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AP Intermediate 2nd Year Nuclei — practice questions

Explore 37 free Nuclei questions in AP Intermediate 2nd Year Physics. Open each question or exercise to read its content, reference answers and available explanation.

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Nuclei questions and exercises with answers

Showing questions 1–30 of 37.

What is the phenomenon of spontaneous emission of radiation from certain heavy elements, without any external cause, called?Read the answer and worked solution →Elements normally show natural radioactivity when their atomic number isRead the answer and worked solution →Which radioactive radiation has the highest ionising power but the lowest penetrating power?Read the answer and worked solution →Which of the radioactive radiations is not deflected by electric or magnetic fields?Read the answer and worked solution →In a gamma decay, which of these remains unchanged for the nucleus?Read the answer and worked solution →The process in which a heavy nucleus splits into two smaller nuclei with release of energy and neutrons is calledRead the answer and worked solution →Which of the following is a fissionable (fissile) material that sustains fission on absorbing a neutron?Read the answer and worked solution →The process in which two lighter nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing energy, is calledRead the answer and worked solution →An atom bomb is based on which type of nuclear process?Read the answer and worked solution →The minimum mass of fissile material needed to sustain a chain reaction is known as theRead the answer and worked solution →In a nuclear reactor, which component slows down fast neutrons to sustain the controlled chain reaction?Read the answer and worked solution →Which material is commonly used as control rods in a nuclear reactor to absorb neutrons?Read the answer and worked solution →What is the SI unit of radioactivity?Read the answer and worked solution →A specimen emits 3.7 x 10^3 GBq per second. Expressed in curie, this activity equals (1 curie = 3.7 x 10^10 Bq)Read the answer and worked solution →Using Einstein's relation, the energy released when a mass defect of 2 kg is fully converted (c = 3 x 10^8 m/s) isRead the answer and worked solution →Which radioisotope is used to diagnose and treat anaemia?Read the answer and worked solution →The age of fossils and old monuments is estimated using which technique?Read the answer and worked solution →Which protective measure is recommended while handling hazardous radioactive materials?Read the answer and worked solution →Artificial (induced) radioactivity was first discovered byRead the answer and worked solution →The atomic mass unit is defined as one twelfth of the mass of which atom?Read the answer and worked solution →Atomic species of the same element that differ in mass are called:Read the answer and worked solution →Nuclides with the same mass number A are called:Read the answer and worked solution →Nuclides with the same neutron number but different atomic number are called:Read the answer and worked solution →A proton or a neutron is referred to by which general term?Read the answer and worked solution →The nucleus of the lightest hydrogen atom is called the:Read the answer and worked solution →The difference between the mass of a nucleus and its constituents is called the:Read the answer and worked solution →The density of a nucleus is described as being independent of which quantity?Read the answer and worked solution →Different nuclei are compared to a drop of liquid having what property?Read the answer and worked solution →The radius of a nucleus is smaller than the radius of an atom by a factor of about:Read the answer and worked solution →In the flat middle region of the curve, the binding energy per nucleon is nearly:Read the answer and worked solution →

Worked practice questions

What is the phenomenon of spontaneous emission of radiation from certain heavy elements, without any external cause, called?

  1. Nuclear fusion
  2. Artificial radioactivity
  3. Natural radioactivity
  4. Chemical ionisation
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Correct answer: C. Natural radioactivity

1. Some heavy nuclei are unstable and decay on their own. 2. The spontaneous emission of radiation from such elements is natural radioactivity. 3. Artificial radioactivity needs external bombardment, so it is induced, not spontaneous. _Source: Samacheer Kalvi (TN SCERT) Class 10 Science, Unit 6 Nuclear Physics "Nuclear Physics", p.82_

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Elements normally show natural radioactivity when their atomic number is

  1. exactly equal to 8
  2. less than 10
  3. greater than 82
  4. between 1 and 5
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Correct answer: C. greater than 82

1. Heavy nuclei are unstable and tend to decay spontaneously. 2. Elements with atomic number greater than 82 generally undergo natural radioactivity. 3. Light elements (small atomic number) are usually stable, so those options are wrong. _Source: Samacheer Kalvi (TN SCERT) Class 10 Science, Unit 6 Nuclear Physics "Nuclear Physics", p.82_

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Which radioactive radiation has the highest ionising power but the lowest penetrating power?

  1. Gamma rays
  2. Beta rays
  3. Alpha rays
  4. X-rays
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Correct answer: C. Alpha rays

1. Alpha particles are heavy, doubly charged helium nuclei. 2. Their large charge gives them the highest ionising power. 3. But they are easily stopped, even by thick paper, so penetrating power is lowest. 4. Gamma rays are opposite: high penetration but low ionisation. _Source: Samacheer Kalvi (TN SCERT) Class 10 Science, Unit 6 Nuclear Physics "Nuclear Physics", p.84_

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