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Nuclear Decay

Total questions: 16

Worksheet time: 7mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
The process of nuclear change in an atom of radioactive material is called... 
a)
nuclear decay
b)
nuclear mass
c)
isotopes
d)
radon
2.
During beta decay, a nucleus .... 
a)
gives up two protons and two neutrons.
b)
  maintains the same number of protons and neutrons.
c)
  loses a proton and gains a neutron.
d)
gains a proton and loses a neutron. 
3.
Radioactive materials have unstable...
a)
electrons
b)
protons
c)
nuclei
d)
neutrons
4.
A helium nucleus with two protons and two neutrons is called a(n) ____.  
a)
alpha particle
b)
electroscope
c)
beta particle
d)
gamma ray
5.

Carbon-14 and carbon-12 have the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons. These different forms of the same element are called

a)

radioactive

b)

isotopes

c)

nuclei

d)

tracers

6.

The mass number of a nucleus is equal to ______.

a)

the number of protons plus the number of neutrons

b)

the number of electrons

c)

the number of protons

d)

the number of neutrons

7.

What type of nuclear decay is represented in this illustration?

a)

beta decay

b)

gamma radiation

c)

alpha decay

d)

nuclear fusion

8.

How does the alpha decay of a nucleus cause the nucleus to change?

a)

Only the number of protons decreases.

b)

Only the number of neutrons decreases.

c)

The number of neutrons and the number of protons decrease.

d)

The number of protons increases and the number of neutrons decreases.

9.

A neutron changes into a proton and an electron releasing this type of particle.

a)

alpha decay

b)

beta decay

c)

gamma decay

d)

all of the above

e)

alpha & beta decay

10.
A helium nucleus with two protons and two neutrons is called a(n) ____.  
a)
alpha particle
b)
electroscope
c)
beta particle
d)
gamma ray
11.
Which type of nuclear radiation is being emitted here?
a)
Alpha
b)
beta
c)
gamma 
d)
none
12.
Has the highest penetrating power.  Can penetrate our body.  Even several cm thick of lead or several meters thick of concrete cannot stop all of it.
a)
Alpha
b)
Beta
c)
Gamma
13.
Has the lowest penetrating power.  Can only penetrate 0.05 mm into the body and can be stopped by a piece of paper or clothing.
a)
Alpha
b)
Beta
c)
Gamma
14.
Uranium-238  decays into  Thorium-234  by emitting .........
a)
an alpha particle
b)
a beta particle
c)
gamma rays
d)
visible light
15.
This is an example of...
a)
Fission  reaction
b)
Fusion reaction
c)
Decomposition reaction
d)
Decay
16.
Which process involves the joining of small nuclei?
a)
Beta decay
b)
Alpha decay
c)
Nuclear fission
d)
Nuclear fusion