Question 1

3 out of 3 points

Beta particle emission occurs when the ratio of neutrons to protons in the nucleus is:
Selected Answer:

too high to be stable

Correct Answer:

too high to be stable

Response Beta particle emission occurs when the ratio of neutrons to protons is too high
Feedback: to be stable. Beta emission decreases the number of neutrons by one and

increases the number of protons in the nucleus by one, establishing a more

balanced ratio.

Question 2
3 out of 3 points

X-rays are most similar to:

Selected Answer:

gamma radiation
Correct Answer:

gamma radiation
Response
Feedback:

X-rays and gamma radiation are most similar because they both can travel
many feet through air and several inches through human tissue.

Question 3
3 out of 3 points

Alpha, beta and gamma radiation all show different levels of penetration because:
Selected Answer:

of all of these reasons

Correct Answer:

of all of these reasons

Response
Feedback:

Alpha, beta and gamma radiation differ in their energies, frequencies and
wavelengths, which cause the particles to have different penetrating abilities.

Question 4
3 out of 3 points

What would be the effect on the nucleus of an atom if it emitted one beta particle and one
gamma ray?
Selected
Answer:

an increase of one in atomic number and no change in mass

number

Correct Answer:

an increase of one in atomic number and no change in mass

number
Response
Feedback:

A beta emission would increase the atomic number by one and there would
be no change in mass number. The release of a gamma ray would not affect
the particles in the nucleus.

Question 5
3 out of 3 points

Which statement is true regarding radioactive particles subjected to an electric field?

Selected Answer:

all of the above statements are correct

Correct Answer:

all of the above statements are correct

Response Alpha particles have a positive charge and would be deflected toward a
Feedback: negative charge; beta particles have a negative charge and would be deflected

toward a positive charge; gamma rays are not charged and would not deflect
toward either a positive or negative source.

Question 6
3 out of 3 points

Gamma rays are unlike alpha and beta particles because gamma rays:
Selected
Answer:
Correct
Answer:
Response
Feedback:

have no effect on atomic number or mass number of the atoms

that emit them
have no effect on atomic number or mass number of the atoms
that emit them
Gamma rays have no effect on the atomic number or mass number of the
atoms that emit them, are not affected by electric or magnetic fields, have
more energy than other radioactive particles, and have virtually no detectable
mass.

Question 7
3 out of 3 points

What is the mass of a beta particle?

Selected Answer:

the mass of an electron

Correct Answer:

the mass of an electron

Response

A beta particle has the mass of an electron, which is about 1/2000th amu or

Feedback:

1/200th the mass of a proton or neutron.

Question 8
0 out of 3 points

Nuclear decay by beta particle emission is more common in atoms of elements that:
Selected Answer:

have an atomic number greater than 83

Correct Answer:

have a high neutron to proton ratio

Beta decay is most common in elements with a high neutron to proton
ratio.

Response
Feedback:

Question 9
0 out of 3 points

A fossilized animal that was killed by a volcano eruption has 12.5 percent of its original
amount of carbon-14 remaining; this radioisotope has a half-life of 5730 years. How long
ago did the volcano erupt?
Selected Answer:

22,920 years ago

Correct Answer:

17,190 years ago

Response The first half-life of a radioactive isotope leaves 50 percent of the original
Feedback: material behind; the second half leaves 25 percent, and the third leaves 12.5

percent. If each half-life is 5730 years, then 17,190 years have passed since
the animal died.

Question 10
3 out of 3 points

Radon-222 is a radioactive gas with a half-life of 3.82 days. How long would it take for
fifteen-sixteenths of a sample of radon-222 to decay?
Selected Answer:

15.28 days
Correct Answer:

15.28 days
Response To solve, first determine the fraction of the isotope remaining (in this case, 6.25
Feedback percent or one-sixteenth). Then, use the remaining fraction of the isotope to
:
determine how many half-lives have passed: x x x = 1/16 (so four

half-lives have passed). Multiply the number of half-lives that have passed times
the half-life value (3.82 days): 4 half-lives x 3.82 days/half-life = 15.28 days

Question 11
3 out of 3 points

The half-life of a specific element was calculated to be 5200 years. What percentage of a
sample of the pure element will remain after two half-lives?
Selected Answer:

25%
Correct Answer:

25%
Response
Feedback:

In one half-life, 50 percent of the original sample will decay to another

element. After a second half-life (another 5200 years), only 25 percent of the
original sample will remain, since x = .

Question 12
3 out of 3 points

Identify the missing particle in the following equation:

Selected Answer:

Correct Answer:

Response Nuclear equations must balance, so the sum of the atomic numbers on the
Feedback reactant and product sides must be equal. The same is true for the mass
:
numbers. The sum of the atomic numbers on the reactant side is four, and the

sum of the mass numbers on the reactant side is six. On the product side, the
sum of the atomic numbers is two, and the sum of the mass numbers is two.
The difference in atomic numbers is two and the difference in mass numbers is
four. The missing particle is

Question 13
3 out of 3 points

If an atom of
were to undergo nuclear decay by the emission of a beta particle,
which nuclide would result?
Selected Answer:

Correct Answer:

Response Since a beta particle was emitted, the nucleus would take a neutron and break
Feedback: it into a proton and an electron. The electron would be released, the atomic

number would increase by one and the mass number would remain

unchanged, forming:

Question 14
3 out of 3 points

According to this decay series chart, which is the proper order of nuclear particle emission
that occurs during the transition from lead-214 to lLead-210?

Selected Answer:

Beta, beta, alpha

Correct Answer:

Beta, beta, alpha

Response
Feedback:

Lead-214 changes to bismuth-214 (beta emission). Bismuth-214 changes to

polonium-214 (beta emission). Polonium-214 changes to lead-210 (alpha
emission).

Question 15
3 out of 3 points

Which reaction produces the most energy per mass?

Selected Answer:

fusion
Correct Answer:

fusion
Response
Feedback:

Fusion reactions produce far greater energies per unit of mass than the
other types of reactions listed.

Question 16
0 out of 3 points

One of the major drawbacks to using nuclear fission as a reliable energy source is:
Selected
Answer:
Correct
Answer:
Response
Feedback:

There is not enough energy produced by this method to make

it profitable.
The products are more radioactive than the reactants.
The products of nuclear fission are usually far more radioactive than the heavy
elements from which they are fissioned; the products retain their radioactivity
for long periods of time, creating a nuclear waste problem.

Question 17
3 out of 3 points

Which of the following are considered advantages in support of using nuclear fission
reactions?
Selected Answer:

all of the above

Correct Answer:

all of the above

Response
Feedback:

Reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, meeting global energy

demands, and independence from oil importation for electricity are all
advantages to using nuclear fission reactions.

Question 18
2 out of 2 points

Two hydrogen nuclei undergo fission to produce a helium nucleus.

Selected Answer:

FALSE
Correct Answer:

FALSE
Response Feedback:

Two hydrogen nuclei undergo fusion to form a helium nucleus.

Question 19
0 out of 3 points

Whenever any type of energy is removed from a system, the mass associated with the
energy:
Selected Answer:

is added to the system

Correct Answer:

is also removed
Response
Feedback:

All of the energy that moves along with an object adds up to the total mass
of the body, so that removing energy is removing mass.

Question 20
3 out of 3 points

Why is the total mass of a helium nucleus not equal to the mass of its individual parts?
Selected Answer:

The "missing" mass has been converted to energy.

Correct Answer:

The "missing" mass has been converted to energy.

Response
Feedback:

The "missing" mass has been converted into energy and been released, in
accordance with the mass-energy equivalence theory.

Question 21
3 out of 3 points

In a nuclear reaction, 2.50 x 1012 joules of energy have been released. What does this
value equate to in kilograms? (1 J = 1 kg m2/s2)
Selected Answer:

2.78 x 10-5 kg
Correct Answer:

2.78 x 10-5 kg

Using Einstein's equation, E = mc2, rearrange the formula and substitute

in the value provided.
Convert 2.50 x 1012 J to 2.50 x 1012 kg m2/s2
m = E/c2
m = (2.50 x 1012 kg m2/s2)/ (3.00 x 108 m/s)2
m = 2.78 x 10-5 kg

Response
Feedback:

Question 22
3 out of 3 points

A mass of 10.0 kilograms is completely converted into energy. What is this amount of
energy in joules? (1 J = 1 kg m2/s2)
Selected Answer:

9.00 x 1017
Correct Answer:

9.00 x 1017
Response Feedback: Using Einstein's equation, E = mc2, substitute in the value provided.

E = (10.0 kg) (3.00 x 108 m/s)2

E = 9.00 x 1017 kg m2/s2 = 9.00 x 1017 J

Question 23
2 out of 2 points

According to Einstein's formula for the conversion of mass and energy, to find the energy,
multiply the mass by the speed of light.
Selected Answer:

FALSE
Correct Answer:

FALSE
Response
Feedback:

According to Einstein's formula for the conversion of mass and energy, to

find the energy, multiply the mass by the square of the speed of light.

Question 24
0 out of 3 points

Aside from medical uses, nuclear energy and radioactive decay have been successfully
used for:
Selected Answer:

generation of electricity
Correct Answer:

all of these
Response
Feedback:

Nuclear power has been successfully used to generate electricity (in power
plants) and make plutonium (a valuable radioactive byproduct) and
radioisotopes, which have been used for irradiating food.

Question 25
3 out of 3 points

Most of the radioisotopes used for medical purposes:

Selected Answer:

are prepared in a nuclear reactor or cyclotron

Correct Answer:

are prepared in a nuclear reactor or cyclotron

Response
Feedback:

Most of the radioisotopes used for medical purposes are produced

synthetically in nuclear reactors or cyclotrons, and have relatively short halflives.

Question 26
2 out of 2 points

Nuclear technologies are restricted to only two main uses: energy generation and medical
uses.
Selected Answer:

FALSE
Correct Answer:

FALSE
Response Nuclear technologies also are applied to identifying flaws in critical parts and
Feedback welds; ensuring the quality of manufactured products; and destroying germs
:
and bacteria that contaminate medical supplies, blood supplies, and food.

Nuclear materials also may be used to authenticate valuable works of art, to

solve crimes by spotting trace elements, and to eliminate dust and/or static
electricity from film and compact disks. Radioisotopes can be used to improve
the features of consumer products, such as electron tubes, incandescent lamp
starters, watches, and smoke detectors.

Question 27
0 out of 3 points

The fundamental principle applied to the transport, storage or containment of radioactive

material is that the protection comes from:
Selected
Answer:
Correct
Answer:
Response
Feedback:

the rating of the waste level on the outside of the container

the design and security of the packaging that encloses the
radioactive matter
The design (and resultant security) of the package encasing the radioactive
material is the fundamental principle applied to the transport, storage or
containment of the radioactive material.

Question 28
0 out of 3 points

Which of the following phrases best describes the disposal method used for high-level
nuclear waste?
Selected Answer:

concentrate and contain

Correct Answer:

delay and decay

Response Delay-and-decay is the best method for dealing with high-level (and long halfFeedback: life) radioactive wastes. It means that the waste is stored safely and is secure

from leakage, so that its radioactivity is allowed to decrease naturally through

decay of the radioisotopes in it.

Question 29
Needs Grading

Describe several safety features installed in nuclear energy facilities that serve to minimize
the environmental impact associated with the storage, containment and disposal of
nuclear wastes.
Selected Thick concrete walls outside, think lead containment vessel on the inside. Water cooled
Answer:

storage facilities on-site for nuclear waste.

Correct
Answer:

Safety features would include adding a protective coating

(cladding) around the nuclear fuel source, having a reliable cooling
system and a back-up cooling system, having high-efficiency air
filters to trap microscopic particles of radioactive materials that
might otherwise be released to the atmosphere, and having a
dome-shaped containment structure on the outside of the facility to
retain any accidental radioactive leakage.

Response [None Given]

Feedback
:

Question 30
0 out of 2 points

Most of the cost of traditional fuels is based on their abundance, but the cost for nuclear
fuel is more dependent on initial construction of the facility.
Selected Answer:

FALSE
Correct Answer:

TRUE
Response
Feedback:

As traditional fuels become scarcer, the price required to purchase them

increases. With nuclear fuels, the majority of the cost lies with building the
facility, not with the scarcity of reactant.

Question 31
Needs Grading

Cite at least three arguments used to defend the use of nuclear reactors.
Selected
Answer:

Lower carbon dioxide (and other greenhouse gases) released into the
atmosphere in power generation.
Low operating costs.
Large power-generating capacity able to meet industrial and city needs

Correct
Answer:

Nuclear reactors provide a great amount of energy per unit of fuel;

nuclear energy does not emit greenhouse gases; nuclear reactors
reduce reliance on imported oil; Earth has limited supplies of coal
and oil and since nuclear reactors use less uranium to produce
more energy, there is a higher assurance ratio that the supply of
uranium will last longer; nuclear fuel is easier to transport than coal
or oil.

Response [None Given]

Feedback
:

Question 32
7 out of 7 points

Match the radioactive tracer with its most common use.

Question

Estimating the age of formerly living ancient

artifacts
Biological tracer used in PET scans
Cancer treatments
Most widely used biological tracer used to detect
brain tumors and bone and lung ailments
Detection and treatment of thyroid ailments
Fuel in nuclear reactors

Smoke detectors in homes and industry

Correct Match
E.

Selected
Match
E.

Carbon-14 Carbon-14
F.

F.

Fluorine-18 Fluorine-18
D.

Cobalt-60
G.

D.

Cobalt-60
G.

Technitium- Technitium99
99
C.

C.

Iodine-131 Iodine-131
A.

Uranium235
B.

A.

Uranium235
B.

Americium- Americium241
241