1) Which of the following correctly balances this decay reaction?

a)
b)
c)
d)
2) Which of the following correctly balances this nuclear fission reaction?

a)
b)
c)
d)
3) Isotope A has a half-life measured in minutes, whereas isotope B has a half-life of millions of

6)

years. Which is more radioactive?

a) isotope A
b) isotope B
c) Both are equally dangerous.
d) It depends on the sample size.
The decay rate of a radioactive isotope can be increased by increasing the
a) temperature.
b) pressure.
c) size of the sample.
d) none of these.
The protons in a nucleus stay together due to the
a) electrostatic force of attraction.
b) nuclear force.
c) gravitational force.
d) binding force.
A measure of radiation that takes into account the possible biological damage produced by

7)

different types of radiation is called a

a) rem.
b) rad.
c) roentgen.
d) curie.
The radioactive isotope Z has a half-life of 12 hours. After 2 days, the fraction of the original

4)

5)

amount remaining is

a) .
b) .

c) 1/8.
d) 1/16.
8) The isotope
is most likely to emit
a) an alpha particle.

b) a beta particle.
c) a gamma ray.
d) It is not possible to predict.
9) When an isotope releases gamma radiation the atomic number
a) decreases by two and the mass number decreases by four.
b) increases by one and the mass number remains the same.
c) and the mass number decrease by one.
d) and the mass number remain the same.
10)
Which of the following would be attracted toward a positively charged sheet of metal?
a) alpha particle
b) beta particle
c) gamma ray
d) none of the above
11)
Which of the following would be attracted toward a negatively charged sheet of metal?
a) alpha particle
b) beta particle
c) gamma ray
d) none of the above
12)
The rate of radioactive decay is increased by
a) increased heat.
b) increased pressure.
c) the use of a nuclear catalyst.
d) none of the above.
13)
The emission of a beta particle from a nucleus results in
a) a decrease in the atomic number.
b) an increase in the atomic number.
c) no change in the atomic number.
d) none of the above.
14)
The emission of a gamma ray from a nucleus results in
a) a decrease in the atomic number.
b) an increase in the atomic number.
c) an increase or a decrease in the atomic number.
d) none of the above.
15)
After emission and moving 2 to 12 cm through the air an alpha particle most likely
becomes
a) an ordinary helium atom.
b) an electron.
c) increased energy in the impacted material.
d) none of the above.
16)
An element in a radioactive decay series will continue to disintegrate into various
radioactive elements until it becomes a stable isotope of
a) uranium.
b) lead.
c) bismuth.
d) lawrencium.
17)
The decay rate for a given number of nuclei of each radioactive isotope is observed to be
a) an identifying characteristic of that isotope.
b) specific for each radioactive element.
c) dependent on external conditions of temperature, pressure, and chemical state.
d) totally random and not dependent on any external condition.
18)
The mass of a given nucleus is always __ ? __ the sum of the masses of the individual
particles of which it is made.
a) less than

b) more than
c) the same as
d) sometimes less, sometimes more, but never the same as
19)
a)
b)
c)
d)
20)
a)
b)
c)
d)

When applied to E = mc2 the mass defect of a given nucleus is found to be the
energy released when the nucleus formed.
energy required to break the nucleus into individual particles.
same as the binding energy.
any of the above.
The nucleus of the greatest stability is found in the isotope of the element
aluminum.
iron.
hydrogen.
lead.