Question 1

A nucleus with mass number A and atomic number Z emits an alpha particle. The mass number and atomic number, respectively, of the daughter nucleus are:

Accepted Answer

A)   A, Z -2
B)   A - 2, Z - 2
C)   A - 2, Z
D)   A - 4, Z
E)   A - 4, Z - 2F) B) and E)
G) None of the above

Question 2

Stable nuclei generally:

Accepted Answer

A)   have a greater number of protons than neutrons
B)   have low mass numbers
C)   have high mass numbers
D)   are beta emitters
E)   none of the aboveF) D) and E)
G) B) and E)

Question 3

Radioactive polonium, 214Po (Z = 84) , decays by alpha emission to:

Accepted Answer

A)   214Po (Z = 84) 
B)   210Pb (Z = 82) 
C)   214At (Z = 85) 
D)   218Po (Z = 84) 
E)   210Bi (Z = 83) F) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 4

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 E)

Question 5

The becquerel 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 aboveF) B) and D)
G) A) and C)

Question 6

The mass density of an atomic nucleus:

Accepted Answer

A)   is about 1015 kg/m3
B)   is about 1012 kg/m3
C)   increases with increasing nuclear mass
D)   increases with decreasing nuclear radius
E)   is roughly constant independent of atomic numberF) B) and D)
G) D) and E)

Question 7

Rank the following collections of particles according to the total binding energy of all the particles in each collection, least to greatest.

Accepted Answer

A)   1,2,3
B)   3,2,1
C)   2,1,3
D)   1,3,2
E)   2,3,1F) All of the above
G) C) and D)

Question 8

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

Question 9

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 E)
G) A) and C)

Question 10

Aluminum has atomic number 13, helium has atomic number 2, and silicon has atomic number 14. In the nuclear reaction 27Al + 4He  →\rightarrow→ 30Si + ( )  the missing particle is:

Accepted Answer

A)   an α\alphaα  particle
B)   a positron
C)   an electron
D)   a proton
E)   a neutron F) A) and D)
G) A) and C)

Question 11

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 D)
G) C) and E)

Question 12

A femtometer is:

Accepted Answer

A)   larger than 10-9 m
B)   10-9 m
C)   10-12 m
D)   10-15 m
E)   10-18 mF) A) and B)
G) B) and E)

Question 13

A fly caught in amber is thought to be 3 million years old. Why would it not be useful to confirm its age using radiocarbon dating?

Accepted Answer

A)   The fly contains no carbon.
B)   The fly is too small to contain a measurable amount of carbon.
C)   The fly is too old to contain a measureable amount of carbon-14.
D)   The carbon-14 doesn't begin to decay until the fly is removed from the amber.
E)   Radiocarbon dating is too inaccurate to be useful.F) B) and C)
G) C) and E)

Question 14

Beta particles from various radioactive sources all have:

Accepted Answer

A)   the same mass
B)   the same speed
C)   the same charge
D)   the same deflection
E)   the same energy in a magnetic fieldF) A) and E)
G) All of the above

Question 15

The atomic number of an element is:

Accepted Answer

A)   the whole number nearest to its mass
B)   the number of protons in its nucleus
C)   the nearest whole number of hydrogen atoms having the same mass as a single atom of the given element
D)   the number of neutrons in its nucleus
E)   its order of discoveryF) A) and B)
G) None of the above

Question 16

The Rutherford scattering experiment showed that:

Accepted Answer

A)   light has both particle-like and wavelike properties
B)   atoms are electrically neutral
C)   the positive and negative charges in the atom are uniformly distributed throughout its volume
D)   the wavelength of scattered light depends on the scattering angle
E)   the atom consists of a very tiny, massive, positively charged nucleus surrounded by almost empty spaceF) A) and C)
G) None of the above

Question 17

The half-life of radium is about 1600 years. If a rock initially contains 1 g of radium, the amount left after 8000 years will be about:

Accepted Answer

A)   200 mg
B)   63 mg
C)   31 mg
D)   16 mg
E)   less than 1 mgF) All of the above
G) B) and E)

Question 18

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

Question 19

The gray 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 aboveF) C) and E)
G) A) and D)

Question 20

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) A) and C)

Exam 42: Nuclear Physics

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

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A fly caught in amber is thought to be 3 million years old. Why would it not be useful to confirm its age using radiocarbon dating?

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The mass density of an atomic nucleus:

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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:

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

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

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A femtometer is:

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

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The Rutherford scattering experiment showed that:

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

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A nucleus with mass number A and atomic number Z emits an alpha particle. The mass number and atomic number, respectively, of the daughter nucleus are:

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Stable nuclei generally:

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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:

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Rank the following collections of particles according to the total binding energy of all the particles in each collection, least to greatest.

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The half-life of radium is about 1600 years. If a rock initially contains 1 g of radium, the amount left after 8000 years will be about:

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Aluminum has atomic number 13, helium has atomic number 2, and silicon has atomic number 14. In the nuclear reaction 27Al + 4He →\rightarrow→ 30Si + ( ) the missing particle is:

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Beta particles from various radioactive sources all have:

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Radioactive polonium, 214Po (Z = 84) , decays by alpha emission to:

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The atomic number of an element is:

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

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

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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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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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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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Aluminum has atomic number 13, helium has atomic number 2, and silicon has atomic number 14. In the nuclear reaction ²⁷Al + ⁴He $\rightarrow$ ³⁰Si + ( ) the missing particle is:

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Radioactive polonium, ²¹⁴Po (Z = 84) , decays by alpha emission to:

Correct Answer
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