Understanding Nuclear Physics

In the plum pudding model of the atom:a. What are the plums?b. What is the pudding?

• The plums are protons, and the pudding is the neutron cloud.
• The plums are the electrons, and the pudding is the positively charged medium.
• The plums are the nucleus, and the pudding is the electrons.
• The plums are the positrons, and the pudding is the dark matter.

In the alpha particle scattering experiment, explain what happened to alpha particles.

• Alpha particles are absorbed by the gold nucleus.
• Alpha particles travel in a straight line without any deflection.
• Alpha particles collide with electrons in the gold atom.
• Alpha particles are deflected or repelled when heading towards or passing close to a gold nucleus, while they pass through empty space with minimal interaction.

How did this experiment prove that the nucleus must be very small?

• The nucleus must be very small because only a few alpha particles were deflected, suggesting a concentrated mass.
• Deflection of alpha particles proves the nucleus is positively charged.
• Alpha particles were absorbed, indicating a large nucleus.
• The nucleus is large because it contains most of the atom's volume.

Describe what is meant by the term ‘background radiation’.

• Background radiation is only caused by human activities.
• Background radiation is a type of non-ionizing radiation that is harmful to health.
• Background radiation is the ionizing radiation that is always present in the environment from natural and artificial sources.
• Background radiation refers to radiation emitted solely from outer space.

Name three sources of natural background radiation and three sources of artificial background radiation.

• Geothermal energy
• Wind turbines
• Natural sources include cosmic rays, radon gas, and terrestrial sources; artificial sources include medical X-rays, nuclear power plants, and nuclear weapons fallout.
• Solar panels

Which type of natural background radiation are airline crews exposed to more than most people?

• Gamma radiation
• Ultraviolet radiation
• Cosmic radiation
• Radon exposure

Name the type of radiation which would not be deflected by the plates.

• Gamma radiation
• Neutrons
• Beta particles
• Alpha particles

Explain what you would see if the film inside the badge was developed if the wearer has been exposed to β radiation and γ radiation

• The film would remain completely clear for both types of radiation.
• The film would show bright spots for β radiation and dark spots for γ radiation.
• The film would only show darkening for γ radiation and no effect for β radiation.
• The film would show darkened areas for β radiation and a more uniform darkening for γ radiation.

Suggest a reason why the badge is not suitable for detecting exposure to α radiation.

• The badge is only effective in detecting γ radiation.
• The badge is designed specifically for detecting β radiation.
• The badge is not suitable for detecting α radiation because α particles cannot penetrate the badge material.
• α particles are too heavy to be detected by any badge.

What is the primary source of cosmic radiation that affects airline crews during flights?

• Solar flares

• Galactic cosmic rays

• Terrestrial radiation

• Radon gas