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. A radioactive isotope has a half-life of 2 minutes.

What can be deduced from this statement?

After 4 minutes, $\frac{1}{4}$ of the isotope remains.

After $\frac{1}{2}$ minute, $\frac{1}{2}$ of the isotope remains.

After 1 minute, $\frac{1}{2}$ of the isotope remains.

After 4 minutes, none of the isotope remains.

2. The neutral atoms of all isotopes of the same element contain the same number of __________.

neutrons and protons.

electrons and neutrons.

neutrons only.

electrons and protons.

3. The half-life of a radioisotope is 2400 years. The activity of a sample is 720 counts/s.

How long will it take for the activity to fall to 90 counts/s?

300 years

7200 years

2400 years

19 200 years

4. The table shows the possible properties of radioactive emissions.

Which emission could be a beta-particle?

A

C

D

B

5. A detector is used to measure the count-rate near a radioactive source. The reading is 4000 counts per minute. After 30 minutes, the count-rate has fallen to 500 counts per minute.

What is the half-life of the radioactive source? You may ignore the effects of background radiation.

5 minutes

10 minutes

3 minutes

6 minutes

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

The table shows her results.

The source emits

alpha and beta-particles.

beta-particles and gamma-rays.

gamma-rays only.

beta-particles only.

7. Which equation shows a nuclear fission reaction?

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

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

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

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

8. Between 1909 and 1911, Geiger and Marsden carried out experiments in which alpha particles were fired at metal foil. Most of the alpha particles passed through the foil with small deflections, but some were deflected through a large angle.

These results suggest that:

atoms contain neutrons that alpha particles bounce off.

atoms contain clouds of electrons through which some alpha particles cannot pass.

atoms have positive charges concentrated in a small volume.

atoms have positive and negative charges spread through their volume.

9. What is the safest way to dispose of a large quantity of highly radioactive waste?

pouring it down the drain

burying it in dry rock deep underground

pumping it into a river

burning it on a fire

10. An experimenter sets up the following apparatus, in air, to discover whether a radioactive source is emitting alpha-particles.

The experimenter moves the paper between the source and the detector. There is no difference in the count-rate.

Why is this?

The count-rate due to the background radiation is too high.

The source emits beta-particles and alpha-particles.

The radioactive source is too far from the detector.

Paper does not absorb alpha-particles.

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