MCQs – Nuclear energy (set 1)

Binding energy is…

• the amount of energy required to break a nucleus apart into protons and neutrons.

• the amount of energy required to break a nucleus apart into protons and electrons.

• the amount of energy required to break a nucleus apart into electrons and neutrons.

• the amount of energy released when protons or neutrons change energy levels.

Some stars can convert helium nuclei into oxygen nuclei by nuclear fusion. The mass of a helium nucleus is 4.0026 u while the mass of an oxygen nucleus is 15.9994 u. How much energy is released per oxygen nucleus?

• 7.7 MeV

• 10 MeV

• 24 MeV

• 56 MeV

When nucleons form a stable nucleus, binding energy is:

• created from nothing

• destroyed into nothing.

• transformed into visible light.

• absorbed as high energy photons or particles.

• released as high energy photons or particles.

• fusion

• fission

• alpha decay

• beta decay

An isotope with a high binding energy per nucleon…

• will decay in a short period of time

• is very unstable

• is very stable

• has very few electrons

• has more protons than neutrons

• fusion

• fission

• alpha decay

• beta decay

When a nucleus is divided into its constituents, energy is:

• created from nothing

• destroyed into nothing

• transformed into visible light

• absorbed by the nucleus which then breaks it apart

• released by the nucleus as it breaks apart

The total number of free neutrons immediately after a fission reaction

• goes down

• goes up

• may increase or decrease

• must stay constant

• 39.2 MeV

• 28.2 MeV

• 17.3 MeV

• 1.46 MeV

• 10⁶ s

• 10⁸s

• 10¹² s

• 10²⁰ s