Physics Revision questions on Nuclear Physics for grade 11

1. Who is credited with the discovery of the electron?

A) Ernest Rutherford B) Niels Bohr C) J.J. Thomson D) James Chadwick

2. Which scientist is known for discovering the proton?

A) J.J. Thomson B) Ernest Rutherford C) Niels Bohr D) James Chadwick

3. Who discovered the neutron?

A) Ernest Rutherford B) Niels Bohr C) J.J. Thomson D) James Chadwick

4. Which model of the atom describes it as having a small, dense nucleus surrounded by
electrons?

A) Plum Pudding Model B) Rutherford Model

C) Bohr Model D) Quantum Mechanical Model

5. Which factor primarily determines the atomic radius of an element?

A) Number of protons B) Number of neutrons

C) Number of electrons D) The number of energy levels (shells)

6. The radius of an atomic nucleus is approximately proportional to which of the following?

A) Cube root of the atomic mass B) Square root of the atomic number
C) Cube root of the mass number D) Square root of the mass number

7. Isotopes of an element differ in their number of:

A) Protons B) Neutrons C) Electrons D) Energy levels

8. Who proposed the first atomic theory based on scientific principles in the early 19th century?

A) John Dalton B) Democritus C) Ernest Rutherford D) Niels Bohr

9. The alpha particle scattering experiment led to the discovery of:

A) Electrons B) Protons C) Neutrons D) Nucleus

1 Hayole Education Project By Getahun W. 2016 E.C.

10. Compared to a proton, the mass of a neutron is:

A) Slightly less B) Slightly more C) Exactly the same D) Twice as much

11. The atomic number of an element is determined by the number of:

A) Protons B) Neutrons C) Electrons D) Nucleons

12. The mass number of an atom is the sum of its:

A) Protons and electrons B) Neutrons and electrons

C) Protons and neutrons D) Protons, neutrons, and electrons

13. Which of the following is most likely true for stable isotopes of light elements?

A) The number of protons is much greater than the number of neutrons

B) The number of neutrons is much greater than the number of protons
C) The number of protons and neutrons is approximately equal
D) There are no stable isotopes for light elements

14. In Rutherford's gold foil experiment, most alpha particles passed through the foil with little
or no deflection. This observation suggested that:

A) Atoms are mostly empty space B) Electrons are scattered throughout the atom
C) The nucleus is very large and dense D) The nucleus contains electrons

15. Isotopes of an element have the same number of:

A) Protons but different number of neutrons B) Neutrons but different number of protons
C) Protons but different number of electrons D) Neutrons but different number of electrons

16. Isotones are nuclei that have:

A) The same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons

B) The same number of neutrons but different numbers of protons
C) Different numbers of protons and neutrons
D) The same atomic number but different mass numbers

17. Isobars are nuclei that have:

A) The same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons

B) The same number of neutrons but different numbers of protons
C) The same mass number but different atomic numbers
D) The same atomic number but different mass numbers

18. Which pair of atoms are isotopes of each other?

A) ¹²C and ¹²N B) ¹²C and ¹³C C) ¹²C and ¹²O D) ¹²C and ¹³N

2 Hayole Education Project By Getahun W. 2016 E.C.

19. Which of the following pairs are isobars?

A) ¹⁴C and ¹⁴N B) ¹²C and ¹²N C) ¹⁴C and ¹⁴O D) ¹²C and ¹³N

20. The chemical properties of isotopes of the same element are:

A) Identical B) Different C) Slightly different D) Unrelated

21. Isobars have the same:

A) Atomic number and identical physical properties

B) Atomic mass but different physical and chemical properties
C) Number of neutrons and identical chemical properties
D) Atomic number but different atomic masses

22. What is binding energy?

A) The energy required to split a nucleus into its constituent protons and neutrons.

B) The energy released when a nucleus is formed from protons and neutrons.

C) The energy required to remove an electron from an atom.

D) The energy of a photon emitted during radioactive decay.

23. Which of the following nuclei has the highest binding energy per nucleon?

A) Helium-4 B) Iron-56 C) Uranium-238 D) Carbon-12

24. The binding energy per nucleon is usually highest for nuclei with:

A) Low atomic mass numbers B) Intermediate atomic mass numbers

C) High atomic mass numbers D) No specific pattern

25. Which of the following particles is not typically emitted during radioactive decay?

A) Alpha particle B) Beta particle C) Neutron D) Gamma ray

26. In beta decay, a neutron decays into:

A) A proton and an alpha particle B) A proton, an electron, and an antineutrino

C) A proton, a positron, and a neutrino D) A proton and a gamma ray

27. The time it takes for half of a radioactive sample to decay is known as the:

A) Decay constant B) Half-life C) Mean life D) Activity

3 Hayole Education Project By Getahun W. 2016 E.C.

28. If a radioactive isotope has a half-life of 10 years, what fraction of the original isotope
remains after 30 years?

A) ½ B) 1/3 C) 1/8 D) 1/16

29. The half-life of a substance is 5 hours. If you start with 100 grams, how much will
remain after 20 hours?

A) 50 grams B) 25 grams C) 12.5 grams D) 6.25 grams

30. What is the primary reason for the high binding energy per nucleon in nuclei like

iron-56?

A) High number of protons B) Balanced ratio of protons to neutrons

C) High number of neutrons D) Low atomic number

31. Which of the following best explains why binding energy per nucleon initially increases
with atomic number but eventually decreases for very heavy nuclei?

A) Increasing Coulomb repulsion among protons B) Decreasing number of neutrons

C) Increase in electron shielding D) Change in nuclear spin states

32. How does the binding energy per nucleon relate to the stability of a nucleus?

A) Higher binding energy per nucleon implies less stability

B) Higher binding energy per nucleon implies greater stability

C) Binding energy per nucleon has no effect on stability

D) Lower binding energy per nucleon implies greater stability

33. The binding energy of a nucleus is 150 MeV and it has 30 nucleons. What is the binding
energy per nucleon?

A) 2 MeV B) 3 MeV C) 5 MeV D) 10 MeV

34. During alpha decay, the nucleus loses:

A) 2 protons and 2 electrons B) 2 protons and 2 neutrons

C) 2 neutrons and 2 electrons D) 2 electrons and 2 neutrinos

35. In gamma decay, the nucleus:

A) Emits an alpha particle B) Emits a beta particle C) Emits a photon D) Emits a neutron

4 Hayole Education Project By Getahun W. 2016 E.C.

36. Which type of radioactive decay involves the conversion of a proton into a neutron?

A) Alpha decay B) Beta-minus decay C) Beta-plus decay D) Gamma decay

37. A certain radioactive isotope decays to half its original amount in 2 days. How many
days will it take for only 1/8 of the original amount to remain?

A) 4 days B) 6 days C) 8 days D) 10 days

38. The half-life of a radioactive element is 4 minutes. Starting with 80 grams, how much
will remain after 12 minutes?

A) 40 grams B) 20 grams C) 10 grams D) 5 grams

39. If the decay constant of a radioactive substance is 0.1 per year, what is its half-life?

A) 0.1 year B) 0.693 year C) 1 year D) 6.93 years

40. Which type of radiation is the most penetrating?

A) Alpha particles B) Beta particles C) Gamma rays D) Neutrons

41. What particle is emitted during beta-minus decay?

A) Proton B) Neutron C) Electron D) Positron

42. The half-life of a radioactive substance is the time required for:

A) All of the substance to decay B) Half of the substance to decay

C) The substance to reach equilibrium D) The substance to lose its radioactivity completely

43. Which of the following is NOT a common type of radioactive decay?

A) Alpha decay B) Beta decay C) Gamma decay D) Delta decay

44. What is the main difference between beta-plus decay and beta-minus decay?

A) Beta-plus decay emits an electron, while beta-minus decay emits a positron.

B) Beta-plus decay emits a positron, while beta-minus decay emits an electron.

C) Beta-plus decay converts a neutron into a proton, while beta-minus decay converts a proton
into a neutron.

D) Beta-plus decay converts a proton into a neutron, while beta-minus decay converts a neutron
into a proton. E. B and D

5 Hayole Education Project By Getahun W. 2016 E.C.

45. If a radioactive substance has a half-life of 5 years, how much of a 20g sample will
remain after 15 years?

A) 10g B) 5g C) 2.5g D) 1.25g

46. In an alpha decay, the atomic number of the nucleus:

A) Increases by 2 B) Decreases by 2 C) Increases by 4 D) Decreases by 4

47. The time it takes for half the atoms in a radioactive sample to decay is called:

A) Decay constant B) Mean life C) Activity D) Half-life

48. Which of the following is a characteristic of gamma radiation?

A) It consists of high-energy protons. B) It has a mass number of 4.

C) It is not deflected by magnetic or electric fields.

D) It consists of helium nuclei.

49. What is the decay constant (λ) for a radioactive isotope with a half-life of 10 hours?

A) 0.0693 per hour B) 0.1 per hour C) 0.05 per hour D) 0.07 per hour

50. Which of the following statements is true about alpha particles?

A) They are electrons. B) They have no charge.

C) They are identical to helium nuclei. D) They are more penetrating than gamma rays.

51. What happens to the mass number and atomic number of a nucleus when it undergoes
beta-minus decay?

A) Mass number increases by 1, atomic number decreases by 1.

B) Mass number decreases by 1, atomic number increases by 1.

C) Mass number remains the same, atomic number increases by 1.

D) Mass number remains the same, atomic number decreases by 1.

6 Hayole Education Project By Getahun W. 2016 E.C.

52. Which of the following best describes the term 'radioactive decay?

A) The process by which a nucleus splits into two or more smaller nuclei.

B) The process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting radiation.

C) The process by which electrons are emitted from a metal surface.

D) The process by which atoms combine to form a more massive nucleus.

53. The activity of a radioactive sample is measured in:

A) Becquerels (Bq) B) Curies (Ci) C) Joules (J) D) Both A and B

54. What is the primary danger associated with alpha radiation?

A) It can penetrate deep into the body.

B) It can cause burns on the skin.

C) It can ionize atoms and molecules in living tissues if ingested or inhaled.

D) It can easily pass through most materials, causing widespread damage.

55. Which type of radiation is stopped by a sheet of paper?

A) Alpha particles B) Beta particles C) Gamma rays D) Neutrons

56. What is the relationship between half-life and the stability of a radioactive isotope?

A) The longer the half-life, the more stable the isotope.

B) The shorter the half-life, the more stable the isotope.

C) Half-life has no relation to stability.

D) Half-life and stability are inversely proportional.

57. In which type of decay is a neutrino emitted?

A) Alpha decay B) Beta decay C) Gamma decay D) Spontaneous fission

58. How much of a 40g sample of a radioactive isotope remains after 3 half-lives?

A) 20g B) 10g C) 5g D) 2.5g

59. What is the primary fuel used in nuclear reactors to produce energy?

A. Coal B. Uranium C. Natural Gas D. Wind

7 Hayole Education Project By Getahun W. 2016 E.C.

60. What is the process called where the nucleus of an atom splits into two or more smaller
nuclei, releasing energy?

A. Fusion B. Fission C. Combustion D. Photosynthesis

61. Which type of nuclear reactor is most commonly used around the world?

A. Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) B. Boiling Water Reactor (BWR)

C. Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) D. Heavy Water Reactor (HWR)

62. What is the main purpose of control rods in a nuclear reactor?

A. To speed up the reaction B. To absorb neutrons and control the fission process

C. To cool the reactor D. To provide fuel for the reaction

63. Which element is commonly used in nuclear fusion reactions?

A. Plutonium B. Uranium C. Deuterium D. Radon

64. What is a major advantage of nuclear energy?

A. It produces no radioactive waste B. It emits no greenhouse gases during operation

C. It is inexpensive to build nuclear power plants D. It relies on renewable resources

65. Which country is the largest producer of nuclear energy?

A. France B. China C. Russia D. United States

66. What is the function of a cooling system in a nuclear reactor?

A. To increase the temperature B. To slow down the fission process

C. To remove heat from the reactor core D. To prevent radiation leakage

67. What is the term for the long-term storage of nuclear waste?

A. Reprocessing B. Geologic Disposal C. Containment D. Decommissioning

68. Which of the following is a potential risk associated with nuclear energy?

A. Air pollution B. Greenhouse gas emissions C. Radioactive waste D. Deforestation

8 Hayole Education Project By Getahun W. 2016 E.C.

69. What is the primary use of Technetium-99m in medical applications?

A) Cancer treatment B) Diagnostic imaging

C) Sterilization of medical equipment D) Blood transfusion

70. Which of the following devices is commonly used to detect ionizing radiation?

A) Thermometer B) Geiger-Müller counter C) Barometer D) Voltmeter

71. What is the primary fuel used in nuclear fusion reactions in stars?

A) Uranium-235 B) Plutonium-239 C) Hydrogen isotopes D) Thorium-232

72. Which material is most effective at shielding against gamma radiation?

A) Plastic B) Wood C) Lead D) Aluminum

73. Which of the following elements is most likely to be stable?

A) Uranium-238 B) Carbon-12 C) Iodine-131 D) Radon-222

74. The strong nuclear force is responsible for which of the following?

A) Holding electrons in orbit around the nucleus B) Binding protons and neutrons in the nucleus

C) Causing radioactive decay D) Interacting with electromagnetic waves

75. If the radius R of a nucleus is given by the formula R=R0A1/3, where R0 is a constant and A is
the mass number, what happens to the radius if the mass number is increased by a factor of 8?

A) It remains the same B) It doubles

C) It increases by a factor of 4 D) It increases by a factor of 2

76. Which process primarily powers an atomic bomb?

A) Nuclear fusion B) Chemical reactions C) Nuclear fission D) Solar energy

77. A hydrogen bomb primarily relies on which type of nuclear reaction?

A) Fission B) Fusion C) Beta decay D) Gamma decay

78. What type of radiation is commonly used in radiotherapy to treat cancer?

A) Alpha particles B) Beta particles C) Gamma rays D) Neutrons

9 Hayole Education Project By Getahun W. 2016 E.C.

79. Which of the following is a scintillation detector most commonly used for?

A) Measuring temperature B) Detecting and measuring ionizing radiation

C) Calculating mass D) Measuring pressure

80. In nuclear fission, which of the following elements is commonly used as fuel in reactors?

A) Hydrogen B) Helium C) Uranium D) Carbon

81. Which of the following is NOT an effective way to protect against radiation exposure?

A) Increasing distance from the radiation source B) Using lead shielding

C) Wearing thick clothing D) Reducing exposure time

82. Which particles does the strong nuclear force act upon?

A) Protons and electrons B) Neutrons and electrons

C) Protons and neutrons D) Electrons and neutrinos

83. Given the nuclear radius formula R=R0A1/3, if R0 is approximately 1.2 fm (femtometers),
what is the radius of a nucleus with mass number 64?

A) 1.2 fm B) 2.4 fm C) 4.8 fm D) 9.6 fm

84. Which isotope of uranium is most commonly used in atomic bombs?

A) Uranium-234 B) Uranium-235 C) Uranium-238 D) Uranium-239

85. The fusion process in a hydrogen bomb primarily involves which isotopes of hydrogen?

A) Protium and deuterium B) Deuterium and tritium

C) Protium and tritium D) Deuterium and helium-3

86. A helium-4 nucleus (42He) has a mass of 4.0026 u. The mass of a proton is 1.0073 u and the
mass of a neutron is 1.0087 u. What is the binding energy per nucleon of helium-4? (1 u = 931.5
MeV/c2)

A. 7.07 MeV B. 4.48 MeV C. 28.3 MeV D. 20.5 MeV E. 6.84 MeV

10 Hayole Education Project By Getahun W. 2016 E.C.

87. The binding energy of a deuteron (21H) is 2.224 MeV. If the mass of a proton is 1.0073 u and
the mass of a neutron is 1.0087 u, what is the mass of the deuteron in atomic mass units (u)?

A. 2.0156 u B. 2.0141 u C. 2.0124 u D. 2.0103 u

88. If the binding energy per nucleon of iron-56 (5626Fe) is 8.8 MeV, what is the total binding
energy of an iron-56 nucleus?

A. 492.8 MeV B. 486.4 MeV C. 491.2 MeV D. 480.8 MeV

11 Hayole Education Project By Getahun W. 2016 E.C.