Tag: nuclear physics

Questions Related to nuclear physics

Which of the following assertions are correct?

physics nuclear physics beta decay change in nucleus due to radioactive decay alpha, beta and gamma particles (rays) and their properties

  1. A neutron can decay to a proton only inside a nucleus

  2. A proton can change to a neutron only inside nucleus

  3. An isolated neutron can change into a proton

  4. An isolated proton can change int a neutron

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Correct Option: B,C
Explanation:

$\beta^{+}$ decay cannot occur in an isolated proton because it requires energy due to the mass of the neutron being greater than the mass of the proton. $\beta^{+}$ decay can only happen inside nuclei when the daughter nucleus has a greater binding energy.


an isolated neutron is not stable outside hence it decays emitting a proton.

If $ _{5}\textrm{B}^{11}$ converts into $ _{6}\textrm{C}^{11}$, then the particle emitted in this process will be 

physics nuclear physics beta decay change in nucleus due to radioactive decay alpha, beta and gamma particles (rays) and their properties

  1. electron

  2. proton

  3. neutron

  4. positron

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Correct Option: A
Explanation:
$\beta ^-$ minus decay produces an electron and electron anti neutrino.
$\beta ^-$ decay increases the proton by $1$ and reduces the neutron number by $1$
Hence, mass number remains same but atomic number increase by $1.$

What does a neutron decays to?

physics nuclear physics beta decay change in nucleus due to radioactive decay alpha, beta and gamma particles (rays) and their properties

  1. one $p$, one $v$ one $\beta^{+}$

  2. one $\beta{+}$, one$\beta{-}$ and $v$.

  3. one $p$, one $\beta^{-}$ and one $\bar{v}$

  4. all the above

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:
The neutron decays into a proton, an electron, and an antineutrino of the electron type.

The particle emitted in the nuclear reaction 
$ _{z}\textrm{X}^{A}$ = $ _{z+1}\textrm{Y}^{A}$ + ..... will be 

physics nuclear physics beta decay change in nucleus due to radioactive decay alpha, beta and gamma particles (rays) and their properties

  1. $\alpha$ -particle

  2. $\beta^{-}$ -particle

  3. $\beta{+}$ -particle

  4. $Photon$

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:
In $\beta^{-}$ decay, there is a gain of one proton and an anti-neutrino is emitted from nucleus, hence atomic number is increased by 1 and weight remains same.

The nucleus of mass  $M +  \Delta m$  is at rest and decays into two daughter nuclei of equal mass  $\dfrac {  M  } { 2 }$  each. Speed of light is  $ c.$ The speed of daughter nuclei is

physics nuclear physics beta decay change in nucleus due to radioactive decay alpha, beta and gamma particles (rays) and their properties

  1. $c \dfrac { \Delta m } { M + \Delta m }$

  2. $c \sqrt { \dfrac { 2 \Delta m } { M } }$

  3. $c \sqrt { \dfrac { \Delta m } { M } }$

  4. $c \sqrt { \dfrac { \Delta m } { M + \Delta m } }$

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Correct Option: B

The particle $X$ in the following nuclear reaction is  $ _{7}^{13}\textrm{N}$ $\longrightarrow $ $ _{6}^{13}\textrm{C}+$  $ _{1}^{0}\textrm{e}$ + $X$

physics nuclear physics beta decay change in nucleus due to radioactive decay alpha, beta and gamma particles (rays) and their properties

  1. $P$

  2. $v$

  3. $e^{-}$

  4. $\alpha$

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Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The given reaction :      $^{13} _7N\rightarrow ^{13} _6C + ^0 _1e + ^A _Z X$

Conservation of mass number :      $13 = 13 + 0 +A$              $\implies A=0$
Conservation of atomic number :      $7 = 6 + 1 +Z$              $\implies Z=0$
Thus, the particle $X$ is neutrino i.e.  $\nu$

A radioactive material initially contains $10gm$ and after few days $3gm$ is left, then the emission rate of $\alpha$ or $\beta$ particle:-

physics nuclear physics beta decay change in nucleus due to radioactive decay alpha, beta and gamma particles (rays) and their properties

  1. Will continue as usual

  2. Becomes $0.3$times

  3. Increases

  4. None of the above

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Correct Option: B

The ionization potential for second He electron is 

physics nuclear physics beta decay change in nucleus due to radioactive decay alpha, beta and gamma particles (rays) and their properties

  1. 13.6 V

  2. 27.2 V

  3. 54.4 V

  4. 3.4 V

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Correct Option: C

A radioactive substance contains a number of identical nuclei that emit $\beta$- particles. Which property of these nuclei remains unaltered by emission?

physics nuclear physics beta decay change in nucleus due to radioactive decay alpha, beta and gamma particles (rays) and their properties

  1. charge

  2. neutron number

  3. nucleon number

  4. proton number

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Correct Option: C
Explanation:

We know that in any $\beta -$ emission the mass number of the nucleus does not changes .

This implies that the nucleon number will remain same. 
So, option C is correct.

In $\beta^-$ decay, a

physics nuclear physics beta decay change in nucleus due to radioactive decay alpha, beta and gamma particles (rays) and their properties

  1. neutron converts into a proton emitting antineutrino.

  2. neutron converts into a proton emitting neutrino.

  3. proton converts into a neutron emitting antineutrino.

  4. proton converts into a neutron emitting neutrino.

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The reaction of beta decay is shown as :

$n \rightarrow p + e^- + \bar{\nu} _e$               (antineutrino)

So, in a $\beta-$ decay, a neutron converts into a proton emitting antineutrino.

option (A) is correct.