Question 1

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 2

When   Ra decays by emitting an alpha particle, what is the atomic number of the resulting nucleus? What is the resulting atomic mass?

Accepted Answer

A)  atomic number = 86; atomic mass = 222 
B)  atomic number = 87; atomic mass = 226 
C)  atomic number = 86; atomic mass = 224 
D)  atomic number = 87; atomic mass = 224 
A)  atomic number = 86; atomic mass = 222 
B)  atomic number = 87; atomic mass = 226 
C)  atomic number = 86; atomic mass = 224 
D)  atomic number = 87; atomic mass = 224

Question 3

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 4

If carbon-14 is a beta emitter, what is the likely product of radioactive decay?

Accepted Answer

A)  nitrogen-14 
B)  carbon-12 
C)  oxygen-18 
D)  berrylium-10 
E)  none of the above 
A)  nitrogen-14 
B)  carbon-12 
C)  oxygen-18 
D)  berrylium-10 
E)  none of the above

Question 5

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

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

Why is the combination of two protons and two neutrons stable, but the combination of 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

Question 7

Which of the following statements about fusion is the most accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  The mass of the products is less than the mass of the reactants. 
B)  The mass of the reactants is less than the mass of the products. 
C)  A nuclear fusion will always release energy. 
D)  Overcoming the strong nuclear force results in the release of a large amount of energy. 
E)  Fission releases more energy than fusion. 
A)  The mass of the products is less than the mass of the reactants. 
B)  The mass of the reactants is less than the mass of the products. 
C)  A nuclear fusion will always release energy. 
D)  Overcoming the strong nuclear force results in the release of a large amount of energy. 
E)  Fission releases more energy than fusion.

Question 8

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 9

A pair of protons in a small atomic nucleus repel each other, but they are also attracted to each other. Why?

Accepted Answer

A)  The pair repel each other by nuclear force but attract one another by an electrical force. 
B)  The pair repel each other since they are both positively charges but they are held together by much stronger forces known as quarks. 
C)  The pair attract each other by nuclear force but also repel one another by a weaker electrical force. 
D)  Although it is known that protons repel each other at short distances because of like charge, it is not known what actually holds protons together in the nucleus because we have never seen the nucleus of an atom. 
A)  The pair repel each other by nuclear force but attract one another by an electrical force. 
B)  The pair repel each other since they are both positively charges but they are held together by much stronger forces known as quarks. 
C)  The pair attract each other by nuclear force but also repel one another by a weaker electrical force. 
D)  Although it is known that protons repel each other at short distances because of like charge, it is not known what actually holds protons together in the nucleus because we have never seen the nucleus of an atom.

Question 10

Why are smaller nuclei such as carbon-14 often radioactive? (carbon-12 is the most common and most stable form of carbon.)

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)  Hmmm... mysterious are the ways of the force. 
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)  Hmmm... mysterious are the ways of the force. 
D)  both A and B 
E)  none of the above

Question 11

Which of the following nuclear equations correctly describes beta emission?

Accepted Answer

A)    Th →   Pa +   e 
B)    Th →   Ac +   e 
C)    Th →   Pa +   e 
D)    Th →   e 
E)  none of the above 
A)    Th →   Pa +   e 
B)    Th →   Ac +   e 
C)    Th →   Pa +   e 
D)    Th →   e 
E)  none of the above

Question 12

What does Einstein's energy equation (E = mc2) say about the energy that is derived from nuclear fission reactions?

Accepted Answer

A)  The energy released is due to the missing mass of the products compared to the mass of the starting materials. 
B)  The energy is proportional to the change in mass of the nucleus undergoing fission. 
C)  The energy is derived from the light that is emitted when the atom splits. 
D)  The energy equation does not apply towards fission, only fusion. 
E)  none of the above 
A)  The energy released is due to the missing mass of the products compared to the mass of the starting materials. 
B)  The energy is proportional to the change in mass of the nucleus undergoing fission. 
C)  The energy is derived from the light that is emitted when the atom splits. 
D)  The energy equation does not apply towards fission, only fusion. 
E)  none of the above

Question 13

Ordinary hydrogen is sometimes called a perfect fuel, because of its almost unlimited supply on Earth, and when it burns, harmless water is the product of the combustion. So why don't we abandon fission energy and fusion energy, not to mention fossil-fuel energy, and just use hydrogen?

Accepted Answer

A)  The oil companies have lobbied the federal government to continue fossil fuel usage because it would mean huge profit losses for all the major oil conglomerates. 
B)  The conversion of current energy consuming vehicles and other machinery to hydrogen, although simple, is going to be very costly to the consumer and difficult to legislate. 
C)  The political, economic, and corporate pressures being exerted to oppose abandoning the other energy sources are the only obstacles to moving to the use of hydrogen as the nation's primary energy source. 
D)  Hydrogen represents a viable solution for stored energy but not as a general energy source since obtaining the hydrogen from water requires more energy than is produced when you burn it. 
A)  The oil companies have lobbied the federal government to continue fossil fuel usage because it would mean huge profit losses for all the major oil conglomerates. 
B)  The conversion of current energy consuming vehicles and other machinery to hydrogen, although simple, is going to be very costly to the consumer and difficult to legislate. 
C)  The political, economic, and corporate pressures being exerted to oppose abandoning the other energy sources are the only obstacles to moving to the use of hydrogen as the nation's primary energy source. 
D)  Hydrogen represents a viable solution for stored energy but not as a general energy source since obtaining the hydrogen from water requires more energy than is produced when you burn it.

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

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 16

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 17

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 18

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 19

What is the main technical difficulty in dealing with fusion reactions?

Accepted Answer

A)  The amount of energy needed to overcome the electrical repulsion of the reactants is extremely high. 
B)  The reactants are highly toxic and extremely radioactive. 
C)  The mass of the reactants is less than the mass of the products. 
D)  It isn't possible to artificially generate the conditions needed for fusion. 
E)  none of the above 
A)  The amount of energy needed to overcome the electrical repulsion of the reactants is extremely high. 
B)  The reactants are highly toxic and extremely radioactive. 
C)  The mass of the reactants is less than the mass of the products. 
D)  It isn't possible to artificially generate the conditions needed for fusion. 
E)  none of the above

Question 20

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

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

When Ra decays by emitting an alpha particle, what is the atomic number of the resulting nucleus? What is the resulting atomic mass?

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

If carbon-14 is a beta emitter, what is the likely product of radioactive decay?

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

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

Which of the following statements about fusion is the most accurate?

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

A pair of protons in a small atomic nucleus repel each other, but they are also attracted to each other. Why?

Why are smaller nuclei such as carbon-14 often radioactive? (carbon-12 is the most common and most stable form of carbon.)

Which of the following nuclear equations correctly describes beta emission?

What does Einstein's energy equation (E = mc²) say about the energy that is derived from nuclear fission reactions?

Ordinary hydrogen is sometimes called a perfect fuel, because of its almost unlimited supply on Earth, and when it burns, harmless water is the product of the combustion. So why don't we abandon fission energy and fusion energy, not to mention fossil-fuel energy, and just use hydrogen?

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

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 statements regarding a nucleon is true in regards to nuclear reactions?

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

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

What is the main technical difficulty in dealing with fusion reactions?

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

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Exam 5: The Atomic Nucleus

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

When Ra decays by emitting an alpha particle, what is the atomic number of the resulting nucleus? What is the resulting atomic mass?

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

If carbon-14 is a beta emitter, what is the likely product of radioactive decay?

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

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

Which of the following statements about fusion is the most accurate?

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

A pair of protons in a small atomic nucleus repel each other, but they are also attracted to each other. Why?

Why are smaller nuclei such as carbon-14 often radioactive? (carbon-12 is the most common and most stable form of carbon.)

Which of the following nuclear equations correctly describes beta emission?

What does Einstein's energy equation (E = mc2) say about the energy that is derived from nuclear fission reactions?

Ordinary hydrogen is sometimes called a perfect fuel, because of its almost unlimited supply on Earth, and when it burns, harmless water is the product of the combustion. So why don't we abandon fission energy and fusion energy, not to mention fossil-fuel energy, and just use hydrogen?

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

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 statements regarding a nucleon is true in regards to nuclear reactions?

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

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

What is the main technical difficulty in dealing with fusion reactions?

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

About Science

Particles of Matter

Elements of Chemistry

Subatomic Particles

How Atoms Bond

How Molecules Mix

How Water Behaves

How Chemicals React

Acids and Bases in Our Environment

Oxidations and Reductions Charge the World

Organic Compounds

Nutrients of Life

Medicinal Chemistry

Optimizing Food Production

Protection Water and Air Resources

Capturing Energy

Filters

What does Einstein's energy equation (E = mc²) say about the energy that is derived from nuclear fission reactions?