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Nuclear Decay

Total questions: 49

Worksheet time: 1hrs 24mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

After the nucleus of a radioactive element undergoes changes, the element can transform into ...

a)

  (a)  a different isotope of the same element.

b)

(b) an entirely different element.

c)

Both (a) and (b)

d)

Neither (a) nor (b)

2.

Alpha particles.....

a)

a) are positively charged.

b)

b) consist of two protons and four neutrons.

c)

c) can penetrate any thickness of matter

d)

d) All of the above 

3.

The process of nuclear change in an atom of radioactive material is called... 

a)

nuclear decay

b)

nuclear mass

c)

isotopes

d)

radon

4.

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. 

5.

When a nucleus undergoes nuclear decay by gamma rays, the atomic number of the element....

a)

remains the same

b)

  decreases by one.

c)

increases by one.

d)

increases by two.

6.

The process of the production of lighter nuclei from heavier nuclei is called

a)

mass energy

b)

magneticism

c)

fusion

d)

fission

7.

Radioactive materials have unstable...

a)

electrons

b)

protons

c)

nuclei

d)

neutrons

8.

The most penetrating type of radiation is the ____.  

a)

alpha particle

b)

gamma ray

c)

beta particle

d)

uranium

9.

A helium nucleus with two protons and two neutrons is called a(n) ____.  

a)

alpha particle

b)

electroscope

c)

beta particle

d)

gamma ray

10.

Negatively charged particles emitted from a nucleus at a high speed are ____.  

a)

alpha particle

b)

gamma rays

c)

beta particles

d)

X rays

11.

The three types of nuclear radiation in increasing order of penetrating power are ____.  

a)

  alpha, beta, gamma 

b)

X ray, beta, gamma

c)

alpha, gamma, beta 

d)

X ray, gamma, beta 

12.

For which of the following problems would a scientist most likely use carbon-14? 

a)

to calculate the age of the Earth's oldest rocks

b)

to calculate the age of a piece of bone 

c)

to identify the elements that make up a rock 

d)

to identify the elements that make up a bone

13.

Which force holds protons and neutrons together in the atom nucleus?

a)

electric force

b)

gravity

c)

strong nuclear force

d)

weak nuclear force

14.

Which of these is an alpha particle?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

15.

What type of nuclear decay is represented in this illustration?

a)

beta decay

b)

gamma radiation

c)

alpha decay

d)

nuclear fusion

16.

Which happens in a nucleus during gamma decay?

a)

The number of protons increases.

b)

The number of neutrons increases.

c)

The number of protons remains the same.

d)

The total number of neutrons plus neutrons decreases.

17.

Gamma rays _________.

a)

have no mass and no charge

b)

have mass but no charge

c)

have no mass but have charge

d)

have mass and charge

18.

Protons do not repel each other in the nucleus because of the ______.

a)

weak force

b)

electric force

c)

strong force

d)

gravitational force

19.

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.

20.

Which of these is a true statement about the products of the decay compared to polonium-210?

a)

The charges are equal but the mass numbers are not equal.

b)

The mass numbers are equal but the charges are not equal.

c)

The mass numbers and charges are equal.

d)

Neither the mass numbers nor the charges are equal.

21.

What type of nuclear decay is shown here

13756Ba →→ 13756Ba + γ rays

a)

alpha

b)

beta

c)

gamma

22.

Finish this equation

20983Bi--> _______ + 20581Tl

a)

42He

b)

0-1e

c)

y

23.

Identify the type of nuclear decay shown here

21483Bi 0-1e + 21484Po

a)

alpha

b)

beta

c)

gamma

24.

Identify the type of nuclear decay shown here

21483Bi 0-1e + 21484Po

a)

alpha

b)

beta

c)

gamma

25.

finish the equation


22688Ra --> ____ + 22688Ra

a)

42He

b)

0-1e

c)

y

26.

Has the symbol

a)

Alpha

b)

Beta 

c)

Gamma

d)

electron

27.

Has the symbol

a)

Alpha

b)

Beta

c)

Gamma

d)

neutron

28.

If we start off with element 5024X after an alpha decay we get another element Y that looks like

a)

5022Y

b)

 4622Y

c)

4820Y

d)

5426Y

29.

The splitting of a nucleus into smaller nuclei is

a)

fusion

b)

fission

c)

decay

d)

gamma radiation

30.

This happens naturally due to an unstable nucleus.

a)

fission

b)

fusion

c)

radioactive decay

d)

K-capture

31.

This is an example of...

a)

Chain reaction

b)

Fusion reaction

c)

Decomposition reaction

d)

Decay

32.

Where does fusion occur naturally?

a)

Underwater

b)

All around us

c)

In the radioactive waste

d)

On the sun

33.

Which of the following is true about nuclear fusion?

a)

It is easy to implement.

b)

It produces less energy than nuclear fission.

c)

It produces more energy than nuclear fission.

d)

It has the ability to occur easily in everyday life.

34.

Takes two small nuclei and combines them into a larger nucleus

a)

fission

b)

fusion

35.

In which process does a heavy nucleus split into two lighter nuclei?

a)

freezing

b)

condensation

c)

fission

d)

fusion

36.

What occurs in both fusion and fission reactions?

a)

Small amounts of energy are converted into large amounts of matter.

b)

Small amounts of matter are converted into large amounts of energy.

c)

Heavy nuclei are split into lighter nuclei.

d)

Light nuclei are combined into heavier nuclei.

37.

Which phrase describes a risk associated with producing energy in a nuclear power plant?

a)

depletion of atmospheric hydrogen

b)

depletion of atmospheric carbon dioxide

c)

production of wastes needing long-term storage

d)

production of wastes that cool surrounding water supplies

38.

Which reaction represents fusion?

a)
b)
c)
d)
39.

Which reaction represents fusion?

a)
b)
c)
d)
40.

Which reaction represents fission?

a)
b)
c)
d)
41.

The product of nuclear fission includes

a)

neutrons and electrons

b)

several nuclei and neutrons

c)

several nuclei and electrons

d)

several nuclei and protons

42.

Which of the following is true about nuclear fission?

a)

The mass of the product is greater than the mass of the original nucleus

b)

The mass of the product is less than that of the original nucleus

c)

The mass of the product is the same as the mass of the original nucleus

d)

The mass of the product is 100 times greater than the original nucleus

43.

The nuclear equation shown models which nuclear process?

a)

fusion

b)

fission

c)

beta decay

d)

gamma emission

44.

What nuclear process is shown in the picture?

a)

alpha decay

b)

gamma emission

c)

fusion

d)

fission

45.

Which nuclear process if shown in the picture?

a)

alpha decay

b)

beta decay

c)

fusion

d)

fission

46.

What is a benefit of nuclear fission?

a)

The ability to absorb energy

b)

The ability to release tremendous amounts of energy

c)

The ability to produce more energy than nuclear fusion

d)

There are no beneficial aspects of nuclear fission

47.

One disadvantage of nuclear energy produced through fission is ___.

a)

it is a fossil fuel

b)

it leaves behind radioactive waste

c)

it emits large amounts of pollution into the atmosphere

d)

there are no disadvantages

48.

Which of the following is NOT an example of nuclear fission?

a)

nuclear power plants

b)

the sun

c)

atomic bombs

49.

The nuclear equation shown models which nuclear process?

a)

fission

b)

fusion

c)

alpha decay

d)

beta decay