Question 1

The binding energy of a nucleus is the energy that must be supplied to:

Accepted Answer

A)   remove a nucleon
B)   remove an alpha particle
C)   remove a beta particle
D)   separate the nucleus into its constituent nucleons
E)   separate the nucleus into a collection of alpha particlesF) B) and C)
G) C) and D)

Question 2

Two protons are separated by 10-16 m. The nuclear (N) , electrostatic (E) , and gravitational (G)  forces between these protons when written in order of increasing strength are:

Accepted Answer

A)   E, N, G
B)   N, G, E
C)   G, E, N
D)   G, N, E
E)   E, G, NF) C) and D)
G) B) and D)

Question 3

When ordinary sodium (23Na, Z = 11)  is bombarded with deuterons, the products are a neutron and:

Accepted Answer

A)   27Al, Z = 13
B)   24Na, Z = 11
C)   24Mg, Z = 12
D)   25Mg, Z = 12
E)   20Ne, Z = 10F) B) and C)
G) A) and D)

Question 4

Bromine, with atomic mass 79.942 u, is composed of nearly equal amounts of two isotopes, one of which contains 79 nucleons per atom. The mass number of the other isotope is:

Accepted Answer

A)   78
B)   79
C)   80
D)   81
E)   82F) C) and D)
G) A) and E)

Question 5

Which expression correctly describes the radioactive decay of a substance whose half-life is T?

Accepted Answer

A)   N(t)  = N0e-(t ln2) /T
B)   N(t)  = N0e-t/T
C)   N(t)  = N0e-tT
D)   N(t)  = N0e-tT ln2
E)   N(t)  = N0e-t/T ln2F) D) and E)
G) All of the above

Question 6

A large collection of nuclei are undergoing alpha decay. The rate of decay at any instant is proportional to:

Accepted Answer

A)   the number of undecayed nuclei present at that instant
B)   the time since the decays started
C)   the time remaining before all have decayed
D)   the half-life of the decay
E)   the average time between decaysF) A) and C)
G) C) and E)

Question 7

A nucleus with mass number A and atomic number Z undergoes  β\betaβ + decay. The mass number and atomic number, respectively, of the daughter nucleus are:

Accepted Answer

A)   A - 1, Z - 1
B)   A - 1, Z + 1
C)   A + 1, Z - 1
D)   A, Z + 1
E)   A, Z - 1 F) A) and B)
G) A) and C) E

Question 8

Which of the following nuclides is least likely to be detected?

Accepted Answer

A)   52Fe (Z = 26) 
B)   115Nd (Z = 60) 
C)   175Lu (Z = 71) 
D)   208Pb (Z = 82) 
E)   238U (Z = 92) F) A) and E)
G) B) and D)

Question 9

Possible units for the disintegration constant  λ\lambdaλ are:

Accepted Answer

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

Question 10

The half-life of a radioactive substance is:

Accepted Answer

A)   half the time it takes for the entire substance to decay
B)   usually about 50 years
C)   the time for radium to change into lead
D)   calculated from E = mc2
E)   the time for half the substance to decayF) B) and E)
G) None of the above E

Question 11

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)  minF) A) and B)
G) D) and E)

Question 12

Two protons are about 10-10 m apart. Their relative motion is chiefly determined by:

Accepted Answer

A)   gravitational forces
B)   electrical forces
C)   nuclear forces
D)   magnetic forces
E)   torque due to electric dipole momentsF) A) and B)
G) B) and E)

Question 13

When 23Na (Z = 11)  is bombarded with protons, the products are 20Ne (Z = 10)  and:

Accepted Answer

A)   a neutron
B)   an alpha particle
C)   a deuteron
D)   a gamma ray
E)   two beta particlesF) A) and E)
G) B) and C)

Question 14

A proton in a large nucleus:

Accepted Answer

A)   attracts all other protons
B)   repels all other protons
C)   repels all neutrons
D)   attracts some protons and repels others
E)   attracts some neutrons and repels othersF) C) and E)
G) A) and E) D

Question 15

When ordinary sulfur, 32S (Z = 16) , is bombarded with neutrons, the products are 32P (Z = 15)  and:

Accepted Answer

A)   an alpha particle
B)   a proton
C)   a deuteron
D)   a gamma ray
E)   an electronF) A) and B)
G) C) and D)

Question 16

If 204Tl (Z = 81)  emits a  β\betaβ - 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 F) A) and B)
G) C) and D)

Question 17

The mass of a neutron:

Accepted Answer

A)   equals that of an electron
B)   equals that of a proton
C)   is a little more than that of a proton
D)   is exactly that of a proton plus an electron
E)   is as yet unmeasuredF) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 18

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)   25%
C)   50%
D)   75%
E)   14%F) B) and D)
G) D) and E)

Question 19

Magnesium has atomic number 12, hydrogen has atomic number 1, and helium has atomic number 2. In the nuclear reaction 24Mg + 2H  →\rightarrow→ ( )  + 4He the missing quantity is:

Accepted Answer

A)   23Na (Z = 11) 
B)   22Ne (Z = 10) 
C)   21Na (Z = 11) 
D)   21Ne (Z = 10) 
E)   22Na (Z = 11)  F) B) and D)
G) D) and E)

Question 20

Bombardment of 28Si (Z = 14)  with alpha particles may produce:

Accepted Answer

A)   a proton and 31P (Z = 15) 
B)   hydrogen and 32S (Z = 16) 
C)   a deuteron and 27Al (Z = 13) 
D)   helium and 31P (Z = 15) 
E)   35Cl (Z = 17) F) A) and B)
G) C) and D)

Exam 42: Nuclear Physics

The binding energy of a nucleus is the energy that must be supplied to:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Two protons are separated by 10-16 m. The nuclear (N) , electrostatic (E) , and gravitational (G) forces between these protons when written in order of increasing strength are:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

When ordinary sodium (23Na, Z = 11) is bombarded with deuterons, the products are a neutron and:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Bromine, with atomic mass 79.942 u, is composed of nearly equal amounts of two isotopes, one of which contains 79 nucleons per atom. The mass number of the other isotope is:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which expression correctly describes the radioactive decay of a substance whose half-life is T?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A large collection of nuclei are undergoing alpha decay. The rate of decay at any instant is proportional to:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A nucleus with mass number A and atomic number Z undergoes β\betaβ + decay. The mass number and atomic number, respectively, of the daughter nucleus are:

Correct AnswerverifiedE

Which of the following nuclides is least likely to be detected?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Possible units for the disintegration constant λ\lambdaλ are:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The half-life of a radioactive substance is:

Correct AnswerverifiedE

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Two protons are about 10-10 m apart. Their relative motion is chiefly determined by:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

When 23Na (Z = 11) is bombarded with protons, the products are 20Ne (Z = 10) and:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A proton in a large nucleus:

Correct AnswerverifiedD

When ordinary sulfur, 32S (Z = 16) , is bombarded with neutrons, the products are 32P (Z = 15) and:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The mass of a neutron:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Magnesium has atomic number 12, hydrogen has atomic number 1, and helium has atomic number 2. In the nuclear reaction 24Mg + 2H →\rightarrow→ ( ) + 4He the missing quantity is:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Bombardment of 28Si (Z = 14) with alpha particles may produce:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
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Two protons are separated by 10^-¹⁶ m. The nuclear (N) , electrostatic (E) , and gravitational (G) forces between these protons when written in order of increasing strength are:

Correct Answer
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When ordinary sodium (²³Na, Z = 11) is bombarded with deuterons, the products are a neutron and:

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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A nucleus with mass number A and atomic number Z undergoes $\beta$ ⁺ decay. The mass number and atomic number, respectively, of the daughter nucleus are:

Correct Answer
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E

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

Correct Answer
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E

Correct Answer
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Two protons are about 10^-¹⁰ m apart. Their relative motion is chiefly determined by:

Correct Answer
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When ²³Na (Z = 11) is bombarded with protons, the products are ²⁰Ne (Z = 10) and:

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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D

When ordinary sulfur, ³²S (Z = 16) , is bombarded with neutrons, the products are ³²P (Z = 15) and:

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

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

Correct Answer
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Magnesium has atomic number 12, hydrogen has atomic number 1, and helium has atomic number 2. In the nuclear reaction ²⁴Mg + ²H $\rightarrow$ ( ) + ⁴He the missing quantity is:

Correct Answer
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Bombardment of ²⁸Si (Z = 14) with alpha particles may produce:

Correct Answer
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