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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1,254 questions · page 18 of 63
- A. Amount of sample present
- B. Pressure
- C. Temperature
- D. None of the above
Explanation: Half-life is an intrinsic nuclear property of a specific isotope. It is not affected by external environmental factors such as the amount…
Correct answer: None of the above- A. 3200 years
- B. 4800 years
- C. 2309 years
- D. 4217 years
Explanation: The average lifetime (τ) is related to the half-life (T₁/₂) by the formula τ = T₁/₂ / ln(2). τ = 1600 years / 0.693 ≈ 2309 years.
Correct answer: 2309 years- A. Between 0 mm and 5 mm
- B. Between 5 mm and 200 mm
- C. Between 200 mm and 500 mm
- D. Between 500 mm to 1000 mm
Explanation: Alpha particles are not very penetrating and have short, well-defined range in air, typically on the order of few centimeters (few tens of…
Correct answer: Between 5 mm and 200 mm- A. J.J Thomson
- B. Chadwick
- C. Rutherford
- D. Neil Bohr
Explanation: In 1932, James Chadwick conducted experiments that proved the existence of the neutron, a neutral particle within the atomic nucleus.
Correct answer: Chadwick- A. Electron
- B. Proton
- C. Neutron
- D. Photon
Explanation: James Chadwick is credited with the discovery of the neutron in 1932. The electron was discovered by J.J.
Correct answer: Neutron- A. Electron
- B. Positron
- C. Proton
- D. Photon
Explanation: A proton is a baryon composed of quarks and is significantly more massive than leptons like electrons and positrons.
Correct answer: Proton- A. Atomic Energy
- B. Radioactive Energy
- C. Nuclear Energy
- D. Binding Energy
Explanation: Binding energy, amount of energy required to separate a particle from a system of particles or to disperse all the particles of the…
Correct answer: Binding Energy- A. Isotopes
- B. Isobars
- C. Isotones
- D. Isomers
Explanation: These two nuclei have different numbers of protons (11 for Sodium, 10 for Neon) but the same total mass number (22).
Correct answer: Isobars- A. 8 MeV per nucleon
- B. 7 MeV per nucleon
- C. 6 MeV per nucleon
- D. 9 MeV per nucleon
Explanation: The curve of binding energy shows that for nuclei with mass numbers from about 30 to 170, the binding energy per nucleon is relatively…
Correct answer: 8 MeV per nucleon- A. Energy
- B. Intensity
- C. Radioactivity
- D. Half-life
Explanation: The curie (Ci) is a non-SI unit of radioactivity, representing a large number of nuclear disintegrations per second (specifically, 3.7 ×…
Correct answer: Radioactivity- A. Pressure
- B. Temperature
- C. Intensity
- D. Number of nuclei
Explanation: The rate of radioactive decay, or activity, of a sample is directly proportional to the number of unstable nuclei present at that time.
Correct answer: Number of nuclei- A. 1.25 x 10^5
- B. 2.50 x 10^5
- C. 5.00 x 10^5
- D. 7.50 x 10^5
Explanation: The number of half. lives in 24 days is 24/8 = 3. The number of atoms remaining is N = No × (1/2) , where N = 10 and n = 3.
Correct answer: 1.25 x 10^5- A. 14.14 MeV
- B. 24.28 MeV
- C. 28.28 MeV
- D. 32.28 MeV
Explanation: The energy released is the difference in total binding energy of products and reactants.
Correct answer: 28.28 MeV- A. 4.87 MeV
- B. 5.87 MeV
- C. 6.87 MeV
- D. 7.87 MeV
Explanation: Q. value = [m(88Ra226) - ( m( 86Rn222) + m(2He4)] × c2 = [226.0254 - 222.0175 + 4.0026] ×c2 × 931.5 MeV/c2 = 0.0053 × 931.5 ≈ 4.94 MeV…
Correct answer: 4.87 MeV- A. 1:1
- B. 1:2
- C. 2:1
- D. 3:1
Explanation: By conservation of momentum, m1 v1 = m2 v2 , where m1/m2 = 2/1. Thus, v2 /v1 = 2.
Correct answer: 1:2- A. 1.73 x 10^5 s
- B. 2.47 x 10^5 s
- C. 3.47 x 10^5 s
- D. 4.47 x 10^5 s
Explanation: Half. life T1/2 = ln(2)/λ = 0.693/(2 × 106) ≈ 3.465 × 105 s, closest to 3.47 × 105s.
Correct answer: 3.47 x 10^5 s- A. 8.51 x 10^13 J
- B. 9.51 x 10^13 J
- C. 1.05 x 10^14 J
- D. 1.15 x 10^14 J
Explanation: Number of nuclei in 1 kg = (1000/235) × 6.022 × 1023 ≈ 2.56 × 1024 . Energy per fission = 200 MeV = 200 × 1.6 × 1013 J = 3.2 × 1011 J.
Correct answer: 8.51 x 10^13 J- A. 2.5 μCi
- B. 5.0 μCi
- C. 7.5 μCi
- D. 10 μCi
Explanation: Activity A = A0 × (1/2)n, where A0 = 10 μCi and n = 2. Thus, A = 10 × (1/2)2 = 10 × 1/4 = 2.5 μCi.
Correct answer: 2.5 μCi- A. Endothermic
- B. Exothermic
- C. Neutral
- D. Forbidden
Explanation: A positive Q. value (4.62 MeV) indicates energy is released, making the reaction exothermic.
Correct answer: Exothermic- A. 28.88 MeV
- B. 14.44 MeV
- C. 8.74 MeV
- D. 32.44 MeV
Explanation: Q = BE(products) - BE(reactants) = 2 × 241.76 - 492.26 = 483.52 - 492.26 = -8.74 MeV.
Correct answer: 8.74 MeV