Level 1

MCQ
1. Which of the following particles are constituents of the nucleus
(a) Protons and electrons (b) Protons and neutrons
(c) Neutrons and electrons (d) Neutrons and positrons
2. The particles which can be added to the nucleus of an atom without changing its
chemical properties are called
(a) Electrons (b) Protons (c)Neutrons (d) None of the above
3. The neutron was discovered by
(a) Marie Curie (b) Pierre Curie (c)James Chadwick (d) Rutherford
4. The mass number of a nucleus is
(a) Always less than its atomic number
(b) Always more than its atomic number
(c) Always equal to its atomic number
(d) Sometimes more than and sometimes equal to its atomic number
5. The energy equivalent of 1 kilogram of matter is about
(a) 10 −15 J (b) 1 J (c) 10 −12 J (d) 10 17 J
6. Nuclear binding energy is equivalent to
(a) Mass of proton (b) Mass of neutron (c) Mass of nucleus (d) Mass
defect of nucleus
7. If the binding energy of the deutrium is 2.23 MeV. The mass defect given in a.m.u.
is
(a) – 0.0024 (b) – 0.0012 (c)0.0012 (d) 0.0024
8. Which of the following has the mass closest in value to that of the positron

(a) Proton (b) Electron (c)Photon (d) Neutrino

9. Size of nucleus is of the order of
(a) 10 −10 m (b) 10 −15 m (c) 10 −12 m (d) 10 −19 m
10. For effective nuclear forces, the distance should be
(a) 10 −10 m (b) 10 −13 m (c) 10 −15 m (d) 10 −20 m
11. The mass defect for the nucleus of helium is 0.0303 a.m.u. What is the binding
energy per nucleon for helium in MeV
(a) 28 (b) 7 (c) 4 (d) 1
12. Atomic power station at Tarapore has a generating capacity of 200 MW. The energy
generated in a day by this station is
(a) 200 MW (b) 200 J (c) 4800  10 6 J (d) 1728  10 10 J
13. Which of the following pairs is an isobar
(a) 1 H 1 and 1 H 2 (b) 1 H 2 and 1 H 3 (c) 6 C 12 and 6 C 13 (d) 15 P and 14 Si
30 30

14. The function of the control rods in nuclear reactor is

(a) Absorb neutrons (b) Accelerate neutrons
(c) Slow down neutrons(d) No effect on neutrons
15. Complete the reaction n +92235
U → 144
56 Ba + .... + 3n

(a) 89
36 Kr (b) 90
36 Kr (c) 91
36 Kr (d) 92
36 Kr

16. Heavy water is ………….

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 (a) Water, in which soap does not lather (b) Compound of heavy oxygen
and heavy hydrogen
(c) Compound of deuterium and oxygen (d) Water at 4°C

17. The tritium which is the isotope of hydrogen contains

(a)One proton, one neutrons (b)One proton, two neutrons
(c)Two protons, one neutrons (d)None
18. The force between a neutron and a proton inside the nucleus is
(a) Only nuclear attractive (b) Only Coulomb force
(c) Both of the above (d) None of these
19. “Mass density” of nucleus varies with its mass number A as
(a) A 2 (b) A (c) A 0 (d) 1/A
20. The mass defect in a particular nuclear reaction is 0.3 gm. The amount of
energy liberated in kilowatt hours is (Velocity of light = 3  108m/s)

(a) 1.5  10 6 (b) 2.5  10 6 (c) 3  10 6 (d) 7.5  10 6

Level 2

1. The mass defect for the nucleus of helium is 0.0303 a.m.u. What is the binding
energy per nucleon for helium in MeV
(a) 28 (b) 7 (c) 4 (d) 1
2. Atomic power station at Tarapore has a generating capacity of 200 MW. The energy
generated in a day by this station is
(a) 200 MW (b) 200 J (c) 4800  10 6 J (d) 1728  10 10 J
3. One microgram of matter converted into energy will give
(a) 90 J (b) 9  10 3 J (c) 9  10 10 J (d) 9  10 5 J
4. Mn and Mp represent the mass of neutron and proton respectively. An element
having mass M has N neutron and Z-protons, then the correct relation will be
(a) M < {N. Mn + Z. Mp} (b) M > {N. Mn + Z. Mp}
(c) M = {N. Mn + Z. Mp} (d) M = N {Mn + Mp}
5. The binding energy of deuteron 12 H is 1.112 MeV per nucleon and an  − particle 42 He
has a binding energy of 7.047 MeV per nucleon. Then in the fusion reaction
1 H +1 H →2 He + Q , the energy Q released is
2 2 4

(a) 1 MeV (b) 11.9 MeV (c)23.8 MeV (d) 931 MeV
6. Binding energy of a nucleus is
(a) Energy given to its nucleus during its formation
(b) Total mass of nucleus converted to energy units
(c) Loss of energy from the nucleus during its formation
(d) Total K.E. and P.E. of the nucleons in the nucleus
7. One requires energy E n to remove a nucleon from a nucleus and an energy ' Ee ' to
remove an electron from the orbit of an atom. Then
(a) En = Ee (b) En  Ee (c) En  Ee (d) En  E e
8. The binding energy of nucleus is a measure of its
(a) Charge (b) Mass (c) Momentum (d) Stability
9. The binding energies per nucleon for a deuteron and an  − particle arex1 and x2
respectively. What will be the energy Q released in the reaction 1 H 2 +1 H 2 →2 He 4 + Q
(a) 4 (x 1 + x 2 ) (b) 4 (x 2 − x 1 ) (c) 2(x 1 + x 2 ) (d) 2(x 2 − x 1 )

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10. The masses of neutron and proton are 1.0087 a.m.u. and 1.0073 a.m.u.
respectively. If the neutrons and protons combine to form a helium nucleus (alpha
particles) of mass 4.0015 a.m.u. The binding energy of the helium nucleus will be
(1 a.m.u.= 931 MeV)
(a) 28.4 MeV (b) 20.8 MeV (c)27.3 MeV (d) 14.2 MeV

LEVEL 3
1. A heavy nucleus at rest breaks into two fragments which fly off with velocities in the
ratio 8 : 1. The ratio of radii of the fragments is

(a)1 : 2 (b)1 : 4 (c) 4 : 1 (d) 2 : 1

2. 1 g of hydrogen is converted into 0.993 g of helium in a thermonuclear reaction. The
energy released is

(a) 63  107 J (b) 63  1010 J (c)63  1014 J (d) 63  1020 J

3. The binding energy per nucleon of O16 is 7.97 MeV and that of O17 is 7.75 MeV. The
energy (in MeV) required to remove a neutron from O17 is
(a) 3.52 (b) 3.64 (c)4.23 (d)7.86
4. The average binding energy per nucleon in the nucleus of an atom is approximately

(a) 8 eV (b) 8 KeV (c) 8 MeV (d) 8 J

5. Binding energy per nucleon plot against the mass number for stable nuclei is
shown
in the figure. Which curve is correct D

Binding energy
per nucleon
(a) A(b) B B

(c) C(d) D
C
6. In the following reaction 12 Mg 24 + 2 He 4 → 14 Si x + 0 n 1 x is A

(a) 28 (b) 27 (c)26 (d) 22 Mass number

7. In the carbon cycle of fusion

(a) Four 1 H 1 fuse to form 2 He

4
and two positrons b) Four 1H
1
fuse to form 2 He
4
and
two electrons
(c) Two 1 H 2 fuse to form 2 He
4
(d) Four 1H
2
fuse to form 2 He
4
and two positrons
8. In atom bomb the reaction which occurs is
(a)Fusion (b)Controlled fission (c)Uncontrolled fission (d)Thermonuclear
9. 64
Two Cu nuclei touch each other. The electrostatics repulsive energy of the
system
will be
(a) 0.788 MeV (b) 7.88 MeV (c) 126.15 MeV (d) 788 MeV

LEVEL 1
short answer type (2 MARKS)
1) Define Atomic Number and Mass Number.
2) What is nuclear fission, and provide an example of a fission reaction?
3) Explain the concept of binding energy per nucleon and its significance.
4) What are isotopes? Give two examples.

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 5)Two nuclei have mass number in the ratio 1 : 3. What is the ratio of their
nuclear densities?

LEVEL 2
short answer type ( 2 MARKS )
1) Calculate the energy equivalent of 1amu in MeV.
2) Distinguish between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.
3) State the necessary condition for nuclear fission.
4)Define atomic mass unit.
5) Write the number of proton and neutron in 56Ba144.
6)Two nuclei have mass number 3:9 what is their nuclear density ratio.
LEVEL 3
short answer type ( 2 MARKS )
1) When 92 U 235 undergoes fission. 0.1% of its original mass is changed into
energy. How much energy is released if 1 kg of 92 U 235 undergoes fission?

Level -1
Short answer type (3 MARKS)
1) Write any three characteristic properties of nuclear force.
2) Show that the nuclear density is independent of mass number.
3) Plot a graph showing the variation of potential energy of a pair of nucleons as
a function of their separation. Write its two characteristic properties.
LEVEL 2
Short answer type (3 MARKS)
1) The sun radiates energy in all directions. The average radiations received on the
earth surface from the sun is 1.4 kilowatt / m 2 .The average earth- sun distance is
. Find the mass lost by the sun per day.
1.5  10 11 metres
(1 day = 86400 seconds)
Level 3
1) Calculate the energy released in MeV in the following nuclear reaction:

Level -1
Long answer type ( 5 MARKS)
1) Using the curve for the binding energy per nucleon as a function of mass
number A, state clearly how the release of energy in the processes of nuclear fission
and nuclear fusion can be explained.
2) Calculate binding energy per nucleon of 209Bi83 nucleus. Given that mass of
209Bi83 = 55.934939u, mass of proton = 1.007825u, mass of neutron = 1.0086 MeV665
u and 1 u = 931 MeV.

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 Level -2
Long answer type(5 MARKS)
1)a) Suppose, we think of fission of a 56Fe26 nucleus into two equal fragments,
28Al13. Is the fission energetically possible? mass of 56Fe26 = 55.934939u, mass of
28Al13 = 55.934939u
b) How is the size of a nucleus experimentally determined? Write the relation between
the radius and mass number of the nucleus is independent of its mass number
Level -3
Long answer type(5 MARKS)
1) A star initially has 10 40 deuterons. It produces energy via the processes
2
1H + 1 H 2 →1 H 3 + p
2
1H + 1 H 3 → 2 He 4 + n
The masses of the nuclei are as follows :
M(H 2 ) = 2.014 amu ; M(p) = 1.007 amu ;
M(n) = 1.008 amu ; M(He 4 ) = 4.001 amu
If the average power radiated by the star is 10 16 W ,the deuteron supply of the star is
exhausted then find the order of time

NUMERICAL
Level 1
1) If the binding energy per nucleon in 3Li7and 2He4 nuclei are 5.60 MeV and 7.06 MeV
respectively, then in the reaction
p + 3Li7 → 2 2He4 calculate energy of proton

Level 2
1) An unstable heavy nucleus at rest breaks into two nuclei which move away with
velocities in the ratio of 8: 27. Find The ratio of the radii of the nuclei (assumed to be
spherical)
Level 3
1) In the nuclear fusion reaction 2
1H +13 H →42 He + n, given that the repulsive potential
energy between the two nuclei is − 7.7  10 −14 J , the temperature at which the gases must
be heated to initiate the reaction [Boltzmann’s constant k = 1.38  10 −23 J /K ]

Case Based
Stability of Nucleus
-Neutrons and protons are identical particle in the sense that their masses are nearly
the same and they are bounded with the force, called nuclear force. Nuclear force is the
strongest force. Stability of nucleus is determined by binding energy per nucleon or the
neutron proton ratio or packing fraction. Density of nucleus independent on the mass
number. Whole mass of the atom (nearly99%) is present at the nucleus

1. The force between a neutron and a proton inside the nucleus is

(a) Only nuclear attractive (b)Only Coulomb force
(c) Both of the above (d)None of these

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2. Outside a nucleus
(a)Neutron is stable (b)Proton and neutron both are stable
(c) Neutron is unstable (d)Neither neutron nor proton is stable
3. Nuclear force is
(a) Short range and charge dependent (b)Short range and charge independent
(c) Long range and charge independent (d) Long range like electrostatic type
4. If Fpp , Fpm and Fnn are the magnitudes of net force between proton-proton, proton-
neutron and neutron-neutron respectively, then
(a) Fpp = Fpn = Fnn (b) Fpp  Fpn = Fnn
(c) Fpp  Fpn  Fnn (d) Fpp  Fpn  Fnn

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 Self Assessment
MCQ
1) If in a nuclear fusion process the masses of the fusing nuclei be m1 and m2 and the
mass of the resultant nucleus be m 3 , then
(a) m3 = m1 + m 2 (b) m 3 = | m1 + m 2 | (c) m3  (m1 + m 2 ) (d) m 3  (m1 + m 2 )

2) The curve of binding energy per nucleon as a function of atomic mass number has
a sharp peak for helium nucleus. This implies that helium
(a) Can easily be broken up (b) Is very stable
(c) Can be used as fissionable material (d) Is radioactive
3) Which of the following is most unstable [AFMC 2005]
(a) Electrons (b) Protons (c) Neutrons (d)  -particle
4) The mass number of He is 4 and that for sulphur is 32. The radius of sulphur nucleus
is larger than that of helium, by times
(a) 8 (b) 4 (c) 2 (d) 8
5) Assertion :Density of all the nuclei is same.
Reason : Radius of nucleus is directly proportional to the cube root of mass
number.
6) Assertion :Isobars are the element having same mass number but different
atomic number.
Reason :Neutrons and protons are present inside nucleus.
Short answer type (2 marks)
7) Explain the concept of mass defect.
8) What is binding energy? How is it related to stability of nucleus?
Long answer type (3marks)
9) What are the differences between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion? Which one is
used in nuclear power plants and why?
10) Skech the curve for binding energy per nucleon vs mass no . write the significance
of it.
Long ans type ( 5marks)
11) a)Show that nuclear density is independent of mass .
b) Explain molecular interaction using potential energy curve .
c) Write the properties of nuclear force
12) Case base study ( 4marks)
In nuclear physics, the mass defect refers to the difference between the mass of a
nucleus and the sum of the masses of its constituent protons and neutrons. This
discrepancy arises because some mass is converted into binding energy, which holds
the nucleus together. Understanding mass defect is crucial for studying nuclear stability
and reactions.Imagine a laboratory experiment where scientists are investigating the
mass defect in different isotopes. They have a sample of Helium-4 (4He) and are trying
to calculate its mass defect and binding energy.
Q1) Calculate the theoretical mass of the Helium-4 nucleus based on the sum of the
masses of Its constituent protons and neutrons.
Q2) Determine the mass defect of the Helium-4 nucleus.
Q3) Calculate the binding energy of the Helium-4 nucleus in MeV.
Q4) Explain the significance of the mass defect and binding energy in terms of nuclear
stability.

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