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. Which statement is true for all three types of radioactive emission (alpha-particles, beta-particles and gamma-rays)?

They are completely absorbed by a thin aluminium sheet.

They are deflected by electric fields.

They emit light.

They ionise gases.

2. There are possible dangers when dealing with radioactive substances.

Which statement is correct?

Gamma-radiation is more dangerous than alpha or beta because it has a longer half-life.

Materials that emit only alpha-particles must be kept in thick lead containers.

Beta-particles can pass through skin and damage body cells.

Radioactive materials are safe to handle after two half-lives.

3. The half-life of radioactive carbon is 5600 years. What will be the time after which the activity has reduced to one-quarter?

8400 years

2800 years

11200 years

1400 years

4. 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 4 minutes, none of the isotope remains.

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

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

5. 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?

$\frac{1}{3}$

$\frac{1}{4}$

$\frac{1}{8}$

$\frac{1}{6}$

6. 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 neutrons

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

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

D

B

C

A

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

burning it on a fire

burying it in dry rock deep underground

pumping it into a river

pouring it down the drain

9. A radioactive source has a half-life of 24 hours. At 1:00 am, it has an activity of 1000 counts per minute. At 1:00 pm on the same day, what is its most likely activity?

700 counts per minute

600 counts per minute

800 counts per minute

900 counts per minute

10. Which conclusion can be drawn from the Geiger-Marsden alpha-particle scattering experiment?

A positive charge is spread throughout the atom.

There is a dense nucleus in the atom.

Electrons are arranged in orbits.

Electrons are negatively charged.

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