Question 1

The half-life of carbon-14 is 5,730 years. A sample is found to have one-eighth the original amount of carbon-14 in it. How old is the sample?

Accepted Answer

A) 5,730 years 
B) 716 years 
C) 4,5800 years 
D) 17,200 years 
E) none of the above 
A) 5,730 years 
B) 716 years 
C) 4,5800 years 
D) 17,200 years 
E) none of the above

Question 2

Which of the following nuclear equations correctly describes beta emission?

Accepted Answer

A)    U →   Th +   He 
B)    U →   U +   He 
C)    U →   Pu +   He 
D)    U →   He 
E) none of the above 
A)    U →   Th +   He 
B)    U →   U +   He 
C)    U →   Pu +   He 
D)    U →   He 
E) none of the above

Question 3

Why might the following nuclear reaction not be very good for energy production in a fission reactor?   U →   Ba +   Kr + 1 neutron

Accepted Answer

A) The material only produces one neutron so the chain reaction will not be very efficient. 
B) The products are too large. 
C) There are too many products produced. 
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 efficient separation of the atoms from the unstable nuclei. 
A) The material only produces one neutron so the chain reaction will not be very efficient. 
B) The products are too large. 
C) There are too many products produced. 
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 efficient separation of the atoms from the unstable nuclei.

Question 4

If Uranium-234 decays via alpha emission, what is the likely product of radioactive decay? (U, atomic no. = 92)

Accepted Answer

A)    Th 
B)    Np 
C)    Th 
D)    Np 
E) none of the above 
A)    Th 
B)    Np 
C)    Th 
D)    Np 
E) none of the above

Question 5

A friend produces a Geiger counter to check the local background radiation. It ticks. Another friend, who normally fears most that which is understood least, makes an effort to keep away from the region of the Geiger counter and looks to you for advice. What do you say?

Accepted Answer

A) Run away as fast as you can! 
B) The Geiger counter is emitting radiation. 
C) The Geiger counter is detecting naturally occurring radiation from your body. 
D) Wear heavy clothes. 
A) Run away as fast as you can! 
B) The Geiger counter is emitting radiation. 
C) The Geiger counter is detecting naturally occurring radiation from your body. 
D) Wear heavy clothes.

Question 6

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

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 7

Which produces more energy, the fissioning of a single uranium nucleus or the fusing of a pair of deuterium nuclei? Why?

Accepted Answer

A) Fusing a pair of deuterium nuclei produces more energy because, unlike fission, there is no radioactive waste product. 
B) Fissioning a single uranium nucleus produces more energy since its mass is much greater than that of a pair of deuterium nuclei. 
C) Both the fissioning of a single uranium nucleus and the fusing of a pair of deuterium nuclei produce the same amount of energy since the resulting products are the same. 
D) Neither the fissioning of a single uranium nucleus nor the fusing of a pair of deuterium nuclei produces any net amount of energy. On the contrary, both processes require more energy than they produce. 
A) Fusing a pair of deuterium nuclei produces more energy because, unlike fission, there is no radioactive waste product. 
B) Fissioning a single uranium nucleus produces more energy since its mass is much greater than that of a pair of deuterium nuclei. 
C) Both the fissioning of a single uranium nucleus and the fusing of a pair of deuterium nuclei produce the same amount of energy since the resulting products are the same. 
D) Neither the fissioning of a single uranium nucleus nor the fusing of a pair of deuterium nuclei produces any net amount of energy. On the contrary, both processes require more energy than they produce.

Question 8

Which of the following sources of radiation provides most of our yearly exposure?

Accepted Answer

A) background radiation 
B) smoke detectors 
C) living near nuclear power plants 
D) televisions (cathode ray tubes) 
E) dental and medical X-rays 
A) background radiation 
B) smoke detectors 
C) living near nuclear power plants 
D) televisions (cathode ray tubes) 
E) dental and medical X-rays

Question 9

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

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

The half-life of carbon-14 is 5,730 years. A sample is found to have one-eighth the original amount of carbon-14 in it. How old is the sample?

Which of the following nuclear equations correctly describes beta emission?

Why might the following nuclear reaction not be very good for energy production in a fission reactor? U → Ba + Kr + 1 neutron

If Uranium-234 decays via alpha emission, what is the likely product of radioactive decay? (U, atomic no. = 92)

A friend produces a Geiger counter to check the local background radiation. It ticks. Another friend, who normally fears most that which is understood least, makes an effort to keep away from the region of the Geiger counter and looks to you for advice. What do you say?

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

Which produces more energy, the fissioning of a single uranium nucleus or the fusing of a pair of deuterium nuclei? Why?

Which of the following sources of radiation provides most of our yearly exposure?

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

About Science

Describing Motion

Newtons Laws of Motion

Momentum and Energy

Gravity

Heat

Electricity and Magnetism

Waves-Sound and Light

Atoms and the Periodic Table

Investigating Matter

Chemical Bonds and Mixtures

Chemical Reactions

Organic Compounds

The Basic Unit of Life-The Cell

Genetics

The Evolution of Life

Diversity of Life on Earth

Human Biology Icontrol and Development

Human Biology Iicare and Maintenance

Ecology

Plate Tectonics

Rocks and Minerals

Earths Surfaceland and Water

Surface Processes

Weather

Environmental Geology

The Solar System

The Universe

Filters

Exam 10: The Atomic Nucleus and Radioactivity

The half-life of carbon-14 is 5,730 years. A sample is found to have one-eighth the original amount of carbon-14 in it. How old is the sample?

Which of the following nuclear equations correctly describes beta emission?

Why might the following nuclear reaction not be very good for energy production in a fission reactor? U → Ba + Kr + 1 neutron

If Uranium-234 decays via alpha emission, what is the likely product of radioactive decay? (U, atomic no. = 92)

A friend produces a Geiger counter to check the local background radiation. It ticks. Another friend, who normally fears most that which is understood least, makes an effort to keep away from the region of the Geiger counter and looks to you for advice. What do you say?

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

Which produces more energy, the fissioning of a single uranium nucleus or the fusing of a pair of deuterium nuclei? Why?

Which of the following sources of radiation provides most of our yearly exposure?

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

About Science

Describing Motion

Newtons Laws of Motion

Momentum and Energy

Gravity

Heat

Electricity and Magnetism

Waves-Sound and Light

Atoms and the Periodic Table

Investigating Matter

Chemical Bonds and Mixtures

Chemical Reactions

Organic Compounds

The Basic Unit of Life-The Cell

Genetics

The Evolution of Life

Diversity of Life on Earth

Human Biology Icontrol and Development

Human Biology Iicare and Maintenance

Ecology

Plate Tectonics

Rocks and Minerals

Earths Surfaceland and Water

Surface Processes

Weather

Environmental Geology

The Solar System

The Universe

Filters