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. 10-12m
- B. 10-11m
- C. 10-10m
- D. 10-14m
Explanation: An atom has a diameter of roughly 10^-10 m, based on the typical scale of its electron cloud.
Correct answer: 10-10m- A. Neutron
- B. Proton
- C. Electron
- D. Positron
Explanation: When nitrogen-14 is bombarded with an alpha particle, the reaction can be written as 14N + 4He -> 17O + 1H, so a proton is emitted.
Correct answer: Proton- A. The binding energy of the nucleus
- B. Packing fraction
- C. The average energy of the nucleus
- D. All of above are one and the same thing
Explanation: Mass defect per nucleon is commonly expressed through the packing fraction, which represents the mass defect relative to the mass number.
Correct answer: Packing fraction- A. Proton-proton
- B. Proton-neutron
- C. Neutron-neutron
- D. All of the above
Explanation: The strong nuclear force acts between all pairs of nucleons, including proton-proton, proton-neutron and neutron-neutron pairs.
Correct answer: All of the above- A. Greater than 72
- B. Greater than 82
- C. Greater than 92
- D. Greater than 102
Explanation: Transuranic elements are elements beyond uranium in the periodic table, so their atomic number is greater than 92.
Correct answer: Greater than 92- A. 200MeV
- B. 40MeV
- C. 30MeV
- D. 20MeV
Explanation: Fission of one uranium-235 nucleus releases approximately 200 MeV, which is 200 x 1.602 x 10^-13 J = 3.20 x 10^-11 J per nucleus.
Correct answer: 200MeV- A. Nucleon
- B. Meson
- C. Boson
- D. Quartz
Explanation: Protons and neutrons are collectively called nucleons because both are particles found in the atomic nucleus.
Correct answer: Nucleon- A. Antiproton
- B. Antineutron
- C. Positron
- D. All of above
Explanation: Antimatter is made of antiparticles, including antiprotons, antineutrons and positrons, each corresponding to an ordinary particle with…
Correct answer: All of above- A. 92
- B. 235
- C. 143
- D. Different for different isotopes
Explanation: The number of neutrons is the mass number minus the atomic number, and uranium isotopes have different mass numbers while all uranium…
Correct answer: Different for different isotopes50. The__________branch of Physics deals with nuclear particles such as neutrons, protons and nuclear?
- A. Solid State Physics
- B. Plasma Physics
- C. structure is called
- D. Nuclear Physics
- E. Particle Physics
Explanation: Nuclear physics studies atomic nuclei and their constituents, including protons and neutrons, as well as nuclear reactions and forces.
Correct answer: Nuclear Physics- A. Hardness
- B. Density
- C. Mass
- D. Half life
Explanation: Each radioactive isotope has a characteristic half-life, the time required for half of a sample's unstable nuclei to decay, so measuring…
Correct answer: Half life- A. Ordinary water
- B. Heavy water
- C. Lead
- D. Aluminum
Explanation: Lead is a dense material with a high atomic number, so it absorbs and attenuates gamma rays more effectively than water or aluminium of…
Correct answer: Lead- A. Chargeless
- B. Massless
- C. Highly penetrating
- D. All of above
Explanation: Gamma rays are used for sterilisation mainly because their high penetrating power allows them to pass through sealed packages and reach…
Correct answer: Highly penetrating- A. Sr-90
- B. I-131
- C. CA-41
- D. C-14
Explanation: Carbon-14 is a useful tracer because it behaves chemically like ordinary carbon and can be followed through biological and chemical…
Correct answer: C-14- A. ZnS
- B. Barium platinocyanide
- C. Calcium tungstate
- D. All of above
Explanation: Alpha particles can produce fluorescence in scintillating materials such as zinc sulphide, barium platinocyanide and calcium tungstate.
Correct answer: All of above- A. α-rays
- B. β-rays
- C. γ-rays
- D. B and C have equal antiseptic propertie
Explanation: Gamma rays have very high penetrating power, so they can pass through packaged surgical instruments, medical supplies and bandages to…
Correct answer: γ-rays- A. Cobalt-60
- B. Strontium-90
- C. Carbon-14
- D. Nickel-63
Explanation: Cobalt-60 emits penetrating gamma rays, which can be directed at tumours in radiotherapy to damage cancer-cell DNA.
Correct answer: Cobalt-60- A. Neutrons
- B. Neutrino
- C. Alpha particle
- D. Proton
Explanation: In beta decay, conservation of energy, momentum and lepton number requires emission of a neutrino or antineutrino along with the electron…
Correct answer: Neutrino- A. Due to the electrostatic force of attraction
- B. Due to the electrostatic force of repulsion
- C. Due to a direct collision
- D. Due to the gravitational force
Explanation: A beta-minus particle is an electron, so it repels the electrons bound in an atom through electrostatic repulsion and can knock them out…
Correct answer: Due to the electrostatic force of repulsion- A. Trajectory
- B. Range
- C. Firing level
- D. Limit
Explanation: The range of an alpha particle is the average distance it travels through air before losing enough energy that its ionising ability…
Correct answer: Range