change in mass and multiply by the speed of light squared 
C) find the change in mass, square it, and multiply by the speed of light 
D) take the square root of the change in mass and multiply by the speed of light 
A) find the change in mass and divide by the speed of light squared 
B) find the change in mass and multiply by the speed of light squared 
C) find the change in mass, square it, and multiply by the speed of light 
D) take the square root of the change in mass and multiply by the speed of light

Question 20

The alpha particle has twice the electric charge of the beta particle but deflects less than the beta in a magnetic field because it

Accepted Answer

A) moves much slower. 
B) moves much faster. 
C) has much more inertia. 
D) has much less inertia. 
A) moves much slower. 
B) moves much faster. 
C) has much more inertia. 
D) has much less inertia.

Exam 10: The Atomic Nucleus and Radioactivity

When the isotope bismuth-213 emits an alpha particle, what new element results?

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

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

Why doesn't the uranium ore in mines spontaneously explode?

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

After a uranium fuel rod reaches the end of its fuel cycle (typically 3 years)most of its energy comes from the fissioning of plutonium because

Explain how radioactive decay has always warmed the earth from the inside, and nuclear fusion has always warmed the earth from the outside.

How do fission power plants work?

If a material has a half-life of 24 hours, how long do you have to wait until the amount of radioisotope is 1/4 its original amount?

Which type of radiation-alpha, beta, or gamma-results in the greatest change in atomic mass number?

Which of the beams is due to an energetic light wave?

Which of the following statements about chain reactions is true?

A neutron makes a better nuclear bullet than a proton or an electron because it

Which type of radiation is being emitted in the following incomplete nuclear equation: Po → Pb + ??

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

You and your friend journey to the mountain foothills to get closer to nature and escape such things as radioactivity. While bathing in the warmth of a natural hot spring she wonders aloud how the spring gets its heat. What do you tell her? You tell her that the hot water is the result of

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

To predict the approximate energy release of either a fission or a fusion reaction, explain how a physicist uses a table of nuclear masses and the equation E = mc2.

The alpha particle has twice the electric charge of the beta particle but deflects less than the beta in a magnetic field because it

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To predict the approximate energy release of either a fission or a fusion reaction, explain how a physicist uses a table of nuclear masses and the equation E = mc².