Practice Questions Nuclear Stability

Why can't protons alone form a stable nucleus?

• Because they attract each other too strongly

• Because they are neutral particles

• Because they repel each other due to like charges

• Because they do not interact with each other

What role do neutrons play in the nucleus?

• They repel protons and stabilize the nucleus

• They attract electrons to the nucleus

• They decrease the mass of the nucleus

• They balance the repulsive electrostatic forces among protons

According to strong-nuclear forces, what happens when any two particles are extremely close to each other?

• They do not interact

• They repel each other

• They attract each other

• They become neutral

What is the effect of adding neutrons to the nucleus?

• It helps in balancing the repulsive electrostatic forces among protons

• It makes the nucleus positively charged

• It causes the nucleus to break apart

• It makes the nucleus unstable

Why are neutrons required to stabilize the nucleus?

• Because they absorb excess energy and prevent nuclear decay

• Because they convert protons into electrons

• Because they provide the necessary energy for nuclear reactions

• Because they add the strong nuclear forces which balance electrostatic repulsive forces among the protons

What is the primary reason for the instability of nuclei with a high proton-to-neutron ratio?

• Increased electrostatic repulsive forces among protons

• Decreased strong nuclear forces

• Increased gravitational forces

• Decreased weak nuclear forces

How does the strong nuclear force compare to the electrostatic force at very short distances within the nucleus?

• It is much weaker

• It is slightly stronger

• It is significantly stronger

• It is of the same magnitude

What effect does the addition of neutrons have on the radius of the nucleus?

• It decreases the radius significantly

• It increases the radius slightly

• It has no effect on the radius

• It increases the radius significantly