Question 1

Which of the following statements about carbon-14 dating is true?

Accepted Answer

A) Carbon-14 dating is very accurate because the amount of carbon-14 in the atmosphere is constant. 
B) Carbon-14 can be used to date anything younger than 50,000 years. 
C) Carbon-14 dating can be used to date stone tools as well as bone. 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above 
A) Carbon-14 dating is very accurate because the amount of carbon-14 in the atmosphere is constant. 
B) Carbon-14 can be used to date anything younger than 50,000 years. 
C) Carbon-14 dating can be used to date stone tools as well as bone. 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above

Question 2

What property of half-lives makes radioactive material so problematic?

Accepted Answer

A) There is no known way to shorten a half-life. 
B) Radioactivity is limited by the natural decay-time to stable isotopes. 
C) All half-lives are long. 
D) There is no known way to measure half-lives with any accuracy. 
E) both A and B 
A) There is no known way to shorten a half-life. 
B) Radioactivity is limited by the natural decay-time to stable isotopes. 
C) All half-lives are long. 
D) There is no known way to measure half-lives with any accuracy. 
E) both A and B

Question 3

Which of the following provides the minimum amount of protection you need to block the following form of radiation? gamma

Accepted Answer

A) lead suit 
B) suntan lotion 
C) thick leather 
D) T-shirt 
E) none of the above 
A) lead suit 
B) suntan lotion 
C) thick leather 
D) T-shirt 
E) none of the above

Question 4

Is it at all possible for a hydrogen nucleus to emit an alpha particle?

Accepted Answer

A) yes, because alpha particles are the simplest form of radiation 
B) no, because it would require the nuclear fission of hydrogen, which is impossible 
C) yes, but it does not occur very frequently 
D) no, because it does not contain enough nucleons 
A) yes, because alpha particles are the simplest form of radiation 
B) no, because it would require the nuclear fission of hydrogen, which is impossible 
C) yes, but it does not occur very frequently 
D) no, because it does not contain enough nucleons

Question 5

Which of the following statements best describes a critical mass?

Accepted Answer

A) A critical mass is the minimum amount of material that will undergo nuclear detonation. 
B) A critical mass is the minimum amount of material that will spontaneously undergo a chain reaction. 
C) A critical mass cannot be assembled from smaller, noncritical pieces of material. 
D) A critical mass will detonate when it is separated into subcritical pieces. 
E) none of the above 
A) A critical mass is the minimum amount of material that will undergo nuclear detonation. 
B) A critical mass is the minimum amount of material that will spontaneously undergo a chain reaction. 
C) A critical mass cannot be assembled from smaller, noncritical pieces of material. 
D) A critical mass will detonate when it is separated into subcritical pieces. 
E) none of the above

Question 6

Which of the following statements regarding a nucleon is true in regards to nuclear reactions?

Accepted Answer

A) A nucleon inside a nucleus has a lower mass than a nucleon outside of the nucleus. 
B) The number of nucleons changes in a nuclear reaction, therefore the mass changes. 
C) A nucleon has a higher energy inside a nucleus, and releases it when it undergoes nuclear reactions. 
D) A nucleon's mass is constant. 
E) A nucleon is more stable outside the nucleus. 
A) A nucleon inside a nucleus has a lower mass than a nucleon outside of the nucleus. 
B) The number of nucleons changes in a nuclear reaction, therefore the mass changes. 
C) A nucleon has a higher energy inside a nucleus, and releases it when it undergoes nuclear reactions. 
D) A nucleon's mass is constant. 
E) A nucleon is more stable outside the nucleus.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 8

What is radioactive half-life? If a sample of radioactive material has a half-life of one week, how much of the original sample is left at the end of the second week? Third week? Fourth week?

Accepted Answer

Radioactive half-life is the time it tak

Question 9

A radioisotope placed near a radiation detector registers 80 counts per second. Eight hours later the detector registers 5 counts per second. What is the half-life of the radioisotope?

Accepted Answer

Two hours. Since 80 halved 4 t

Question 10

Why doesn't uranium ore spontaneously undergo a chain reaction?

Accepted Answer

A) Uranium ore must be "weapons' grade" in order for it to undergo chain reaction. 
B) Uranium ore is mostly non-fissionable isotope U-238 and undergoes a chain reaction only if mixed with a moderator to slow down the neutrons. 
C) Uranium ore does spontaneously undergo slow chain reaction over time finally resulting in it becoming lead. 
D) Uranium ore, mostly U-235, must be enriched with U-238 in order for it to undergo a chain reaction. 
A) Uranium ore must be "weapons' grade" in order for it to undergo chain reaction. 
B) Uranium ore is mostly non-fissionable isotope U-238 and undergoes a chain reaction only if mixed with a moderator to slow down the neutrons. 
C) Uranium ore does spontaneously undergo slow chain reaction over time finally resulting in it becoming lead. 
D) Uranium ore, mostly U-235, must be enriched with U-238 in order for it to undergo a chain reaction.

Question 11

If a fusion reaction produces no appreciable radioactive isotopes, why does a hydrogen bomb produce significant radioactive fallout?

Accepted Answer

A) The fallout is only the radioactive remnants of the bomb's structure and casing. 
B) It is a misconception that fusion reactions produce no appreciable radioactive isotopes. Therefore, radioactive fallout is unavoidable. 
C) The radioactive fallout is a result of the fission reaction used to ignite the thermonuclear fusion reaction. 
D) Once a hydrogen bomb is exploded, all matter within nearly 100 miles becomes radioactive fallout. 
A) The fallout is only the radioactive remnants of the bomb's structure and casing. 
B) It is a misconception that fusion reactions produce no appreciable radioactive isotopes. Therefore, radioactive fallout is unavoidable. 
C) The radioactive fallout is a result of the fission reaction used to ignite the thermonuclear fusion reaction. 
D) Once a hydrogen bomb is exploded, all matter within nearly 100 miles becomes radioactive fallout.

Question 12

How come an animal's carbon-14 levels do not start to decrease until it dies?

Accepted Answer

A) because it constantly replenishes its carbon-14 supply by eating plants with carbon-14 in them 
B) because it constantly replenishes its carbon-14 supply by breathing air with carbon-14 in it 
C) because it is constantly being bombarded with cosmic rays 
D) carbon-14 only starts to decay after the animal dies 
E) The carbon-14 levels do not decrease because the carbon-13 in its skin protects it from cosmic rays. 
A) because it constantly replenishes its carbon-14 supply by eating plants with carbon-14 in them 
B) because it constantly replenishes its carbon-14 supply by breathing air with carbon-14 in it 
C) because it is constantly being bombarded with cosmic rays 
D) carbon-14 only starts to decay after the animal dies 
E) The carbon-14 levels do not decrease because the carbon-13 in its skin protects it from cosmic rays.

Question 13

Which are older, the atoms in the body of an elderly person or those in the body of a baby?

Accepted Answer

A) A baby, because this is surely a trick question. 
B) An elderly person, because they have been around much longer. 
C) They are of the same age, which is appreciably older than the solar system. 
D) It depends upon their diet. 
A) A baby, because this is surely a trick question. 
B) An elderly person, because they have been around much longer. 
C) They are of the same age, which is appreciably older than the solar system. 
D) It depends upon their diet.

Question 14

If uranium were to split into three segments of equal size instead of two, would more energy or less energy be released?

Accepted Answer

A) Less energy would be released because of less mass per nucleon. 
B) Less energy would be released because of more mass per nucleon. 
C) More energy would be released because of less mass per nucleon. 
D) More energy would be released because of more mass per nucleon. 
A) Less energy would be released because of less mass per nucleon. 
B) Less energy would be released because of more mass per nucleon. 
C) More energy would be released because of less mass per nucleon. 
D) More energy would be released because of more mass per nucleon.

Question 15

If an atom has 104 electrons, 157 neutrons, and 104 protons, what is its approximate atomic mass?

Accepted Answer

A) The approximate atomic mass is 365. 
B) The approximate atomic mass is 261. 
C) The approximate atomic mass is 157. 
D) The approximate atomic mass is cannot be determined with the information given. 
A) The approximate atomic mass is 365. 
B) The approximate atomic mass is 261. 
C) The approximate atomic mass is 157. 
D) The approximate atomic mass is cannot be determined with the information given.

Question 16

Elements above uranium in the periodic table do not exist in any appreciable amounts in nature because they have short half-lives. Yet there are several elements below uranium in atomic number with equally short half-lives that do exist in appreciable amounts in nature. How can you account for this?

Accepted Answer

A) These are isotopes formed by living bodies. 
B) These isotopes were placed in nature by the testing of nuclear bombs. 
C) These isotopes were formed from the fusion of even smaller isotopes. 
D) These isotopes result from the radioactive decay of uranium. 
A) These are isotopes formed by living bodies. 
B) These isotopes were placed in nature by the testing of nuclear bombs. 
C) These isotopes were formed from the fusion of even smaller isotopes. 
D) These isotopes result from the radioactive decay of uranium.

Question 17

Is the mass of an atomic nucleus greater or less than the sum of the masses of the nucleons composing it? Why don't the nucleon masses add up to the total nuclear mass?

Accepted Answer

A) Greater. We need to add the masses of the surrounding electrons to the masses of the nucleons. 
B) Neither. The mass of the atomic nucleus is exactly the sum of the masses of the nucleons. 
C) Less. The individual nucleons have greater mass when separated from the nucleus. This additional mass is a result of the energy of separation. 
D) Greater. The mass of the atomic nucleus also has mass of the "atomic glue" that holds the nucleons together in the nucleus. 
A) Greater. We need to add the masses of the surrounding electrons to the masses of the nucleons. 
B) Neither. The mass of the atomic nucleus is exactly the sum of the masses of the nucleons. 
C) Less. The individual nucleons have greater mass when separated from the nucleus. This additional mass is a result of the energy of separation. 
D) Greater. The mass of the atomic nucleus also has mass of the "atomic glue" that holds the nucleons together in the nucleus.

Question 18

Which of the following might be considered a viable application of a radioactive tracer?

Accepted Answer

A) adding a stream of radioisotopes to waste water to examine where pollution goes when it flows into the ocean 
B) placing radioactive sources around a room to trace the location of people as they move through the room 
C) embedding a radioactive plug in a valuable necklace so that its location can be determined using a Geiger counter 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above 
A) adding a stream of radioisotopes to waste water to examine where pollution goes when it flows into the ocean 
B) placing radioactive sources around a room to trace the location of people as they move through the room 
C) embedding a radioactive plug in a valuable necklace so that its location can be determined using a Geiger counter 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above

Question 19

Which of the following statements about radiation is true?

Accepted Answer

A) Your body contains a number of radioactive isotopes. 
B) One rem is enough to kill approximately 50 percent of the average population. 
C) Radiation damages cells beyond repair. 
D) Several small exposures over time has the same negative effect as one large exposure that totals the same amount. 
E) Radiation can make you glow in the dark. 
A) Your body contains a number of radioactive isotopes. 
B) One rem is enough to kill approximately 50 percent of the average population. 
C) Radiation damages cells beyond repair. 
D) Several small exposures over time has the same negative effect as one large exposure that totals the same amount. 
E) Radiation can make you glow in the dark.

Question 20

Which of the following statements best describes why a large nucleus is more likely to undergo radioactive decay?

Accepted Answer

A) The nuclear forces are not as strong as the repulsive electrical forces between nucleons. 
B) The nuclear force between the nucleons are very strong and squeeze out other nucleons. 
C) The nucleon-nucleon attraction is stronger than the proton-proton repulsion. 
D) The proton-proton repulsion cannot overcome the nucleon attraction. 
E) All nuclei are equally likely to undergo radioactive decay. 
A) The nuclear forces are not as strong as the repulsive electrical forces between nucleons. 
B) The nuclear force between the nucleons are very strong and squeeze out other nucleons. 
C) The nucleon-nucleon attraction is stronger than the proton-proton repulsion. 
D) The proton-proton repulsion cannot overcome the nucleon attraction. 
E) All nuclei are equally likely to undergo radioactive decay.

Exam 10: The Atomic Nucleus and Radioactivity

Which of the following statements about carbon-14 dating is true?

What property of half-lives makes radioactive material so problematic?

Which of the following provides the minimum amount of protection you need to block the following form of radiation? gamma

Is it at all possible for a hydrogen nucleus to emit an alpha particle?

Which of the following statements best describes a critical mass?

Which of the following statements regarding a nucleon is true in regards to nuclear reactions?

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

What is radioactive half-life? If a sample of radioactive material has a half-life of one week, how much of the original sample is left at the end of the second week? Third week? Fourth week?

A radioisotope placed near a radiation detector registers 80 counts per second. Eight hours later the detector registers 5 counts per second. What is the half-life of the radioisotope?

Why doesn't uranium ore spontaneously undergo a chain reaction?

If a fusion reaction produces no appreciable radioactive isotopes, why does a hydrogen bomb produce significant radioactive fallout?

How come an animal's carbon-14 levels do not start to decrease until it dies?

Which are older, the atoms in the body of an elderly person or those in the body of a baby?

If uranium were to split into three segments of equal size instead of two, would more energy or less energy be released?

If an atom has 104 electrons, 157 neutrons, and 104 protons, what is its approximate atomic mass?

Is the mass of an atomic nucleus greater or less than the sum of the masses of the nucleons composing it? Why don't the nucleon masses add up to the total nuclear mass?

Which of the following might be considered a viable application of a radioactive tracer?

Which of the following statements about radiation is true?

Which of the following statements best describes why a large nucleus is more likely to undergo radioactive decay?

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