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GCSE Physics Quiz: Atomic Structure and Nuclear Physics

Total questions: 15

Worksheet time: 8mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is the radius of an atom approximately?

a)

1 × 10^-15 metres

b)

1 × 10^-5 metres

c)

1 × 10^-10 metres

d)

1 × 10^-20 metres

2.

What is the charge of the nucleus in an atom?

a)

Depends on the element

b)

Neutral

c)

Positively charged

d)

Negatively charged

3.

What is the name given to atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons?

a)

Molecules

b)

Compounds

c)

Isotopes

d)

Ions

4.

Which model of the atom suggested that atoms are tiny spheres that cannot be divided?

a)

Plum pudding model

b)

Nuclear model

c)

Original atomic model

d)

Bohr model

5.

What did the alpha particle scattering experiment conclude?

a)

Atoms are indivisible spheres

b)

The mass of an atom is concentrated at the nucleus

c)

Electrons are embedded in a positive sphere

d)

Electrons orbit the nucleus at random distances

6.

What is the process called when a nucleus emits radiation to become more stable?

a)

Ionisation

b)

Nuclear fusion

c)

Nuclear fission

d)

Radioactive decay

7.

Which type of radiation consists of two protons and two neutrons?

a)

Neutron

b)

Gamma ray

c)

Alpha particle

d)

Beta particle

8.

What is the unit of activity in radioactive decay?

a)

Electronvolt (eV)

b)

Millisievert (mSv)

c)

Becquerel (Bq)

d)

Sievert (Sv)

9.

What happens to the mass and charge of a nucleus during alpha decay?

a)

Mass remains constant, charge decreases

b)

Mass decreases, charge increases

c)

Mass decreases, charge decreases

d)

Mass increases, charge decreases

10.

What is the term for the time it takes for half the nuclei in a radioactive sample to decay?

a)

Half-life

b)

Radiation dose

c)

Activity rate

d)

Decay constant

11.

What is radioactive contamination?

a)

Emission of gamma rays

b)

Exposure to nuclear radiation

c)

Unwanted presence of radioactive atoms on materials

d)

Absorption of neutrons by a nucleus

12.

What is the process of exposing an object to nuclear radiation called?

a)

Contamination

b)

Irradiation

c)

Fusion

d)

Decay

13.

What is the splitting of a large and unstable nucleus called?

a)

Radioactive decay

b)

Nuclear fission

c)

Nuclear fusion

d)

Ionisation

14.

What is nuclear fusion?

a)

The joining of two light nuclei to form a heavier nucleus

b)

The absorption of neutrons by a nucleus

c)

The splitting of a nucleus

d)

The emission of radiation from a nucleus

15.

Which of the following is a natural source of background radiation?

a)

Nuclear weapons testing

b)

Nuclear accidents

c)

Cosmic rays from space

d)

Medical imaging