Nuclear Physics Quizzes: Test Your Knowledge in Nuclear Science

Question 1

What is the term for the spontaneous decay of an atomic nucleus, accompanied by the emission of radiation?

Accepted Answer

Radioactivity

Answer

Ionization

Answer

Nuclear fusion

Answer

Nuclear fission

Question 2

Which of the equations represents nuclear fission?

Accepted Answer

${}_9^2U + {}_0^1n → {}_56^{141}Ba + {}_36^{92}Kr + 3{}_0^1n$

Answer

E=mc^2

Answer

m=vf/t

Answer

PV=nRT

Question 3

What is a chain reaction in nuclear fission?

Accepted Answer

A sequence of nuclear fissions occurring in succession.

Answer

A reaction triggered by a neutron being absorbed by a nucleus.

Answer

A process that results in radioactive waste production.

Answer

A reaction that can be controlled to generate electricity.

Question 4

What is the purpose of a control rod in a nuclear reactor?

Accepted Answer

To regulate the rate of nuclear reactions.

Answer

To slow down neutrons.

Answer

To cool the reactor core.

Answer

To accelerate nuclear reactions.

Question 5

Which uranium isotope is used as fuel in nuclear reactors?

Accepted Answer

Uranium-235

Answer

Uranium-238

Answer

Uranium-239

Answer

Uranium-240

Question 6

Which of the following is not a type of radioactive decay?

Accepted Answer

Neutron emission

Answer

Alpha decay

Answer

Beta decay

Answer

Gamma decay

Question 7

Which type of radiation has the weakest penetrating power?

Accepted Answer

Alpha particles

Answer

Beta particles

Answer

Gamma rays

Answer

Neutrons

Question 8

In nuclear physics, what is the SI unit used to measure radioactivity?

Accepted Answer

Becquerel

Answer

Gray

Answer

Sievert

Answer

Roentgen

Question 9

Which element corresponds to atomic number 92?

Accepted Answer

Uranium

Answer

Plutonium

Answer

Thorium

Answer

Radium

Question 10

What is the term used to describe the time it takes for half of a radioactive isotope to decay?

Accepted Answer

Half-life

Answer

Decay constant

Answer

Activity

Answer

Radiation dose

Question 11

What is the name of the force that overcomes the electrostatic repulsion between protons in the nucleus?

Accepted Answer

Strong nuclear force

Answer

Gravitational force

Answer

Electromagnetic force

Answer

Weak nuclear force

Question 12

Which of the following isotopes undergoes nuclear fission when bombarded with neutrons?

Accepted Answer

Uranium-235

Answer

Thorium-232

Answer

Carbon-12

Answer

Hydrogen-1

Question 13

What is the term for the nuclear process involving the emission of an alpha particle?

Accepted Answer

Alpha decay

Answer

Beta decay

Answer

Gamma emission

Answer

Neutron absorption

Question 14

What is the term for energy produced during the merging of atomic nuclei?

Accepted Answer

Nuclear fusion

Answer

Nuclear fission

Answer

Nuclear transmutation

Answer

Radioactive fallout

Question 15

What is the SI unit for the measurement of radioactivity?

Accepted Answer

Becquerel

Answer

Curie

Answer

Rad

Answer

Gray

Question 16

Which of the following is a type of nuclear reaction used in scientific research?

Accepted Answer

Electron beam irradiation

Answer

Gamma knife therapy

Answer

Targeted alpha therapy

Answer

Magnetic resonance imaging

Question 17

What term describes the amount of radiation energy absorbed by a material?

Accepted Answer

Absorbed dose

Answer

Equivalent dose

Answer

Effective dose

Answer

Linear energy transfer

Question 18

What is the underlying principle behind the medical use of radioactive tracers?

Accepted Answer

Radioactive isotopes can be tracked and detected within the human body

Answer

Radioactive decay can trigger therapeutic reactions

Answer

Radiation directly destroys diseased cells

Answer

Radioactive tracers have no practical medical applications

Question 19

An unstable isotope with an excess of neutrons will decay by emitting a:

Accepted Answer

Beta particle

Answer

Alpha particle

Answer

Gamma ray

Answer

Positron

Question 20

In a nuclear reaction, the sum of the mass numbers of the reactants is:

Accepted Answer

Equal to the sum of the mass numbers of the products

Answer

Greater than the sum of the mass numbers of the products

Answer

Less than the sum of the mass numbers of the products

Answer

Variable depending on the type of reaction

Question 21

The process by which an atom captures a free neutron and transforms into a new isotope is known as:

Accepted Answer

Neutron activation

Answer

Beta decay

Answer

Alpha decay

Answer

Gamma emission

Question 22

Which of the following is the SI unit for measuring energy?

Accepted Answer

Joule

Answer

Electronvolt

Answer

Becquerel

Answer

Gray

Question 23

A nuclear reactor operates by controlling a:

Accepted Answer

Chain reaction

Answer

Spontaneous decay

Answer

Electromagnetic field

Answer

Gravitational field

Question 24

What is the process where an unstable nucleus releases particles to become more stable?

Accepted Answer

Radioactive decay

Answer

Nuclear fusion

Answer

Nuclear fission

Answer

Nuclear transmutation

Question 25

Which isotope undergoes radioactive decay with a half-life of 5,730 years?

Accepted Answer

Carbon-14

Answer

Carbon-12

Answer

Nitrogen-14

Answer

Oxygen-16

Question 26

What is the function of a moderator in a nuclear reactor?

Accepted Answer

To slow down neutrons

Answer

To increase neutron speed

Answer

To absorb neutrons

Answer

To reflect neutrons

Question 27

Which subatomic particle carries a negative charge and orbits the nucleus?

Accepted Answer

Electron

Answer

Proton

Answer

Neutron

Answer

Alpha particle

Question 28

What is the term for a change in an atomic nucleus's number of protons?

Accepted Answer

Nuclear transmutation

Answer

Radioactive decay

Answer

Nuclear fission

Answer

Nuclear fusion

Question 29

Which property is NOT a characteristic of radioactive isotopes?

Accepted Answer

Only exists in synthetic elements

Answer

Emits ionizing radiation

Answer

Possesses an unstable nucleus

Answer

Decays over time

Question 30

Which nuclear reaction involves the splitting of a heavy nucleus into lighter nuclei?

Accepted Answer

Nuclear fission

Answer

Nuclear fusion

Answer

Radioactive decay

Answer

Nuclear transmutation

Question 31

What is the primary energy source in a nuclear power plant?

Accepted Answer

Heat energy released by nuclear fission

Answer

Electrical energy stored in the fuel rods

Answer

Chemical energy released by burning uranium

Answer

Solar energy converted by mirrors

Question 32

Which of the following terms refers to the amount of nuclear material needed to sustain a chain reaction?

Accepted Answer

Critical mass

Answer

Nuclear mass

Answer

Radioactive threshold

Answer

Neutronic balance

Question 33

What is the definition of the half-life of a radioactive isotope?

Accepted Answer

The time it takes for half of the isotope's atoms to decay

Answer

The time it takes for all of the isotope's atoms to decay

Answer

The time it takes for the isotope's radioactivity to decrease by half

Answer

The time it takes for the isotope's mass to decrease by half

Question 34

Which of the following is a key advantage of nuclear energy over fossil fuels?

Accepted Answer

Both reduced carbon emissions and higher energy density

Answer

Reduced carbon emissions

Answer

Higher energy density

Answer

Availability of nuclear fuel

Question 35

What is the mass number of an atom of carbon-14?

Accepted Answer

14

Answer

6

Answer

12

Answer

16

Question 36

What is the primary purpose of a moderator in a nuclear reactor?

Accepted Answer

To reduce the speed of neutrons

Answer

To increase the speed of neutrons

Answer

To absorb neutrons

Answer

To reflect neutrons

Question 37

What is the concept of the half-life of a radioactive substance?

Accepted Answer

The time it takes for half of the substance to decay

Answer

The time it takes for all of the substance to decay

Answer

The time it takes for the substance to become non-radioactive

Answer

The time it takes for the substance to double in size

Question 38

Which of the following is not a unit used to measure radiation exposure?

Accepted Answer

Coulomb per kilogram

Answer

Becquerel

Answer

Gray

Answer

Sievert

Question 39

Which of the following is a characteristic of radioactive isotopes?

Accepted Answer

They emit particles and energy

Answer

They are stable over time

Answer

They have a fixed number of neutrons

Answer

They are found in all elements

Question 40

Which type of nuclear reaction involves the splitting of a large atomic nucleus into smaller ones?

Accepted Answer

Fission

Answer

Fusion

Answer

Transmutation

Answer

Radioactive decay

Question 41

What is the process called when an unstable nucleus emits radiation to become more stable?

Accepted Answer

Radioactive decay

Answer

Chain reaction

Answer

Nuclear fission

Answer

Nuclear fusion

Question 42

Which type of radiation has the highest penetrating power?

Accepted Answer

Gamma radiation

Answer

Neutron radiation

Answer

Alpha radiation

Answer

Beta radiation

Question 43

The half-life of Carbon-14 is approximately 5730 years.  If a sample initially contained 100g of Carbon-14, how much would remain after 11460 years?

Accepted Answer

25g

Answer

12.5g

Answer

50g

Answer

6.25g

Question 44

Which of the following is a common application of radioactive isotopes?

Accepted Answer

Medical imaging

Answer

Manufacturing plastics

Answer

Refining petroleum

Answer

Producing fertilizers

Question 45

What happens during nuclear fission?

Accepted Answer

A heavy nucleus splits into lighter nuclei, releasing energy.

Answer

An atom loses an electron, becoming positively charged.

Answer

Two light nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing energy.

Question 46

What is the primary source of energy in the Sun?

Accepted Answer

Nuclear fusion

Answer

Nuclear fission

Answer

Radioactive decay

Answer

Chemical combustion

Question 47

Which of the following is a major concern associated with nuclear power plants?

Accepted Answer

Disposal of radioactive waste

Answer

Greenhouse gas emissions

Answer

Depletion of fossil fuels

Question 48

In a nuclear reactor, what is the purpose of control rods?

Accepted Answer

To absorb neutrons and regulate the rate of the nuclear reaction

Answer

To increase the temperature of the nuclear fuel

Answer

To convert heat energy into electrical energy