Free Nuclear Physics MCQs with Answers
1,254 Nuclear Physics MCQs from Physics, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.
Atomic nuclei contain protons and neutrons, with nuclear size, mass defect and binding energy describing their stability. The work covers alpha, beta and gamma decay, decay equations, half-life and decay rate, along with radiation safety and medical applications such as imaging, radiotherapy and tracers.
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- A. Half-life
- B. Intensity
- C. Radioactivity
- D. None of these
Explanation: The Curie is a unit of radioactivity, measuring the amount of radioactive material in which one disintegration occurs per second.
Correct answer: Radioactivity- A. 1/16
- B. 1/8
- C. 1/2
- D. 1/4
Explanation: After four half-lives, 1/24 = 1/16 of the original amount remains, so 1 - 1/16 = 15/16 would have decayed.
Correct answer: 1/16- A. Fe (Iron)
- B. U (Uranium)
- C. Ba (Barium)
- D. He (Helium)
Explanation: Iron has the maximum binding energy per nucleon among the options. This is a characteristic of elements around iron on the periodic table.
Correct answer: Fe (Iron)- A. 8MeV
- B. 931MeV
- C. 200MeV
- D. 931eV
Explanation: Nuclear fission reactions typically release energy in the order of a few hundred MeV.
Correct answer: 931MeV- A. U-235, Pu-239
- B. Pu-239, Th-234
- C. U-238, Rn-232
- D. Th-234, U-238
Explanation: U-235 and Pu-239 are fissile materials that can undergo fission reactions with slow-moving neutrons.
Correct answer: U-235, Pu-239- A. 1590 x 10^6 years
- B. 1590 x 10^12 years
- C. 1590 x 10^24 years
- D. Never
Explanation: The time required for a substance to decay to half of its original amount is determined by its half-life.
Correct answer: 1590 x 10^24 years- A. Alpha-rays
- B. Beta-rays
- C. Gamma-rays
- D. All have equal penetrating power
Explanation: Gamma-rays possess the maximum penetrating power among the options. They can penetrate through dense materials and have high energy.
Correct answer: Gamma-rays- A. I and II
- B. II and III
- C. I and III
- D. I, II and III
Explanation: Radioactivity is a spontaneous activity (I) because it occurs without external influence and a self-disintegration property (III) because…
Correct answer: I and III- A. Bromine
- B. Helium
- C. Neon
- D. All of these
Explanation: The gas used to quench the discharge in a Geiger-Muller (G.M) counter can be bromine, helium, neon, or other gases.
Correct answer: All of these- A. Greater than 72
- B. Greater than 82
- C. Greater than 92
- D. Greater than 102
Explanation: Transuranic elements are elements with atomic numbers greater than 92, which is the atomic number of uranium.
Correct answer: Greater than 92- A. Binding energy of nucleus
- B. Packing fraction
- C. Average energy of a nucleus
- D. All of the above
Explanation: Mass defect per nucleon is related to the packing fraction, which is the difference between the mass of a nucleus and its mass number…
Correct answer: Packing fraction- A. Moderators slow down the neutrons
- B. Moderators bring the neutrons to rest
- C. Moderators absorb the neutrons
- D. Moderators reflect the neutrons
Explanation: Moderators are materials used in nuclear reactors to slow down fast neutrons, making them more likely to cause further fission reactions.
Correct answer: Moderators slow down the neutrons- A. U-238
- B. Np-239
- C. U-233
- D. He-4
Explanation: Uranium-233 (U-233) is indeed fissionable and can undergo nuclear fission reactions.
Correct answer: U-233- A. Iron rods
- B. Graphite rods
- C. Cadmium rods
- D. Platinum rods
Explanation: Cadmium rods are often used as control rods in nuclear reactors. By adjusting the position of these rods, it is possible to control the…
Correct answer: Cadmium rods- A. Alpha-rays
- B. Beta-rays
- C. Gamma-rays
- D. All of the above have the same speed
Explanation: Gamma rays, being electromagnetic waves, travel at the speed of light. Alpha and beta particles, being particles with mass, have much…
Correct answer: Gamma-rays- A. +1.6 x 10^-19 C
- B. Zero
- C. -1.6 x 10^-19 C
- D. No definite charge
Explanation: Neutrons have no net electric charge; they are electrically neutral.
Correct answer: Zero- A. 1.67 x 10^-31 kg
- B. 9.1 x 10^-31 kg
- C. 1.67 x 10^-27 kg
- D. 1.67 x 10^-19 kg
Explanation: The mass of a neutron is approximately 1.67 x 10-27 kg.
Correct answer: 1.67 x 10^-27 kg- A. Molecules
- B. Atoms
- C. Elements
- D. Isotopes
Explanation: A mass spectrograph is a device used to sort and measure the masses of atoms or ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio.
Correct answer: Atoms199. The sum of the masses of constituent nucleons as compared to the mass of the resultant nucleus is:
- A. Smaller
- B. Larger
- C. Same
- D. Sometimes smaller, sometimes greater
Explanation: The mass of a nucleus is slightly smaller than the sum of the masses of its individual nucleons.
Correct answer: Smaller- A. Mass number 224, atomic number 86
- B. Mass number 220, atomic number 80
- C. Mass number 222, atomic number 86
- D. Mass number 226, atomic number 87
Explanation: When an alpha particle is emitted, the mass number decreases by 4, and the atomic number decreases by 2.
Correct answer: Mass number 222, atomic number 86