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Physics for IGCSE & O level - Atoms And Radioactivity (Section 2)

1
What is the difference between a nuclear reaction and a chemical reaction?
Answer
(A)
Nuclear reactions involve changes in the nucleus; chemical reactions involve changes in electrons.
2
What is the name of the model that explains how electrons are arranged in the atom, based on applying the quantum theory?
Answer
(C)
Bohr model
3
What is an example of a substance that is used to create a cloud chamber?
Answer
(B)
Alcohol
4
What type of radiation is stopped by a sheet of paper?
Answer
(A)
Alpha
5
What is meant by the term 'ionizing radiation'?
Answer
(C)
Radiation with enough energy to remove electrons from atoms.
6
What type of particle is emitted during beta-plus decay?
Answer
(C)
Positron
7
What happens to the nucleus during beta plus decay?
Answer
(A)
A proton becomes a neutron and a positron is emitted.
8
Which type of radiation is associated with a change in the mass number of an atom?
Answer
(B)
Beta
9
What is the purpose of a cloud chamber?
Answer
(C)
To make the tracks of alpha particles visible
10
In a nuclear equation, what does the symbol represent?
Answer
(C)
A helium nucleus
11
What particles did James Chadwick discover?
Answer
(B)
Neutrons
12
Which type of radioactivity is used in cancer treatments?
Answer
(C)
Gamma radiation
13
What changes occur to the atomic number and mass number during alpha decay?
Answer
(A)
Atomic number decreases by 2; mass number decreases by 4.
14
Which of the following is used to represent the composition of a nucleus in a nuclear equation?
Answer
(D)
All of the above
15
What is a positron?
Answer
(A)
A positively charged electron
16
What is a common use of radioactivity?
Answer
(D)
All the above
17
What is the effect of background radiation on health?
Answer
(D)
It slightly increases the risk of health problems like cancer.
18
What instrument is used to detect radiation?
Answer
(B)
Geiger-Müller tube
19
What type of radiation can be stopped by a sheet of aluminum?
Answer
(B)
Beta
20
What is the relative penetrating power of alpha, beta, and gamma radiation?
Answer
(C)
Gamma > Beta > Alpha
21
What is background radiation?
Answer
(A)
Radiation from the Earth
22
What element is formed when Uranium-238 undergoes alpha decay?
Answer
(A)
Thorium
23
What is the term for the average number of disintegrations per second?
Answer
(B)
Activity
24
What can happen to an atom when it is exposed to ionizing radiation?
Answer
(C)
The atom will become ionized.
25
In nuclear fusion, what are the reactants?
Answer
(B)
Light nuclei
26
What can be used to detect Alpha, Beta and Gamma radiation?
Answer
A
B
C
27
What can an increase in exposure to radiation cause?
Answer
B
C
28
What is the charge of an alpha particle?
Answer
(C)
+2
29
What is the atomic number of an element?
Answer
(C)
The number of protons in the nucleus
30
What is the name of the process where unstable nuclei lose energy by emitting particles?
Answer
(C)
Radioactive Decay
31
What can the accumulation of radon gas in a building cause?
Answer
(B)
A risk of lung cancer
32
What is an example of a beta-minus decay?
Answer
(B)
A neutron turning into a proton
33
What is the main function of lead shielding when dealing with radioactive materials?
Answer
(B)
To protect against radiation.
34
What is the purpose of lead shielding when working with radioactive materials?
Answer
(B)
To absorb the radiation and protect the user.
35
Which of the following are types of radioactive emissions?
Answer
A
B
C
36
What is used in smoke detectors?
Answer
(A)
Alpha particles
37
What is the SI unit of radioactivity?
Answer
(B)
Becquerel
38
How is the activity of a radioactive sample measured?
Answer
(B)
In Becquerels (Bq)
39
What is the meaning of 'ionization'?
Answer
(C)
The process of an atom gaining or losing electrons, resulting in a net electric charge.
40
Which of the following are types of background radiation?
Answer
A
B
C
41
Which statement best describes a radioactive half-life?
Answer
(B)
The time it takes for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay.
42
What is the basic process in a nuclear fusion reactor?
Answer
(A)
Joining of light nuclei to form a heavier nucleus
43
What happens to the atomic number during beta-minus decay?
Answer
(A)
Increases by 1
44
What does an atom emit when it drops from a higher energy level to a lower one?
Answer
(C)
A photon
45
Which of the following is a hazard of nuclear radiation?
Answer
(B)
Cell damage
46
What type of particle is emitted during beta decay?
Answer
(C)
Electron
47
Which of the following is an example of radioactive decay?
Answer
(D)
All of the above
48
What is produced when atomic particles from the sun strike the Earth’s atmosphere?
Answer
(C)
Northern lights
49
Which of the following is a way to reduce radiation exposure?
Answer
(D)
Remove the source
50
What type of particle was used in Rutherford's gold foil experiment?
Answer
(A)
Alpha particles