Question 1

A certain radioactive isotope placed near a Geiger counter registers 160 counts per minute. Eight hours later, the counter registers 10 counts per minute. What is the half-life of the isotope?

Accepted Answer

A)  8 hours
B)  6 hours
C)  4 hours
D)  2 hours
E)  none of the above

Question 2

For 1 gram of radioactive material that has a half-life of one year, after 4 years the original radioactive material left will be

Accepted Answer

A)  0 g.
B)  1/2 g.
C)  1/4 g.
D)  1/8 g.
E)  none of the above

Question 3

When an element undergoes nuclear transmutation, the result is a completely different

Accepted Answer

A)  isotope of the same element.
B)  ion of the same element.
C)  element.

Question 4

Electric forces within an atomic nucleus tend to

Accepted Answer

A)  hold it together.
B)  push it apart.
C)  neither of these

Question 5

The operation of a cloud chamber relies on

Accepted Answer

A)  magnetization.
B)  evaporation.
C)  acceleration.
D)  polarization.
E)  condensation.

Question 6

The resulting atomic number of an element that emits 1 alpha particle, 1 positron, and 3 beta particles is

Accepted Answer

A)  decreased by 2.
B)  decreased by 1.
C)  unchanged.
D)  increased by 1.
E)  increased by 2.

Question 7

Artificially induced radioactive elements generally have

Accepted Answer

A)  long half-lives.
B)  short half-lives.
C)  no half-lives.

Question 8

A sample of highly-radioactive material is somewhat

Accepted Answer

A)  warmer than the environment.
B)  cooler than the environment.
C)  neither of these

Question 9

Pure elements can be transformed into entirely different elements by

Accepted Answer

A)  radioactive decay.
B)  transmutation.
C)  both of these
D)  neither of these

Question 10

Which of these will penetrate into lead?

Accepted Answer

A)  alpha particle
B)  beta particle
C)  gamma ray.
D)  all of the above

Question 11

The helium in a child's balloon is composed of

Accepted Answer

A)  former alpha-particle.
B)  former beta particles.
C)  both of these
D)  neither of these

Question 12

A magnetic field is applied to a cloud chamber for the purpose of

Accepted Answer

A)  attracting electrons.
B)  repelling electrons.
C)  attracting protons.
D)  all of the above
E)  none of the above

Question 13

When the hydrogen isotope tritium-3 emits a beta particle, it becomes an isotope of

Accepted Answer

A)  hydrogen.
B)  helium.
C)  lithium.
D)  carbon.
E)  none of the above

Question 14

Most of the radioactivity we personally encounter originates from

Accepted Answer

A)  fallout from testing of nuclear weapons.
B)  nuclear power plants.
C)  medical X-rays.
D)  the natural environment.

Question 15

The most harmful radiations are those that

Accepted Answer

A)  kill living cells.
B)  damage living cells.
C)  don't encounter cells.

Question 16

When the nucleus of an atom emits only a gamma ray, the atom's atomic number

Accepted Answer

A)  decreases.
B)  remains unchanged.
C)  increases.

Question 17

X-rays are similar to

Accepted Answer

A)  alpha rays.
B)  beta rays.
C)  gamma rays.
D)  all of the above
E)  none of the above

Question 18

When U-238 emits an alpha particle, the resulting nucleus has

Accepted Answer

A)  90 protons.
B)  91 protons.
C)  92 protons.
D)  93 protons.
E)  94 protons.

Question 19

A hydrogen atom that emits an alpha particle is a routine occurrence in

Accepted Answer

A)  the environment.
B)  laboratories.
C)  unlikely.
D)  impossible.

Question 20

X-rays may be correctly regarded as

Accepted Answer

A)  high frequency sound waves.
B)  high frequency radio waves.
C)  both of these
D)  none of these

Exam 33: Atomic Nucleus and Radioactivity

The helium in a child's balloon is composed of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of these will penetrate into lead?

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The most harmful radiations are those that

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A certain radioactive isotope placed near a Geiger counter registers 160 counts per minute. Eight hours later, the counter registers 10 counts per minute. What is the half-life of the isotope?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Electric forces within an atomic nucleus tend to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

When the nucleus of an atom emits only a gamma ray, the atom's atomic number

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A hydrogen atom that emits an alpha particle is a routine occurrence in

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

When U-238 emits an alpha particle, the resulting nucleus has

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Pure elements can be transformed into entirely different elements by

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A magnetic field is applied to a cloud chamber for the purpose of

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A sample of highly-radioactive material is somewhat

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For 1 gram of radioactive material that has a half-life of one year, after 4 years the original radioactive material left will be

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Artificially induced radioactive elements generally have

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Most of the radioactivity we personally encounter originates from

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The resulting atomic number of an element that emits 1 alpha particle, 1 positron, and 3 beta particles is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

X-rays are similar to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

When an element undergoes nuclear transmutation, the result is a completely different

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

X-rays may be correctly regarded as

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

When the hydrogen isotope tritium-3 emits a beta particle, it becomes an isotope of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The operation of a cloud chamber relies on

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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