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 deflected by electric fields.

They are completely absorbed by a thin aluminium sheet.

They ionise gases.

They emit light.

2. 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 have positive and negative charges spread through their volume.

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

atoms have positive charges concentrated in a small volume.

3. 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?

$\frac{1}{3}$

$\frac{1}{8}$

$\frac{1}{4}$

$\frac{1}{6}$

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

electrons and protons.

electrons and neutrons.

neutrons only.

neutrons and protons.

5. 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

6. A nucleus is represented by $^{230}_{91} \text{Z}$. It emits one alpha-particle and then one beta-particle. What is the resulting nucleus X?

$^{230}_{89} \text{X}$

$^{226}_{88} \text{X}$

$^{226}_{89} \text{X}$

$^{226}_{90} \text{X}$

7. A nucleus consists of 90 protons and 144 neutrons.

After emitting two beta-particles followed by an alpha-particle, this nucleus has:

86 protons and 140 neutrons.

90 protons and 140 neutrons.

90 protons and 142 neutrons.

86 protons and 142 neutrons.

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

burning it on a fire

pumping it into a river

pouring it down the drain

burying it in dry rock deep underground

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

Which statement is correct?

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

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

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

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

10. 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

900 counts per minute

600 counts per minute

800 counts per minute

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