Practice MCQs For Radioactivity and the nuclear atom

This quiz contains practice questions for GCE ‘O’ level topic: Radioactivity and the nuclear atom. There are explanations for some of the questions after you submit the quiz. If you could not figure out why a particular option is the answer, feel free to drop a comment below or ask a question in ‘O’ & ‘A’ Level Discussion section of the forum. If you wish to contribute questions to this quiz, please contact us.

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1. Atoms P and Q are isotopes. How does the composition of neutral atom P compare with neutral atom Q?

B

A

C

D

2. Which statement defines isotopes?

two (or more) nuclides which have the same number of neutrons but different numbers of protons

two (or more) nuclides which have the same number of protons but different numbers of electrons

two (or more) nuclides which have the same number of neutrons but different numbers of electrons

two (or more) nuclides which have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons

3. Which of the following occurs in the decay of a radioactive nucleus?

The nucleus emits at least one form of radiation.

The nucleus always splits into two equal fragments.

The nucleus absorbs another nucleus.

The nucleus absorbs at least one form of radiation.

4. The half-life of a radioactive material is 24 years.

The activity of a sample falls to a fraction of its initial value after 72 years.

What is the fraction?

$\frac{1}{4}$

$\frac{1}{8}$

$\frac{1}{6}$

$\frac{1}{3}$

5. Which equation shows a nuclear fission reaction?

$^{2}_{1}\text{H} + \, ^{2}_{1}\text{H} \rightarrow \, ^{4}_{2}\text{He}$

$^{14}_{7}\text{N} + \text{neutron} \rightarrow \, ^{15}_{7}\text{N}$

$^{239}_{92}\text{U} \rightarrow \, ^{95}_{38}\text{Sr} + \, ^{141}_{54}\text{Xe} + 3 \text{ neutrons}$

$^{46}_{21}\text{Sc} \rightarrow \, ^{46}_{21}\text{Sc} + \text{gamma ray}$

6. A pupil investigates the penetrating power of radiation from a radioactive source.

The table shows her results.

The source emits

beta-particles only.

beta-particles and gamma-rays.

gamma-rays only.

alpha and beta-particles.

7. Which row gives the range and electrical charge of an alpha-particle?

	Range In Air	Electrical Charge
A	A few centimetres	Negative
B	A few centimetres	Positive
C	A few metres	Negative
D	A few metres	Positive

A

D

B

C

8. Three nuclei P, Q and R have proton numbers (atomic numbers) and nucleon numbers (mass numbers) as shown.

P:

• Proton number: 43
• Nucleon number: 93

Q:

• Proton number: 43
• Nucleon number: 94

R:

• Proton number: 44
• Nucleon number: 94

 

Which nuclei are isotopes of the same element?

P and Q only

Q and R only

P and R only

P, Q and R

9. The nucleus of a nitrogen atom can be represented as $^{14}_{7} \text{N}$.

The nucleus of this atom consists of

7 protons and 7 electrons.

7 protons and 7 neutrons.

14 protons and 7 neutrons.

14 protons and 7 electrons.

10. Which action will most increase a person's exposure to radioactivity?

eating food that has been sterilised by gamma rays

Staying in a house near a nuclear power plant

going for a flight in a high-flying aircraft

opening the windows of a house

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