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Radioactive Decay

Total questions: 25

Worksheet time: 2hrs 31mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
If we start off with element 24X50 after an alpha decay we get another element Y that looks like
a)
22Y50
b)
22Y46
c)
20Y48
d)
26Y54
2.
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
3.

24094Pu —› ____ + 42He

a)

23692U

b)

24796Cm

c)

24493Np

d)

24295Am

4.

Gamma rays have

a)

no mass

b)

a huge mass

c)

a small mass

d)

an average mass

5.
Uranium-238  decays into  Thorium-234  by emitting .........
a)
an alpha particle
b)
a beta particle
c)
gamma rays
d)
visible light
6.

In the equation, 146C --> 147N + 0-1B, the _______ decay of radioactive carbon-14 results in the creation of a new nitrogen-14 atom.

a)

Gamma

b)

Beta

c)

Alpha

7.

What happens to an atom's mass when it undergoes alpha decay?

a)

increases by 2

b)

decreases by 2

c)

increases by 4

d)

decreases by 4

8.

What happens to an atom's atomic number when it undergoes alpha decay?

a)

decreases by 1

b)

decreases by 2

c)

increases by 1

d)

increases by 2

9.

In beta decay, a(n) ___________ is emitted.

a)

gamma ray

b)

electron

c)

neutron

d)

helium particle

10.

How many total protons and neutrons does an alpha particle (i.e. a helium atom) have?

a)

1

b)

2

c)

4

d)

8

11.

In alpha decay, a ________ particle breaks off of an atom.

a)

hydrogen

b)

helium

c)

carbon

d)

lithium

12.

When an atom undergoes gamma ray radiation, its atomic number...

a)

increases by 1

b)

decreases by 1

c)

decreases by 2

d)

does not change

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.
Has the symbol
a)
Alpha
b)
Beta
c)
Gamma
15.
Has the symbol
a)
Alpha
b)
Beta
c)
Gamma
16.
Has the symbol
a)
Alpha
b)
Beta 
c)
Gamma
17.
Solve this equation for beta decay.
614C = ___ + -10e
a)
410Be
b)
714N
c)
210He
d)
613C
18.
Solve this equation for alpha decay.
85209At = ___ + 24He
a)
83205Bi
b)
86209Rn
c)
81207Tl
d)
85208At
19.
Which type of nuclear radiation is being emitted here?
a)
Alpha
b)
beta
c)
gamma 
d)
none
20.

How is the alpha particle written in a nuclear equation?

a)

42He

b)

24He

c)

0-1e

d)

00γ

21.

AZX --> AZ-1Y + 0+1e

a)

alpha decay

b)

beta positive decay

c)

beta negative decay

d)

electron capture

e)

gamma decay

22.

AZX* --> AZX + 00 γ\gamma  

a)

alpha decay

b)

beta positive decay

c)

beta negative decay

d)

electron capture

e)

gamma decay

23.

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

a)

remains the same

b)

decreases by one.

c)

increases by one.

d)

increases by two.

24.
Radioactive materials have unstable...
a)
electrons
b)
protons
c)
nuclei
d)
neutrons
25.
In order of most to least penetrating radiation we have
a)
Alpha , Beta,  Gamma
b)
Beta , Gamma , Alpha
c)
Gamma, Beta, Alpha
d)
Gamma, Alpha, Beta