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Radioactivity

Total questions: 120

Worksheet time: 2hrs 50mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which particles are found in the nucleus of an atom?

a)

neutrons and protons only

b)

neutrons only

c)

protons and electrons only

d)

protons, electrons and neutrons

2.

An unstable nucleus has 145 neutrons and 92 protons. It emits a β-particle.

How many neutrons and protons does the nucleus have after emitting the β-particle?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

3.

Which type of radiation has the greatest ionising effect?

a)

α-particles

b)

β-particles

c)

γ-rays

d)

all have the same ionising effect

4.

The equation shows the decay of the nuclide X:


What are the values of P and Q ?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

5.

How many nucleons are in a nucleus of ?

a)

19

b)

20

c)

39

d)

58

6.

A radioactive nucleus R decays with the emission of a β-particle as shown:


Which equation is correct?

a)

x = p

b)

y = q

c)

p = x – 1

d)

q = y – 1

7.

Which line in the table describes the nature of an alpha-particle and a gamma-ray?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

8.

A radioactive source emits radiation that can pass through a sheet of paper but not through thick aluminium. What does this show about the radiation?

a)

It is alpha-particles.

b)

It is beta-particles.

c)

It is gamma-rays.

d)

It is a mixture of alpha-particles and gamma-rays

9.

Ra decays with a half-life of 1600 s.

Rn decays with a half-life of 52 s.

Po decays with a half-life of 9.1 s.

Pb decays with a half-life of 10.6 h.

The changing count rate for one of these radioactive nuclides is shown in the graph.

From the half-life shown by the graph, which was the decaying radioactive nuclide?

a)

Ra

b)

Rn

c)

Po

d)

Pb

10.

In nuclear ……1……, hydrogen nuclei ……2…… to form helium nuclei, releasing energy.

Which words correctly complete gaps 1 and 2?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

11.

A student investigates a radioactive source that emits only alpha-particles. Without any source

nearby, the detector shows a low reading. The source and thick cardboard are placed near the detector, as shown:


What is the reading on the detector now, and why?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

12.

The half-life of a radioisotope is 2400 years. The activity of a sample is 720 counts /s.

How long will it take for the activity to fall to 90 counts /s?

a)

300 years

b)

2400 years

c)

7200 years

d)

19 200 years

13.

What occurs in the decay of a radioactive nucleus?

a)

The nucleus absorbs another nucleus.

b)

The nucleus absorbs at least one form of radiation.

c)

The nucleus always splits into two equal fragments.

d)

The nucleus emits at least one form of radiation.

14.

A narrow beam of alpha-particles is fired at a thin piece of gold foil.

Which is the final direction of the largest number of alpha-particles?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

15.

Between 1909 and 1911, Geiger and Marsden carried out experiments in which alpha particles

were fired at metal foil. Most of the alpha particles passed through the foil with small deflections,

but some were deflected through a large angle.

These results suggest that

a)

atoms contain clouds of electrons through which some alpha particles cannot pass.

b)

atoms contain neutrons that alpha particles bounce off.

c)

atoms have positive and negative charges spread throughout their volume.

d)

atoms have positive charges concentrated in a small volume.

16.

A freshly made sample of radioactive material gives a count rate of 8000 counts per minute. After

20 days, it gives a count rate of 500 counts per minute.

What is the half-life of the material?

a)

4.0 days

b)

5.0 days

c)

20 days

d)

80 days

17.

A detector is used to measure the count-rate near a radioactive source. The reading is 4000

counts per minute. After 30 minutes the count-rate has fallen to 500 counts per minute.

What is the half-life of the radioactive source? You may ignore the effects of background

radiation.

a)

3 minutes

b)

5 minutes

c)

6 minutes

d)

10 minutes

18.

A radioactive isotope has a half-life of 2 minutes. What can be deduced from this statement?

a)

After 2 minutes, half of the isotope remains.

b)

After 1 minute, half of the isotope remains.

c)

After 4 minutes, half of the isotope remains.

d)

After 4 minutes, none of the isotope remains.

19.

Which line in the table describes the nature of an α-particle and of a γ-ray?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

20.

A Geiger counter detects radiation from radioactive sources.

A radioactive source is inside a thick aluminium container as shown:


Which type of radiation from this source is being detected?

a)

α-particles

b)

β-particles

c)

γ-rays

d)

radio waves

21.

Which radiation penetrates through aluminium?

a)

Alpha

b)

Beta

c)

Gamma

22.

Which radiation is most strongly ionising (large charge)?

a)

Alpha

b)

Beta

c)

Gamma

23.

Which radiation is two neutrons and two protons?

a)

Alpha

b)

Beta

c)

Gamma

24.

Which radiation is high energy electromagnetic radiation?

a)

Alpha

b)

Beta

c)

Gamma

25.

Which radiation is basically an electron?

a)

Alpha

b)

Beta

c)

Gamma

26.

Which radiation has no mass at all?

a)

Alpha

b)

Beta

c)

Gamma

27.

Which radiation needs thick concrete to stop it completely?

a)

Alpha

b)

Beta

c)

Gamma

28.

Which radiation is like helium nuclei?

a)

Alpha

b)

Beta

c)

Gamma

29.

Which radiation is often used in smoke detectors?

a)

Alpha

b)

Beta

c)

Gamma

30.

Which radiation can be used to measure the thickness of paper?

a)

Alpha

b)

Beta

c)

Gamma

31.

Which radiation can be used to treat some types of cancer?

a)

Alpha

b)

Beta

c)

Gamma

32.

Which radiation is strongly deflected by an electric (or magnetic) field?

a)

Alpha

b)

Beta

c)

Gamma

33.

Which radiation is no deflected by an electric or magnetic field?

a)

Alpha

b)

Beta

c)

Gamma

34.

Which radiation is weakly ionising?

a)

Alpha

b)

Beta

c)

Gamma

35.

Which radiation is stopped by thin aluminium?

a)

Alpha

b)

Beta

c)

Gamma

36.

Which radiation is stopped by a few centimetres of air?

a)

Alpha

b)

Beta

c)

Gamma

37.

The nucleus of an atom consists of which particles?

a)

neutrons

b)

protons and neutrons

c)

neutrons and electrons

d)

protons and electrons

38.

What does the atomic number of an atom represent?

a)

the number of protons in the atom

b)

the number of electrons in the atom

c)

the number of protons and neutrons in the atom

d)

the total number of subatomic particles in the atom

39.

The atom has an overall charge of zero. If electrons are removed from the atom what will the overall charge now be?

a)

Positive

b)

Negative

c)

Neutral

d)

There is not enough information

40.

Ionising radiation is emitted from unstable nuclei. What does the term ionisation mean?

a)

Ionisation is the loss or gain of electrons.

b)

Ionisation is an atom of the same element with more neutrons.

c)

Ionisation is the gaining of protons.

d)

Ionisation is the gaining of both protons and neutrons.

41.

Which of the following is an isotope of carbon?

a)

b)

c)

d)

42.

There are three main types of ionising radiation. What are they?

a)

alpha, bravo, delta

b)

alpha, beta and gamma

c)

alpha, beta and phi

d)

protons, alpha and gamma

43.

Alpha radiation consists of which particles?

a)

two protons and two electrons

b)

two protons and two neutrons

c)

an electron

d)

a proton

44.

Which of the following are properties of alpha radiation?

a)

short range in air

b)

slow moving particle

c)

has a +2 relative charge

d)

all of the above

45.

Which of the following is not a property of beta radiation?

a)

has a −1 relative charge

b)

fast moving particle

c)

can penetrate a thick lead sheet

d)

lightweight particle

46.

thorium atom has undergone decay.

Which missing numbers do x and y represent?

a)

x is 90, y is +1

b)

x is 90, y is −1

c)

x is 91, y is +1

d)

x is 91, y is −1

47.

Uranium undergoes radioactive decay.

What type of decay has it undergone?

a)

Gamma

b)

Beta

c)

Alpha

d)

No decay has occurred

48.

A Cobalt-60 undergoes beta decay. What would the daughter nuclei of this decay be?

a)

b)

c)

d)

49.

Which of the following materials can block gamma radiation?

a)

paper

b)

2 m of air

c)

thin aluminium sheet

d)

very thick lead sheet

50.

A Radium-222 atom undergoes alpha decay. What would be the daughter nuclei of this decay?

a)
b)
c)
d)
51.

What is the role of the control rods in a nuclear reactor?

a)

Absorb Gamma Radiation

b)

Release Alpha Particles

c)

Fuse Unstable Nuclei

d)

Absorb Neutrons

52.
Very high temperature and pressure required
a)
Fission
b)
 Fusion
c)
Radioactive Decay
53.
Hydrogen is the primary fuel
a)
Fission
b)
Fusion
c)
Radioactive Decay
54.

___________ starts the fission of a uranium atom.

a)

Energy

b)

Protons

c)

One Neutron

d)

All of the above

55.

What is the major drawback to fission power?

a)

Radioactive Waste

b)

CO2 Emissions

c)

SO2 Emissions

d)

All of the Above

56.

__________________ is the process in which two or more smaller nuclei combine to create a larger, more stable nuclei.

a)

Nuclear Decay

b)

Nuclear Fission

c)

Nuclear Fusion

d)

None of the above

57.

Identify the type of nuclear decay shown here

21483Bi → 0-1e + 21484Po

a)

alpha

b)

beta

c)

gamma

58.

After 4 half-lives, 1g of a sample of Krypton-85 is left. What was the original mass of the sample?

a)

16g

b)

32g

c)

0.0625g

d)

4g

59.

What type of decay is shown here

23892U ---> 23490Th + 42He.

a)

alpha

b)

beta

c)

gamma

60.

The centre of an atom is called

a)

the electron

b)

the proton

c)

the nucleus

d)

the neutron

61.

What stops beta radiation

a)

Paper

b)

Air

c)

Glass

d)

Aluminium 3mm or thicker

62.

Which is an alpha particle

a)

Fast moving electron

b)

4 2 He nuclei

c)

fast moving positron

d)

EM wave

63.

What is half life

a)

Time taken for a radioactive atom to decay be 1/4

b)

Time taken for a radioactive atom to decay by 1/3

c)

Time taken for a radioactive atom to decay by 1/2

d)

Time taken for a radioactive atom to decay by 1/5

64.

A scientist counts radioactivity as 120 counts per minute. The background count is 10 counts per minute. Which value should be recorded

a)

12 counts per minute

b)

110 counts per minute

c)

130 counts per minute

d)

1200 counts per minute

65.

What is an isotope

a)

An atom with the same number of neutrons different number of protons

b)

An atom that has lost or gained an electron

c)

An atom with the same number of protons, different number of neutrons

d)

An atom with the same number of electrons and different neutrons

66.

Which particle has a negative charge

a)

Alpha

b)

Electron

c)

Proton

d)

Neutron

67.

Geiger counters and film badges are used to detect _____.

a)

carbon monoxide

b)

excessive smoke

c)

nuclear radiation

d)

polution in the air

68.

True or False: One potential danger of radon gas is that prolonged exposure to it can lead to lung cancer.

a)

true

b)

false

69.

Why does nuclear radiation sometimes damage cells?

a)

it dries cells out

b)

it strengthens chemical bonds

c)

it ionizes atoms

70.

A(n) _____ is a penetrating ray of energy emitted by an unstable nucleus.

a)

alpha particle

b)

gamma ray

c)

beta particle

d)

delta particle

71.

Which events take place during beta decay?

a)

a protein decomposes into a neutron and an electron

b)

a neutron decomposes into a proton and an electron

c)

an electron is emitted from the nucleus

72.

Which groups of particles make up an alpha particle?

a)

two electrons

b)

two protons

c)

two neutrons

d)

no electrons, protons, or neutrons

73.

The following are common types of nuclear radiation:

a)

x-rays

b)

gamma rays

c)

delta rays

d)

beta particles

74.

The process in which an unstable atomic nucleus emits charged particles and energy.

a)

radioisotope

b)

energy level

c)

radioactivity

d)

energy charging

75.

How can nuclear radiation be detected?

a)

Geiger counters

b)

home radiation detectors

c)

masks with filters

d)

film badges

76.

What are three effects of nuclear radiation?

a)

ionizes atoms

b)

molecules change

c)

stabilizes the nucleus

d)

cellular function breaks down

77.

What are three types of nuclear radiation?

a)

alpha

b)

beta

c)

gamma

d)

delta

78.

_____ is when the composition of a radioisotope changes.

a)

ions

b)

isomers

c)

nuclear decay

d)

Geiger counters

79.

A radioisotope is any atom that contains an unstable _____.

a)

energy level

b)

nucleus

c)

orbital

d)

electron

80.
When the nuclei of certain isotopes (atoms) are unstable and spontaneously decompose, this is called ________________.
a)
radioactive
b)
a melt down
c)
ionization
d)
half-life
81.
What product does a nuclear power plant produce for its customers?
a)
electricity
b)
a turbine
c)
hot water
d)
steam
82.
Takes two small nuclei and combines them into a larger nucleus
a)
fission
b)
fusion
83.
The splitting of a nucleus into smaller nuclei is
a)
fusion
b)
fission
c)
decay
d)
gamma radiation
84.
If the half-life of uranium-232 is 70 years, how many half-lives will it take for 10 g of it to be reduced to 1.25 g?
a)
1 half-life
b)
2 half-lives
c)
3 half-lives
d)
4 half-lives
85.
The half-life of strontium-90 is 25 years. How much strontium-90 will remain after 100 years if the initial amount is 4.0 g?
a)
3.0g
b)
0.25mg
c)
0.3g
d)
0.25g
86.
What is Half-life?
a)
The amount of time it takes for some of the nuclei in a sample of the isotope to decay
b)
The amount of time it takes for half the electrons in a sample of the isotope to decay
c)
The amount of time it takes for half the nuclei in a sample of the isotope to decay
d)
the amount of time it takes to double the nuclei in a sample of the isotope to decay
87.
What is the half-life of iodine-131?
a)
32 days
b)
8 days
c)
16 days
d)
24 days
88.
Which type of radioactive decay is occurring in this equation? 
a)
Alpha decay
b)
beta decay
c)
gamma decay
d)
positron emission
89.
Which type(s) of radiation would be affected by a magnet?
a)
alpha only
b)
beta only
c)
alpha and beta
d)
gamma only
90.
Name the instrument used to detect radioactivity.
a)
voltmeter
b)
ohmeter
c)
seismograph
d)
geiger counter
91.

What particle is released when an unstable isotope undergoes alpha radiation?

a)

a helium nucleus

b)

an electron

c)

a photon of light

d)

a neutron

92.

Which type of radiation releases an electron?

a)

Alpha radiation

b)

Beta radiation

c)

Gamma radiation

d)

Theta radiation

93.
Negatively charged particles emitted from a nucleus at a high speed are ____ .
a)
protons
b)
neutrons
c)
electrons
d)
protons and neutrons
94.
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
95.
_______________ is the process by which unstable atoms emit radiation until they become stable.
a)
Radiation
b)
Chemical Reaction
c)
Radioactive Decay
d)
Isotopes
96.
What makes something radioactive?
a)
elements with an atomic number above 81
b)
an unstable nucleus
c)
contaminated sewage
d)
It decays over time
97.

A radioactive nuclide has a ____ stable nucleus than a non-radioactive nucleus of the same element.

a)

more

b)

less

c)

identical

d)

small

98.

An isotope of an element has the same number of _________, but a different number of _________.

a)

Protons, electrons

b)

Protons, neutrons

c)

Electrons, neutrons

d)

Neutrons, protons

99.
An element with a mass number of 11 and an atomic number of 5 has how many neutrons?
a)
11
b)
5
c)
6
d)
16
100.
What is the number of protons that the element in this image contain?
a)
14
b)
7
c)
15
d)
18
101.
Which particles make up the nucleus of an atom?
a)
protons and neutrons
b)
electrons and protons
c)
electrons, protons, and neutrons
d)
electrons and neutrons
102.
This particle determines what element you have - the elements identity.
a)
electron
b)
proton
c)
neutron
d)
valence shell
103.
This is an example of ---
a)
Radioactive Decay
b)
Nuclear Fission
c)
Nuclear Fusion
d)
Fossil fuel reaction
104.
Solve this equation for beta decay.
2760Co = ___ + -10e
a)
2556Mn
b)
2860Ni
c)
2358V
d)
2759Co
105.
The splitting of a nucleus into smaller nuclei is
a)
fusion
b)
fission
c)
decay
d)
gamma radiation
106.
This is an example of...
a)
Fission  reaction
b)
Fusion reaction
c)
Decomposition reaction
d)
Decay
107.
Two or more nuclei combine to form one larger nucleus in the process of nuclear _____.
a)
Fusion
b)
Fission
c)
Tracing
d)
Decay
108.
What is the symbol for an alpha particle?
a)
42He
b)
0-1e
c)
0+1 e
d)
10n
109.
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 
110.
In the symbol 20682Pb what does 206 stand for?
a)
Mass number
b)
Atomic number
c)
Atomic mass
d)
Number of protons
111.

Identify the missing substance in each of the following nuclear reaction.

_____→13756 Ba + 0−1 e

a)

13755Ba

b)

13757La

c)

13856Ba

d)

13755Cs

112.
Solve this equation for alpha decay.
85209At = ___ + 24He
a)
83205Bi
b)
86209Rn
c)
81207Tl
d)
85208At
113.
The most dangerous type of radiation is the ____. 
a)
alpha particle
b)
gamma ray
c)
beta particle
d)
uranium
114.

Finish this equation

20983Bi--> _______ + 20581Tl

a)

42He

b)

0-1e

c)

y

115.
The type of radioactive particle that can be stopped by a sheet of paper is the ____.
a)
alpha particle
b)
beta particle
c)
gamma ray
d)
uranium
116.
The half-life of strontium-90 is 25 years. How much strontium-90 will remain after 100 years if the initial amount is 4.0 g?
a)
3.0g
b)
0.25mg
c)
0.3g
d)
0.25g
117.
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.
118.
After 4 half-lives, 1g of a sample of Krypton-85 remains unchanged.  What was the original mass of the sample?
a)
16g
b)
32g
c)
0.0625g
d)
4g
119.
What is Half-life?
a)
The amount of time it takes for some of the nuclei in a sample of the isotope to decay
b)
The amount of time it takes for half the electrons in a sample of the isotope to decay
c)
The amount of time it takes for half the nuclei in a sample of the isotope to decay
d)
the amount of time it takes to double the nuclei in a sample of the isotope to decay
120.

When nuclei decay, massive amounts of __________ is released.

a)

energy

b)

electrons

c)

protons

d)

neutrons

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