Question 1

Which shape is likely to need more material for a critical mass,a cube or a sphere? Why?

Accepted Answer

A) a sphere because it has the greater surface area to volume ratio 
B) a sphere because it has the smaller surface area to volume ratio 
C) a cube because it has the greater surface area to volume ratio 
D) a cube because it has the smaller surface area to volume ratio 
A) a sphere because it has the greater surface area to volume ratio 
B) a sphere because it has the smaller surface area to volume ratio 
C) a cube because it has the greater surface area to volume ratio 
D) a cube because it has the smaller surface area to volume ratio

Question 2

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 3

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 4

Your friend says that the helium used to inflate balloons is a product of radioactive decay.Another friend says no way.With whom do you agree?

Accepted Answer

A) If helium were a product of radioactive decay,we would all be radioactive.Agree with the friend that says "no way." 
B) Radioactive decay produces alpha particles,not helium.Agree with the friend that says "no way." 
C) Your first friend is correct.Radioactive isotopes emit alpha particles which,in turn,capture electrons and become helium atoms. 
D) Helium is an element of the periodic table,not some product of any reaction.Agree with the friend that says "no way." 
A) If helium were a product of radioactive decay,we would all be radioactive.Agree with the friend that says "no way." 
B) Radioactive decay produces alpha particles,not helium.Agree with the friend that says "no way." 
C) Your first friend is correct.Radioactive isotopes emit alpha particles which,in turn,capture electrons and become helium atoms. 
D) Helium is an element of the periodic table,not some product of any reaction.Agree with the friend that says "no way."

Question 5

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 6

Why might the following nuclear reaction not be very good for energy production in a fission reactor? $\begin{array} { c } 
235 \
92
\end{array}$ U ? $\begin{array} { c } 
135 \
56
\end{array}$ Ba + $\begin{array} { c } 
99\
36
\end{array}$ 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 7

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 8

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 9

Which type of radiation is being emitted in the following incomplete nuclear equation? $\begin{array} { c } 
218\
84
\end{array}$ Po ? $\begin{array} { c } 
214\
82
\end{array}$ 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 10

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 11

Why might the following nuclear reaction not be very good for energy production in a fission reactor? $\begin{array} { l } 
56 \
26
\end{array}$ Fe ? $\begin{array} { l } 
29 \
14
\end{array}$ Si + $\begin{array} { l } 
24 \
12
\end{array}$ 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 12

Why might the following nuclear reaction not be very good for energy production in a fission reactor? $\begin{array} { c } 
235 \
92
\end{array}$ U ? $\begin{array} { c } 
229\
90
\end{array}$ Th + $\begin{array} { c } 
4\
2
\end{array}$ 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 13

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 14

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

Question 15

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 16

The image below shows a beam of radiation passing between two electrically charged plates.  
-Which of the beams is due to a positively charged helium nucleus?

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 17

Which of the following nuclear equations correctly describes beta emission?

Accepted Answer

A)  $\begin{array} { c } 
234\
90
\end{array}$ Th ? $\begin{array} { c } 
234\
91
\end{array}$ Pa + $\begin{array} { c } 
0 \
- 1
\end{array}$ e 
B)  $\begin{array} { c } 
234\
90
\end{array}$ Th ? $\begin{array} { c } 
234\
89
\end{array}$ Ac + $\begin{array} { c } 
0 \
- 1
\end{array}$ e 
C)  $\begin{array} { c } 
234\
90
\end{array}$ Th ? $\begin{array} { c } 
235\
91
\end{array}$ Pa + $\begin{array} { c } 
0 \
- 1
\end{array}$ e 
D)  $\begin{array} { c } 
234\
90
\end{array}$ Th ? $\begin{array} { c } 
0 \
- 1
\end{array}$ e 
E) none of the above 
A)  $\begin{array} { c } 
234\
90
\end{array}$ Th ? $\begin{array} { c } 
234\
91
\end{array}$ Pa + $\begin{array} { c } 
0 \
- 1
\end{array}$ e 
B)  $\begin{array} { c } 
234\
90
\end{array}$ Th ? $\begin{array} { c } 
234\
89
\end{array}$ Ac + $\begin{array} { c } 
0 \
- 1
\end{array}$ e 
C)  $\begin{array} { c } 
234\
90
\end{array}$ Th ? $\begin{array} { c } 
235\
91
\end{array}$ Pa + $\begin{array} { c } 
0 \
- 1
\end{array}$ e 
D)  $\begin{array} { c } 
234\
90
\end{array}$ Th ? $\begin{array} { c } 
0 \
- 1
\end{array}$ e 
E) none of the above

Question 18

Where does the earth receive most of its energy?

Accepted Answer

A) external fusion 
B) internal fusion 
C) internal fission 
D) external fission 
E) internal combustion 
A) external fusion 
B) internal fusion 
C) internal fission 
D) external fission 
E) internal combustion

Question 19

Why might the following nuclear reaction not be very good for energy production in a fusion reactor? $\begin{array} { l } 
56 \
26
\end{array}$ Fe + $\begin{array} { l } 
56 \
26
\end{array}$ Fe ? $\begin{array} { c } 
112 \
52
\end{array}$ Te

Accepted Answer

A) The material only produces a few neutrons so the chain reaction will not be very efficient. 
B) The reactants are too stable and it would cost energy to produce the product due to strong nuclear force. 
C) The products are not the right size to obtain any 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 stable and it would cost energy to produce the product due to strong nuclear force. 
C) The products are not the right size to obtain any 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 20

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

Accepted Answer

A) adding a stream of radioisotopes to wastewater 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 wastewater 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

Exam 13: The Atomic Nucleus and Radioactivity

Which shape is likely to need more material for a critical mass,a cube or a sphere? Why?

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

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

Your friend says that the helium used to inflate balloons is a product of radioactive decay.Another friend says no way.With whom do you agree?

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

Why might the following nuclear reaction not be very good for energy production in a fission reactor? 235 92 U ? 135 56 Ba + 99 36 Kr + 1 neutron

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

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

Which type of radiation is being emitted in the following incomplete nuclear equation? 218 84 Po ? 214 82 Pb + ??

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?

Why might the following nuclear reaction not be very good for energy production in a fission reactor? 56 26 Fe ? 29 14 Si + 24 12 Mg + 3 neutrons

Why might the following nuclear reaction not be very good for energy production in a fission reactor? 235 92 U ? 229 90 Th + 4 2 He + 3 neutrons

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

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?

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

The image below shows a beam of radiation passing between two electrically charged plates. -Which of the beams is due to a positively charged helium nucleus?

Which of the following nuclear equations correctly describes beta emission?

Where does the earth receive most of its energy?

Why might the following nuclear reaction not be very good for energy production in a fusion reactor? 56 26 Fe + 56 26 Fe ? 112 52 Te

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

Patterns of Motion and Equilibrium

Newtons Laws of Motion

Momentum and Energy

Gravity, Projectiles, and Satellites

Fluid Mechanics

Thermal Energy and Thermodynamics

Heat Transfer and Change of Phase

Static and Current Electricity

Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction

Waves and Sound

Light

Atoms and the Periodic Table

Elements of Chemistry

How Atoms Bond and Molecules Attract

Mixtures

How Chemicals React

Two Classes of Chemical Reactions

Organic Compounds

Rocks and Minerals

Plate Tectonics and Earths Interior

Shaping Earths Surface

Geologic Time - Reading the Rock Record

The Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climatic Effects

Driving Forces of Weather

The Solar System

Stars and Galaxies

The Structure of Space and Time

Prologue: The Nature of Science

Filters