Exam 5: The Atomic Nucleus

Coal contains only minute quantities of radioactive materials, yet there is more environmental radiation surrounding a coal-fired power plant than a fission power plant. This indicates that ________.

What is a rem?

Which of the following statements best describes the role of neutrons in the nucleus?

If a nucleus of Th absorbs a neutron and the resulting nucleus undergoes two successive beta decays (emitting electrons), what nucleus results?

A shorter half-life means that a radioactive substance is relatively ________.

Which of the following elements is the most stable from a nuclear point of view?

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

Which of the following is a major advantage of nuclear-fission-based power plants?

Which of the following statements about fission is true?

Which of the following statements about radiation is true?

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

Which of the following statements about radiation is true?

How is it possible for an element to decay "forward in the periodic table"--that is, to decay to an element of higher atomic number?

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

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

Which of the following statements about chain reactions is true?

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

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

Why does plutonium not occur in appreciable amounts in natural ore deposits?

In the 19th century the famous physicist Lord Kelvin estimated the age of Earth to be much much less than its present estimate. What information did Kelvin not have to account for his error?