Nuclear Physics

Which interaction of nature binds neutrons and protons into nuclei?
Select one:
a. electromagnetic
b. strong
c. gravitational
d. weak

B

The two easily detectable products of the decay of a free neutron are
Select one:
a. an alpha particle and an electron.
b. none of the above
c. a proton and a gamma ray.
d. a proton and an electron.
e. another neutron and an electron.

D

In order to adequately control a chain reaction, it is necessary to have within the fissionable material a nonfissionable material. How does this material interact with neutrons?
Select one:
a. The material emits neutrons.
b. The material absorbs neutrons

B

When U-235 splits, it usually emits
Select one:
a. many electrons.
b. no particles at all.
c. one neutron.
d. three neutrons.
e. many protons.

D

Samples of two different isotopes, X and Y, both contain the same number of radioactive atoms. The half-life of Sample X is twice that of Sample Y. How do their rates of radiation compare?
Select one:
a. Sample X has a smaller rate than Sample Y.
b. This

A

In fission reactions, how must the binding energy per nucleon vary?
Select one:
a. The binding energy per nucleon decreases as atomic number increases.
b. The binding energy per nucleon remains constant as atomic number increases.
c. none of the above
d.

A

Carbon-14 is produced in the atmosphere primarily by
Select one:
a. nitrogen bombardment.
b. photosynthesis.
c. cosmic ray bombardment.
d. none of the above
e. plants and animals.

C

Splitting helium would yield
Select one:
a. a net absorption of energy.
b. a net release of energy.
c. neither absorption nor release of energy.

A

An element will decay to another element with higher atomic number in the periodic table if it emits
Select one:
a. a beta particle.
b. a gamma ray.
c. an alpha particle.
d. none of the above
e. a proton.

A

A graph of nuclear mass per nucleon for all the elements
Select one:
a. is a straight line.
b. starts high, dips, and then slowly increases.
c. starts low, peaks, and then slowly decreases.
d. is an ever-increasing graph.

B

At this time, all nuclear reactors operate through
Select one:
a. neither fission nor fusion.
b. both fission and fusion.
c. fission only.
d. fusion only.

C

An element emits 2 alpha particles and 5 beta particles. Its atomic number
Select one:
a. decreases by 2.
b. stays the same.
c. increases by 1.
d. increases by 2.
e. decreases by 1.

C

A helium nucleus with two protons and two neutrons is called a(n) ____.
Select one:
a. alpha particle
b. electroscope
c. beta particle
d. gamma ray

A

The stability of a nucleus depends on the ____.
Select one:
a. proton-neutron ratio
b. atomic number
c. number of neutrons
d. atomic mass

A

An alpha particle consists of
Select one:
a. two neutrons and two electrons.
b. two protons, two neutrons, and two electrons.
c. two protons and two neutrons.
d. none of the above
e. two protons and two electrons.

C

When alpha and beta rays pass through a magnetic field, their paths change
Select one:
a. not at all.
b. in opposite directions.
c. in the same direction.

B

The type of radiation that will penetrate farthest into a material is
Select one:
a. They all penetrate material the same distance.
b. an alpha ray.
c. a beta ray.
d. a gamma ray.
e. an X-ray.

D

X-rays are similar to
Select one:
a. gamma rays.
b. alpha rays.
c. all of the above
d. beta rays.
e. none of the above

A

When thorium (90 protons) ejects a beta particle, the resulting nucleus has
Select one:
a. 88 protons.
b. 87 protons.
c. 89 protons.
d. 90 protons.
e. none of the above

E

Radioactive tracers can be used to help
Select one:
a. public utility workers trace leaks in buried pipes.
b. farmers use the proper amount of fertilizer.
c. engineers study how parts of a car withstand wear.
d. doctors trace food as it moves through the

E

The type of radioactive particle that can be stopped by a sheet of paper is the ____.
Select one:
a. beta particle
b. all of these
c. gamma ray
d. alpha particle

D

The process by which nuclei having low masses are united to form nuclei with a larger mass is ____.
Select one:
a. nuclear fission
b. a chemical reaction
c. a chain reaction
d. nuclear fusion

D

Both a fusion reaction and a fission reaction ____.
Select one:
a. cause chain reactions
b. use hydrogen as a fuel
c. take place at room temperature
d. produce energy

D

Which radiation has no electric charge associated with it?
Select one:
a. all of the above
b. none of the above
c. gamma rays
d. beta rays
e. alpha rays

C

Most radiation we are exposed to comes from
Select one:
a. weapons-testing fallout.
b. cosmic rays and earth minerals.
c. medical X-rays.
d. nuclear power plants.
e. none of the above

B

The two easily detectable products of the decay of a free neutron are
Select one:
a. a proton and a gamma ray.
b. an alpha particle and an electron.
c. another neutron and an electron.
d. none of the above
e. a proton and an electron.

E

Neutrons released in a fission reaction can strike other nuclei and cause ____.
Select one:
a. an electron avalanche
b. radioactive decay
c. chain reactions
d. fusion reactions

C

The largest source of background radiation is ____.
Select one:
a. building materials
b. radon gas
c. trees
d. cosmic rays

B

Each element with an atomic number greater than 84 is ____.
Select one:
a. synthetic
b. radioactive
c. stable
d. material

B

Which of the following elements is most likely to be produced during a nuclear fusion reaction?
Select one:
a. uranium-238
b. helium-4
c. uranium-235
d. hydrogen-1

B

Which experiences the least electrical force in an electric field?
Select one:
a. a proton
b. same force for all of the above
c. a gamma ray
d. a beta particle
e. an alpha particle

C

Negatively charged particles emitted from a nucleus at a high speed are ____.
Select one:
a. beta particles
b. alpha particles
c. gamma rays
d. X-rays

A

The nucleus of an atom consists of
Select one:
a. protons and electrons.
b. neutrons and electrons.
c. protons.
d. protons and neutrons.
e. protons, neutrons, and electrons.

D

When uranium (92 protons) ejects an alpha particle, the nucleus left behind has
Select one:
a. 90 protons.
b. 88 protons.
c. 91 protons.
d. 89 protons.
e. 92 protons.

A

Uranium-235, uranium-238, and uranium-239 are different
Select one:
a. ions.
b. isotopes.
c. none of the above
d. elements.

B

The three types of nuclear radiation in increasing order of penetrating power are ____.
Select one:
a. X ray, beta, gamma
b. X ray, gamma, beta
c. alpha, beta, gamma
d. alpha, gamma, beta

C

The atomic number of an atom or ion refers to the number of
Select one:
a. electrons.
b. protons.
c. neutrons, protons, and electrons.
d. nucleons.
e. neutrons.

B

When a nucleus emits a beta particle, its atomic number
Select one:
a. remains constant, and so does its mass number.
b. none of the above.
c. changes, and so does its mass number.
d. changes, but its mass number remains constant.
e. remains constant, but

D

The element with the least mass per nucleon is
Select one:
a. iron.
b. helium.
c. hydrogen.
d. none of these
e. uranium.

A

The atomic mass number of an atom refers to the number of
Select one:
a. electrons.
b. neutrons.
c. neutrons, protons, and electrons.
d. protons.
e. nucleons.

E

Generally speaking, the heavier a nucleus is, the more it is
Select one:
a. unstable.
b. stable.
c. neither stable nor unstable.

A

The half-life of a certain isotope is 1 day. At the end of 4 days, how much of the isotope remains?
Select one:
a. none of the above
b. 1/32
c. 1/4
d. none of it
e. 1/16

E

The reason carbon dating works is that
Select one:
a. none of the above
b. after a plant or animal dies, it stops taking in fresh carbon-14.
c. there is so much non-radioactive carbon dioxide in the air.
d. plants and animals are such strong emitters of c

B

A nuclear process that has relatively few radioactive byproducts is
Select one:
a. fission.
b. fusion.
c. both A and B
d. none of the above

B

Nuclear fission occurs when
Select one:
a. we cut nuclei in two with a very small cutting device.
b. electrical forces inside a nucleus overpower nuclear forces.
c. one nucleus bumps into another causing a chain reaction.
d. a nucleus divides spontaneousl

B

Which process generates energy in the Sun?
Select one:
a. nuclear fusion
b. nuclear fission
c. chain reaction
d. transmutation

A

A benefit to using nuclear fission power is that it
Select one:
a. conserves organic fuels, such as oil, coal, and wood.
b. eliminates huge quantifies of sulfur oxides, which pollute our air.
c. supplies a large amount of electricity.
d. all of the above

D

Which of the following elements is most likely to be produced as a result of a fission reaction using uranium-235 as a fuel?
Select one:
a. hydrogen
b. helium
c. uranium-238
d. krypton

D

The primary fuel for a nuclear fusion reactor is
Select one:
a. hydrogen.
b. plutonium.
c. helium.
d. uranium.
e. iron.

A

Nuclear fusion occurs typically in
Select one:
a. uranium mines.
b. the upper atmosphere.
c. the sun.
d. deep space.
e. all of the above

C

The energy we get in nuclear reactions comes from
Select one:
a. work we do on the reactor.
b. water.
c. the sun.
d. the mass of the fuel.
e. energy we put into the reactor.

D

How many amu (u's) are equivalent to 1 kg of feathers?
Select one:
a. 1.6605e-27
b. 12
c. 6.022e26
d. 931

C

Mass can be measured in kilograms or atomic mass units amu or "u". what is 1u?
Select one:
a. 12 protons
b. mass of an electron
c. 1/12 of a carbon nucleus
d. 9.11e-31 kg

C

which is the heaviest nucleon?
Select one:
a. proton
b. neutron
c. electron
d. neutrino

B

Which of the following statements about atomic masses is true?
Select one:
a. Atomic masses include masses of neutral atoms.
b. Atomic masses include masses of bare nuclei.
c. Atomic masses do not include masses of electrons.
d. Atomic masses do not inclu

A

1 atomic mass unit is 1.6605e-27 kg. the mass of a proton is 1.675e-27 kg.
What is the mass of a proton in "u" atomic mass units? (pick closest answer)
Select one:
a. 12
b. 10
c. 1
d. 1.0073

D

which has the most mass-energy?
Select one:
a. proton
b. neutron
c. electron
d. neutrino

B

All naturally occuring nuclear reactions ..
Select one:
a. reactant has a larger mass
b. product has a smaller mass
c. produce energy in form of either light or KE of the products
d. all of these are true

D

E= mc2 can also be calculated using m in amu (u) and c2 = 931.49MeV. What is 1u worth?
Select one:
a. 931.49MeV
b. 1e6 eV
c. 1.506e-10
d. 1.6667e-27

A

E= mc2 can be calculated using mass in kg so that E will be in Joules. How many joules are in 1kg of matter?
Select one:
a. 3e8
b. 9e8
c. 931
d. 9e16

D

E= mc2 states that
Select one:
a. all mass moving at the speed of light will have energy which can be converted to other forms of energy
b. momentum creates energy
c. even objects at rest have energy because they have mass. It takes work or energy to form

C

How many Joules are in one proton?
Select one:
a. 1.673e27
b. 1.673e27
c. 1.506e-10
d. 5.019e-19

C

How many MeV's of energy is in one neutron?
Select one:
a. 931.49
b. 1e6
c. 1.008665
d. 939.6

A

All elements beyond uranium in the periodic table
Select one:
a. do not exist.
b. are found naturally in the earth.
c. have no isotopes.
d. have relatively short half-lives.
e. none of the above

D

Iron is the most stable nucleus. All elements larger than Bismuth (z=83)
Select one:
a. naturally fuse together
b. naturally fission apart
c. can be fused together by applying high energy and or pressure
d. can be fissioned apart by bombarding with neutro

B

Iron is the most stable nucleus. All elements smaller than iron
Select one:
a. naturally fuse together
b. naturally fission apart
c. can be fused together by applying high energy and or pressure
d. can be fissioned apart by bombarding with neutrons.

C

According to these cliff notes, how is binding energy (BE) related to mass defect
Select one:
a. the two terms are totally unrelated
b. BE = mass defect converted to energy
c. BE is mass defect
d. BE is energy Zach needs at U of I

B

According to these cliff notes, what is binding energy (BE)?
Select one:
a. energy gained from breaking apart a nucleus
b. energy difference between a proton in a nucleus and outside a nucleus
c. energy needed to break apart a nucleus
d. energy lost from

C

As the number of protons in the nucleus increases, the repulsive force
Select one:
a. drops to zero.
b. becomes weaker.
c. becomes stronger.
d. remains unchanged.

C

If there are 128 neutrons in Pb-210, how many neutrons are found in the nucleus of Pb-206?
Select one:
a. 124
b. 126
c. 130
d. 122

A

What is the binding energy of Carbon ? (A= 12, Z=6)? see table in eqn page for masses
Select one:
a. 931.45MeV
b. 1.2MEV
c. 92.2MeV
d. 0.0989MeV

C

What is the mass defect of F (A=17,Z=9) if it has a mass of 17.002095u, and the mass of 1proton is 1.007825 and one neutron is 1.008665 and 1 electron is .000549?
Select one:
a. .138u
b. 0u
c. 9u
d. 0.0004u

A

A nuclear proton has least mass in the nucleus of
Select one:
a. oxygen.
b. uranium.
c. same mass in all of the above.
d. iron.
e. hydrogen.

D

Suppose nucleus "Y" has a mass of 4u. It is formed from two piece, "X" with mass of 1u and "z" with mass of 5u. Recall E= mc2 = u(931 MeV). What is the binding energy of nucleus in MeV?
Select one:
a. 1u*931
b. 4u*931
c. 6u*931
d. 2u*931

D

Suppose nucleus "Y" has a mass of 4u. It is formed from two piece, "X" with mass of 1u and "z" with mass of 5u. Recall E= mc2 = u(931 MeV). What is the mass defect of nucleus?
Select one:
a. 4u
b. 2u
c. 1u
d. 6u

B

The mass of a neutron or a proton _____ when it leaves the nucleus.
Select one:
a. stays the same.
b. increases.
c. decreases.

B

The mass of a nucleus is exactly equal to the sum of the masses of its individual
Select one:
a. none of the above
b. protons.
c. nucleons.
d. all of the above
e. neutrons.

A

What is the binding energy of a nucleus?
Select one:
a. the average energy with which any nucleon is bound in the nucleus
b. the mass of the nucleus times cmc014-1.jpg
c. the energy released when nucleons bind together to form a stable nucleus
d. the ener

C