Physics ยท Chemistry

Radioactivity and Nuclear Physics

519 Questions

Radioactivity and nuclear physics encompass the study of radioactive decay processes, neutron to proton ratios, and nuclear medicine. Questions cover various detection mechanisms, including scintillation counters and neutrino telescopes. These concepts are frequently tested in advanced science and civil services examinations.

Radioactive decayNuclear medicineParticle detectionNeutrino telescopesCosmic ray detection

Radioactivity and Nuclear Physics Questions

Multiple choice
  1. 92 U 235

  2. 92 U 234

  3. 92 U 233

  4. 92 U 238

  5. none of these

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct form of radioactive isotope of uranium (92 U 238). It is totally unstable element which is used in the nuclear chain reaction.

Multiple choice
  1. To cure lung cancer

  2. To cure AIDS

  3. To cure fractures in bones

  4. To detect antibodies &hormones present in the blood samples

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Radioimmunoassay (RIA) is a highly sensitive laboratory technique used to measure and detect minute quantities of antigens, antibodies, and hormones in blood samples. It was developed by Rosalyn Yalow and Solomon Berson, who won the Nobel Prize for this work. RIA is a diagnostic tool, not a therapeutic treatment for cancer, AIDS, or fractures.

Multiple choice
  1. Cluster decay

  2. Beta decay

  3. Double beta decay

  4. Alpha decay

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Beta decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a beta particle (an electron or a positron) is emitted. In the case of electron emission, it is referred to as beta minus while in the case of a positron emission it is referred as beta plus.In electron emission, an electron antineutrino is also emitted, while positron emission is accompanied by an electron neutrino. Beta decay is mediated by the weak force.

Multiple choice
  1. by

  2. through

  3. from

  4. of

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The correct answer is 'from' because the sentence describes the transfer or origin of power. 'Get something from something' is the correct structure. The other prepositions don't properly express this relationship of source or transfer.

Multiple choice
  1. R

  2. Re

  3. Ra

  4. Rn

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Ra is the chemical symbol for radium, a radioactive alkaline earth metal discovered by Marie and Pierre Curie. R is not used alone, Re is rhenium, and Rn is radon - a different radioactive element.

Multiple choice
  1. strontium chloride

  2. strontium fluoride

  3. strontium boride

  4. strontium hydroxide

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Strontium fluoride, SrF2, is a stable brittle white crystalline solid. It is used as an optical material for a small range of special applications, for example, as an optical coating on lenses and also as a thermoluminescent dosimeter crystal.

Multiple choice
  1. Phosphoenolpyruvate

  2. Haemoglobin

  3. Fatty acids

  4. Glycogen

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Radioactive nitrogen-15 would appear in haemoglobin because haemoglobin is a protein containing nitrogen in its amino acids. Proteins incorporate nitrogen during synthesis. Phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) contains carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and phosphorus but no nitrogen. Fatty acids contain only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Glycogen is a polysaccharide of glucose, containing only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

Multiple choice
  1. typhoid

  2. mumps

  3. cancer

  4. tuberculosis

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Radioactive cobalt (Co-60) and radium (Ra-226) are used in radiotherapy for cancer treatment. Cobalt-60 units deliver high-energy gamma rays for external beam radiotherapy. Radium was historically used in brachytherapy (internal radiation) - radium needles or implants placed directly in/near tumours. Both emit ionising radiation that damages cancer cell DNA, preventing replication. They are NOT used for typhoid (antibiotics), mumps (supportive care/vaccine), or tuberculosis (antitubercular drugs). Radiation therapy is a cornerstone of cancer treatment.

Multiple choice
  1. Actinium

  2. Neptunium

  3. Thorium

  4. Uranium

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Kerala's coastal sands, particularly in monazite deposits, contain significant thorium reserves. India has one of the world's largest thorium deposits, primarily along the Kerala coast. Thorium is a radioactive element that's being researched as potential nuclear fuel.

Multiple choice
  1. Alpha rays

  2. Beta rays

  3. Gamma rays

  4. Cathode rays

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

X-rays are produced when cathode rays (high-speed electrons) strike a metal target in an X-ray tube. The sudden deceleration of electrons generates X-ray photons through the bremsstrahlung process. Alpha, beta, and gamma rays are nuclear emissions, not used to produce X-rays.

Multiple choice
  1. Radium

  2. Uranium

  3. Neptunium

  4. Sodium

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Neptunium (Np) is a transuranic element with atomic number 93, and it was first synthesized artificially in 1940 by bombarding uranium with neutrons. While trace amounts of neptunium-237 can be found in uranium ores as a decay product, it is predominantly synthetic and not naturally occurring like radium, uranium, or sodium.

Multiple choice
  1. 92U235

  2. 92U237

  3. 92U238

  4. 92U239

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Uranium-235 (92U235) is the primary isotope used for nuclear fission because it's fissile - it can sustain a chain reaction when struck by thermal neutrons. U-238 is the most abundant but not fissile, while U-237 and U-239 are not typically used for fission. Natural uranium contains only about 0.7% U-235, which is why enrichment is necessary for most reactor fuel and weapons.

Multiple choice
  1. Cesium

  2. Platinum

  3. Strontium

  4. Thorium

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Thorium is a naturally radioactive element (atomic number 90) found in monazite sands. All thorium isotopes are radioactive, with Th-232 being the most abundant. While cesium, strontium, and platinum can have radioactive isotopes, they are not inherently radioactive in their natural form. Strontium-90 and Cesium-137 are fission products, not naturally occurring.