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Chapter 33
The Atomic Nucleus and
Radioactivity
An X-ray is part of a family of
a.
b.
c.
d.
subnuclear particles.
electromagnetic waves.
atoms.
isotopes.
An X-ray is part of a family of
a.
b.
c.
d.
subnuclear particles.
electromagnetic waves.
atoms.
isotopes.
A sample of radioactive material is
usually a little warmer than its
surroundings because
a. it efficiently absorbs and releases energy from
sunlight.
b. its atoms are continually being struck by alpha
and beta particles.
c. it is radioactive.
d. it emits energetic particles.
A sample of radioactive material is
usually a little warmer than its
surroundings because
a. it efficiently absorbs and releases energy from
sunlight.
b. its atoms are continually being struck by alpha
and beta particles.
c. it is radioactive.
d. it emits energetic particles.
Which of these rays cannot be
deflected by electric or magnetic
means?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
All can be deflected by passing beams through
a magnetic or electric field.
Which of these rays cannot be
deflected by electric or magnetic
means?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
All can be deflected by passing beams through
a magnetic or electric field.
Which of these is the most
penetrating in common materials?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
All are equally penetrating.
Which of these is the most
penetrating in common materials?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
All are equally penetrating.
The benefits of properly using
radioactivity include
a. measuring the proper amount of fertilizer on
farms.
b. tracing medicines in the body.
c. irradiating food to kill harmful microorganisms.
d. All of these.
The benefits of properly using
radioactivity include
a. measuring the proper amount of fertilizer on
farms.
b. tracing medicines in the body.
c. irradiating food to kill harmful microorganisms.
d. All of these.
Most of the radiation in Earth’s
biosphere
a.
b.
c.
d.
is the result of military activities.
originates from nuclear power plants.
occurs as natural background radiation.
is due to human negligence.
Most of the radiation in Earth’s
biosphere
a.
b.
c.
d.
is the result of military activities.
originates from nuclear power plants.
occurs as natural background radiation.
is due to human negligence.
Which type of radiation from
cosmic sources predominates in
the lower atmosphere?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
None predominates because all three are
about equally abundant.
Which type of radiation from
cosmic sources predominates in
the lower atmosphere?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
None predominates because all three are
about equally abundant.
Explanation: Gamma is the most penetrating, in the
atmosphere and otherwise.
In the nucleus of an atom, the
strong force is a relatively
a.
b.
c.
d.
short-range force.
long-range force.
unstable force.
neutralizing force.
In the nucleus of an atom, the
strong force is a relatively
a.
b.
c.
d.
short-range force.
long-range force.
unstable force.
neutralizing force.
Uranium-235, uranium-238, and
uranium-239 are different
a.
b.
c.
d.
elements.
ions.
isotopes.
nucleons.
Uranium-235, uranium-238, and
uranium-239 are different
a.
b.
c.
d.
elements.
ions.
isotopes.
nucleons.
Which of these is NOT a nucleon?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Proton
Neutron
Electron
All are nucleons.
Which of these is NOT a nucleon?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Proton
Neutron
Electron
All are nucleons.
The half-life of carbon-14 is about
5730 years, which means that the present
amount in your bones will reduce to zero
a.
b.
c.
d.
when you die.
in about 5730 years.
in about twice 5730 years.
None of these.
The half-life of carbon-14 is about
5730 years, which means that the present
amount in your bones will reduce to zero
a.
b.
c.
d.
when you die.
in about 5730 years.
in about twice 5730 years.
None of these.
Explanation: In theory, the amount never reaches zero. In
eons to come, trace amounts of the carbon-14 in your
bones, even if completely dissolved, will still exist.
A certain radioactive element has a half-life of
1 hour. If you start with a 1.000-gram sample
of the element at noon, how much of this
same element will be left at 4:00 PM?
a.
b.
c.
d.
0.5 grams
0.25 grams
0.125 grams
0.063 grams
A certain radioactive element has a half-life of
1 hour. If you start with a 1.000-gram sample
of the element at noon, how much of this
same element will be left at 4:00 PM?
a.
b.
c.
d.
0.5 grams
0.25 grams
0.125 grams
0.063 grams
Explanation: Cut 1 in half 4 times and get 1/16, or 0.0625,
or roughly 0.063.
A friend produces a Geiger counter to check
your surroundings. It ticks. Another friend who
normally has the most fear of what is least
understood, makes an effort to keep away from
the region of the Geiger counter and looks to
you for advice. What do you say?
a. Run away as fast as you can!
b. The Geiger counter is emitting radiation.
c. Not to worry, for what is being detected is
natural background radiation.
d. Wear heavy clothes.
A friend produces a Geiger counter to check
your surroundings. It ticks. Another friend who
normally has the most fear of what is least
understood, makes an effort to keep away from
the region of the Geiger counter and looks to
you for advice. What do you say?
a. Run away as fast as you can!
b. The Geiger counter is emitting radiation.
c. Not to worry, for what is being detected is
natural background radiation.
d. Wear heavy clothes.
Atoms can transmute into completely
different atoms in
a.
b.
c.
d.
nature.
laboratories.
Both of these.
None of these.
Atoms can transmute into completely
different atoms in
a.
b.
c.
d.
nature.
laboratories.
Both of these.
None of these.
Explanation: Atomic transmutation occurs in nature, in
laboratories, and as far as we know, throughout the
cosmos.
When a particular isotope emits an
alpha particle, what new element
results?
a. The same element, but with decreased mass
b. One with both atomic number and atomic
mass decreased by 2
c. One with atomic number decreased by 2 and
atomic mass decreased by 4
d. One with atomic number increased by 2 and
atomic mass increased by 4
When a particular isotope emits an
alpha particle, what new element
results?
a. The same element, but with decreased mass
b. One with both atomic number and atomic
mass decreased by 2
c. One with atomic number decreased by 2 and
atomic mass decreased by 4
d. One with atomic number increased by 2 and
atomic mass increased by 4
When a particular isotope emits a
beta particle, what new element results?
a. The same element with the same mass
b. One with both atomic number and atomic
mass reduced by 1
c. One with atomic number increased by 1 and
atomic mass reduced by 1
d. One with atomic mass increased by 1 and no
change in atomic mass
When a particular isotope emits a
beta particle, what new element results?
a. The same element with the same mass
b. One with both atomic number and atomic
mass reduced by 1
c. One with atomic number increased by 1 and
atomic mass reduced by 1
d. One with atomic mass increased by 1 and no
change in atomic mass
Explanation: Beta emission increases the nuclear charge of
the isotope by 1, but has negligible effect on mass.
A certain element emits one alpha
particle, and its products then emit two
beta particles in succession. The atomic
number of the resulting element is
changed by
a.
b.
c.
d.
0.
minus 1.
minus 2.
None of these.
A certain element emits one alpha
particle, and its products then emit two
beta particles in succession. The atomic
number of the resulting element is
changed by
a.
b.
c.
d.
0.
minus 1.
minus 2.
None of these.
Explanation: Removal of the alpha decreases atomic
number by 2, but removal of two electrons increases
it by 2, so there is no net change in atomic number.
Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope
of carbon that is primarily produced by
cosmic radiation in the
a.
b.
c.
d.
atmosphere.
food we eat.
Earth’s interior.
fallout of nuclear bomb tests.
Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope
of carbon that is primarily produced by
cosmic radiation in the
a.
b.
c.
d.
atmosphere.
food we eat.
Earth’s interior.
fallout of nuclear bomb tests.
Comment: C-14 may exist in food, Earth’s interior, and
even in bomb fallout, but it is produced by cosmic
rays in the atmosphere.
To determine the age of the oldest
geological materials, scientists turn to
the radioactivity of
a.
b.
c.
d.
carbon.
uranium.
lead.
All of these.
To determine the age of the oldest
geological materials, scientists turn to
the radioactivity of
a.
b.
c.
d.
carbon.
uranium.
lead.
All of these.
Coal contains only minute quantities of
radioactive materials, yet there is more
environmental radiation surrounding a coalfired power plant than a fission power plant.
This indicates that the coal-fired plant
a.
b.
c.
d.
needs shielding.
needs better news coverage in the media.
has been contaminated.
should be converted to a “nuke.”
Coal contains only minute quantities of
radioactive materials, yet there is more
environmental radiation surrounding a coalfired power plant than a fission power plant.
This indicates that the coal-fired plant
a.
b.
c.
d.
needs shielding.
needs better news coverage in the media.
has been contaminated.
should be converted to a “nuke.”