Nuclear Physics & Nuclear Reactions Practice Problems PSI AP Physics B

Nuclear Physics & Nuclear Reactions
Practice Problems
PSI AP Physics B Name_________________________________

Multiple Choice Questions
1. The atomic nucleus consists of:
(A) Electrons
(B) Protons
(C)Protons and electrons
(D) Protons and neutrons
(E) Neutrons and electrons

2. The atomic mass number represents the following:
(A) The total number of electrons in the atom
(B) The total number of protons in the atom
(C) The total number of protons and neutrons in the atom
(D) The total number of neutrons in the atom
(E) The total number of electrons and protons in the atom

3. The atomic number represents the following:
(A) The number of protons in the atom
(B) The number of neutrons in the atom
(C) The total number of protons and neutrons in the atom
(D) The total number of electrons and neutrons in the atom
(E) The total number of protons and electrons in the atom

4. The isotope of carbon 146C consists of:
Protons Neutrons
(A) 6 6
(B) 6 7
(C) 6 8
(D) 6 14
(E) 6 12

5. The isotope of uranium 23892U consists of:
Protons Neutrons
(A) 92 143
(B) 92 146
(C) 92 144
(D) 92 145
(E) 92 238

, 6. When an electron is emitted by an unstable nucleus the atomic mass number is:
(A) Increased by 1
(B) Increased by 2
(C) Decreased by 1
(D) Decreased by 2
(E) Doesn’t change

7. When a positron is emitted by an unstable nucleus the atomic mass number is:
(A) Increased by 1
(B) Increased by 2
(C) Decreased by 1
(D) Decreased by 2
(E) Doesn’t change

8. When an α- particle is emitted by an unstable nucleus the atomic mass number is:
(A) Increased by 1
(B) Increased by 2
(C) Decreased by 1
(D) Decreased by 2
(E) Doesn’t change

9. When free protons and neutrons join to form a nucleus the energy is:
(A) Absorb (B) Destroyed (C) Created (D) Stays the same (E) Released

10. Which of the following statements about the mass of separated nucleons and the mass of the
nucleus they form is correct:
(A) The mass of separated nucleons is greater than the nucleus mass
(B) The mass of separated nucleons is less that the nucleus mass
(C) The mass of separated nucleons is equal to the nucleus mass
(D) The mass of separated nucleons is greater than the nucleus mass only for light nuclei
(E) The mass of separated nucleons is greater than the nucleus mass only for heavy nuclei

11. Which of the following is the defect mass of a nucleus? (M – nucleus’s mass, mp – proton’s mass,
mn – neutron’s mass)
(A) Δm = Nmn + Zmp + M
(B) Δm = Nmn - Zmp – M
(C) Δm = Nmn - Zmp – M
(D) Δm = Nmn + Zmp – M
(E) Δm = M - Nmn + Zmp