Question 1

In addition to the daughter nucleus and an electron or positron, the products of a beta decay include:

Accepted Answer

A)  a neutron 
B)  a neutrino 
C)  a proton 
D)  an alpha particle 
E)  no other particle 
A)  a neutron 
B)  a neutrino 
C)  a proton 
D)  an alpha particle 
E)  no other particle B

Question 2

At the end of 14 min, 1/16 of a sample of radioactive polonium remains. The corresponding half-life is:

Accepted Answer

A)  (7/8) min 
B)  (8/7) min 
C)  (7/4) min 
D)  (7/2) min 
E)  (14/3) min 
A)  (7/8) min 
B)  (8/7) min 
C)  (7/4) min 
D)  (7/2) min 
E)  (14/3) min D

Question 3

A beta particle is:

Accepted Answer

A)  a helium nucleus 
B)  an electron or a positron 
C)  a radioactive element 
D)  any negative particle 
E)  a hydrogen atom 
A)  a helium nucleus 
B)  an electron or a positron 
C)  a radioactive element 
D)  any negative particle 
E)  a hydrogen atom B

Question 4

The greatest binding energy per nucleon occurs for nuclides with masses near that of:

Accepted Answer

A)  helium 
B)  sodium 
C)  iron 
D)  mercury 
E)  uranium 
A)  helium 
B)  sodium 
C)  iron 
D)  mercury 
E)  uranium

Question 5

A radium atom, 226Ra (Z = 86), emits an alpha particle. The number of protons in the resulting atom is:

Accepted Answer

A)  84 
B)  85 
C)  86 
D)  88 
E)  some other number 
A)  84 
B)  85 
C)  86 
D)  88 
E)  some other number

Question 6

Radioactive 90Sr has a half-life of 30 years. What percent of a sample of 90Sr will remain after 60 years?

Accepted Answer

A)  0% 
B)  14% 
C)  25% 
D)  50% 
E)  75% 
A)  0% 
B)  14% 
C)  25% 
D)  50% 
E)  75%

Question 7

Possible units for the disintegration constant $\lambda$are:

Accepted Answer

A)  kg/s 
B)  s/kg 
C)  hour 
D)  day-1 
E)  cm-1 
A)  kg/s 
B)  s/kg 
C)  hour 
D)  day-1 
E)  cm-1

Question 8

The relation between the disintegration constant $\lambda$ and the half-life T of a radioactive substance is:

Accepted Answer

A)  $\lambda$ = 2T 
B)  $\lambda$ = 1/T 
C)  $\lambda$= 2/T 
D)  $\lambda$T = ln 2 
E)  $\lambda$T = ln(1/2) 
A)  $\lambda$ = 2T 
B)  $\lambda$ = 1/T 
C)  $\lambda$= 2/T 
D)  $\lambda$T = ln 2 
E)  $\lambda$T = ln(1/2)

Question 9

The sievert is the correct unit to use in reporting the measurement of:

Accepted Answer

A)  the rate of decay of a radioactive source 
B)  the ability of a beam of gamma ray photons to produce ions in a target 
C)  the energy delivered by radiation to a target 
D)  the biological effect of radiation 
E)  none of the above 
A)  the rate of decay of a radioactive source 
B)  the ability of a beam of gamma ray photons to produce ions in a target 
C)  the energy delivered by radiation to a target 
D)  the biological effect of radiation 
E)  none of the above

Question 10

The energies of electrons emitted in $\beta$- decays have a continuous spectrum because:

Accepted Answer

A)  the original neutron has a continuous spectrum 
B)  the neutrino can carry off energy 
C)  the emitted electron is free 
D)  energy is not conserved 
E)  the daughter nucleus may have any energy 
A)  the original neutron has a continuous spectrum 
B)  the neutrino can carry off energy 
C)  the emitted electron is free 
D)  energy is not conserved 
E)  the daughter nucleus may have any energy

Question 11

Let Z denote the atomic number and A denote the mass number of a nucleus. The number of neutrons in this nucleus is:

Accepted Answer

A)  Z 
B)  A - Z 
C)  A - 2Z 
D)  A 
E)  2A - Z 
A)  Z 
B)  A - Z 
C)  A - 2Z 
D)  A 
E)  2A - Z

Question 12

In the Rutherford scattering experiment, an alpha particle is aimed directly at a gold nucleus. The distance of closest approach of the alpha particle to the nucleus occurs when:

Accepted Answer

A)  the alpha particle hits the nucleus 
B)  the alpha particle hits the electron cloud 
C)  the kinetic energy of the alpha particle is completely transformed to potential energy due to the nuclear force 
D)  the kinetic energy of the alpha particle is completely transformed to potential energy due to the electric field of the nucleus 
E)  the kinetic energy of the alpha particle is completely transformed to potential energy due to the electric field of the electrons 
A)  the alpha particle hits the nucleus 
B)  the alpha particle hits the electron cloud 
C)  the kinetic energy of the alpha particle is completely transformed to potential energy due to the nuclear force 
D)  the kinetic energy of the alpha particle is completely transformed to potential energy due to the electric field of the nucleus 
E)  the kinetic energy of the alpha particle is completely transformed to potential energy due to the electric field of the electrons

Question 13

A nucleus with a mass number of 64 has a mean radius of about:

Accepted Answer

A)  4.8 fm 
B)  9.6 fm 
C)  77 fm 
D)  260 fm 
E)  2.6 * 105 fm 
A)  4.8 fm 
B)  9.6 fm 
C)  77 fm 
D)  260 fm 
E)  2.6 * 105 fm

Question 14

If 204Tl (Z = 81) emits a $\beta$- particle from its nucleus:

Accepted Answer

A)  stable Tl is formed 
B)  202Hg (Z = 80) is formed 
C)  204Pb (Z = 82) is formed 
D)  radioactive Tl is formed 
E)  197Au (Z = 79) is formed 
A)  stable Tl is formed 
B)  202Hg (Z = 80) is formed 
C)  204Pb (Z = 82) is formed 
D)  radioactive Tl is formed 
E)  197Au (Z = 79) is formed

Question 15

Volumes of atomic nuclei are proportional to:

Accepted Answer

A)  the mass number 
B)  the atomic number 
C)  the total nuclear spin 
D)  the number of neutrons 
E)  none of these 
A)  the mass number 
B)  the atomic number 
C)  the total nuclear spin 
D)  the number of neutrons 
E)  none of these

Question 16

If a nucleus has mass M, Z protons (mass mp) and N neutrons (mass mn) its binding energy is equal to:

Accepted Answer

A)  Mc2 
B)  (M - Zmp - Nmn)c2 
C)  (Zmp + Nmn - M)c2 
D)  (Zmp + Nmn)c2 
E)  (Zmp - M)c2 
A)  Mc2 
B)  (M - Zmp - Nmn)c2 
C)  (Zmp + Nmn - M)c2 
D)  (Zmp + Nmn)c2 
E)  (Zmp - M)c2

Question 17

The isotopes of an element:

Accepted Answer

A)  cannot be separated at all 
B)  occur well separated in nature 
C)  have similar chemical behavior 
D)  cannot be separated by physical methods 
E)  have equal masses 
A)  cannot be separated at all 
B)  occur well separated in nature 
C)  have similar chemical behavior 
D)  cannot be separated by physical methods 
E)  have equal masses

Question 18

Let A be the mass number and Z be the atomic number of a nucleus. Which of the following is approximately correct for light nuclei?

Accepted Answer

A)  Z = 2A 
B)  Z = A 
C)  Z = A/2 
D)  Z = 
E)  Z = A2 
A)  Z = 2A 
B)  Z = A 
C)  Z = A/2 
D)  Z = 
E)  Z = A2

Question 19

40K decays to 40Ar with a half-life of 1.25 x 109 yr. Assume that rocks contain no 40Ar when they form, and that the only way 40Ar can be present is through the decay of 40K. If the ratio of 40K to 40Ar in a particular rock is found to be 1:3, what is the age of the rock?

Accepted Answer

A)  1.25 x 109 yr 
B)  2.50 x 109 yr 
C)  3.75 x 109 yr 
D)  5.00 x 109 yr 
E)  cannot be determined without knowing how much 40K was in the rock to begin with 
A)  1.25 x 109 yr 
B)  2.50 x 109 yr 
C)  3.75 x 109 yr 
D)  5.00 x 109 yr 
E)  cannot be determined without knowing how much 40K was in the rock to begin with

Question 20

The half-life of a given nuclear disintegration A$\rightarrow$B:

Accepted Answer

A)  depends on the initial number of A atoms 
B)  depends on the initial number of B atoms 
C)  is an exponentially increasing function of time 
D)  is an exponentially decreasing function of time 
E)  none of the above 
A)  depends on the initial number of A atoms 
B)  depends on the initial number of B atoms 
C)  is an exponentially increasing function of time 
D)  is an exponentially decreasing function of time 
E)  none of the above

Exam 42: Nuclear Physics

In addition to the daughter nucleus and an electron or positron, the products of a beta decay include:

At the end of 14 min, 1/16 of a sample of radioactive polonium remains. The corresponding half-life is:

A beta particle is:

The greatest binding energy per nucleon occurs for nuclides with masses near that of:

A radium atom, 226Ra (Z = 86), emits an alpha particle. The number of protons in the resulting atom is:

Radioactive 90Sr has a half-life of 30 years. What percent of a sample of 90Sr will remain after 60 years?

Possible units for the disintegration constant λ\lambdaλ are:

The relation between the disintegration constant λ\lambdaλ and the half-life T of a radioactive substance is:

The sievert is the correct unit to use in reporting the measurement of:

The energies of electrons emitted in β\betaβ - decays have a continuous spectrum because:

Let Z denote the atomic number and A denote the mass number of a nucleus. The number of neutrons in this nucleus is:

In the Rutherford scattering experiment, an alpha particle is aimed directly at a gold nucleus. The distance of closest approach of the alpha particle to the nucleus occurs when:

A nucleus with a mass number of 64 has a mean radius of about:

If 204Tl (Z = 81) emits a β\betaβ - particle from its nucleus:

Volumes of atomic nuclei are proportional to:

If a nucleus has mass M, Z protons (mass mp) and N neutrons (mass mn) its binding energy is equal to:

The isotopes of an element:

Let A be the mass number and Z be the atomic number of a nucleus. Which of the following is approximately correct for light nuclei?

40K decays to 40Ar with a half-life of 1.25 x 109 yr. Assume that rocks contain no 40Ar when they form, and that the only way 40Ar can be present is through the decay of 40K. If the ratio of 40K to 40Ar in a particular rock is found to be 1:3, what is the age of the rock?

The half-life of a given nuclear disintegration A →\rightarrow→ B:

Measurement

Motion Along a Straight Line

Vector

Motion in Two and Three Dimensions

Force and Motion I

Force and Motion II

Kinetic Energy and Work

Potential Energy and Conservation of Energy

Center of Mass and Linear Momentum

Rotation

Rolling, Torque, and Angular Momentum

Equilibrium and Elasticity

Gravitation

Fluids

Oscillations

Waves I

Waves II

Temperature, Heat, and the First Law of Thermodynamics

The Kinetic Theory of Gases

Entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics

Electric Charge

Electric Fields

Gauss Law

Electric Potential

Capacitance

Current and Resistance

Circuits

Magnetic Fields

Magnetic Fields Due to Currents

Induction and Inductance

Electromagnetic Oscillations and Alternating Current

Maxwells Equations; Magnetism of Matter

Electromagnetic Waves

Images

Interference

Diffraction

Relativity

Photons and Matter Waves

More About Matter Waves

All About Atoms

Conduction of Electricity in Solids

Energy From the Nucleus

Quarks, Leptons, and the Big Bang

Filters

A radium atom, ²²⁶Ra (Z = 86), emits an alpha particle. The number of protons in the resulting atom is:

Radioactive ⁹⁰Sr has a half-life of 30 years. What percent of a sample of ⁹⁰Sr will remain after 60 years?

Possible units for the disintegration constant $\lambda$ are:

The relation between the disintegration constant $\lambda$ and the half-life T of a radioactive substance is:

The energies of electrons emitted in $\beta$ ^- decays have a continuous spectrum because:

If ²⁰⁴Tl (Z = 81) emits a $\beta$ ^- particle from its nucleus:

If a nucleus has mass M, Z protons (mass m_p) and N neutrons (mass m_n) its binding energy is equal to:

The half-life of a given nuclear disintegration A $\rightarrow$ B: