Nuclear Radioactivity Review

A major scientific concern over nuclear energy is how to

• deal with the large amounts of fossil fuels required.

• reduce the high levels of carbon dioxide emitted into the air.

• prevent the depletion of the ozone layer.

• store the waste products safely.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS3-4

NGSS.HS-ETS1-3

NGSS.HS-LS2-7

Uranium-238 undergoes radioactive decay according to the incomplete equation.

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Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Which of the following statements best describes a difference between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion reactions?

• Nuclei gain electrons during fission and release electrons during fusion.

• Fission forms heavier elements, and fusion forms lighter elements.

• Fission generates potential energy, and fusion generates kinetic energy.

• Nuclei split during fission and combine during fusion.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

In radiocarbon dating, carbon-14 undergoes decay to become nitrogen-14. What type of reaction is this?

• fusion

• alpha emission

• electron capture

• beta decay

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Which of the following statements describes a gamma ray?

• A gamma ray has no mass.

• A gamma ray has a positive charge.

• A gamma ray can be stopped by a sheet of paper.

• A gamma ray can be converted into a beta particle.

Bismuth-210 decays directly to polonium-210. Which of the following must be emitted during this radioactive decay?

• alpha particle

• beta particle

• neutron

• proton

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

A hospital buys a compound that contains an isotope of barium. Several months later, most of the barium has changed to the element lanthanum. Which of the following is responsible for this change?

• exposure to air

• reactions with the container wall

• radioactive decay

• absorption of moisture from the air

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Which of the following statements applies to a nuclear fission reaction?

• The reaction has no commercial applications.

• The reaction takes place only at very high temperatures.

• The reaction produces only short-lived radioactive waste.

• The reaction releases large amounts of energy when nuclei split apart.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

A radioactive source emits a beam containing alpha, beta, and gamma radiation. The beam passes between two charged plates before striking a detection screen. One plate is negatively charged and the other plate is positively charged, as shown in the diagram below. Which of the following tables indicates the location where each type of radiation will most likely strike the detection screen after passing between the charged plates?

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Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

NGSS.HS-PS3-5

Element X decays to element Y with a half-life of 5 years. After 15 years, how many half-lives have passed?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8