SETH ANANDRAM JAIPURIA SCHOOL

QUESTION BANK
PHYSICS(042)
TOPIC: NUCLEI

MARKS TYPE OF NUMBER OF QUESTIONS

ALLOTED QUESTION
1 M.C.Q. 28

2 V.S.A. 10

3 S.A. 47

5 L.A. 3

4 C.B.Q. 2
 MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

1) The unit(s) of radioactivity is (are) ____.

a. becquerel (Bq)
b. curie (Ci)
c. Rutherford (rd)
d. All the above
2) Which of the following nuclei has high
average binding energy and more stable?
a. Pb-208
b. Cu-63
c. Li-7
d. Fe-56
3) Which of the following statement(s)
is(are) correct about the nuclear force?
a. Nuclear force is strongest attractive force.
b. Nuclear force is charge independent
c. Nuclear force is short-range force.
d. All the above
4) When a radioactive element undergoes a
beta-plus decay, the atomic number of
daughter nucleus ____.
a. increases by one
b. decreases by one
c. decreases by two+
d. remains same
5) Which of the following source produces
high amount of energy?
a. Coal
b. Petroleum
c. Uranium
d. Wood
6) The moderator(s) used in nuclear reactor
is(are)____.
a. Water
b. Graphite
c. Heavy water
d. All the above
7) Which of the following fundamental
particle was discovered by James Chadwick.
a. Electron
b. Proton
c. Neutron
d. Positron
8) A radioactive element,22888Ra undergoes
alpha decay for 4 times and beta minus
decay for 3 times. Then the mass number
of the daughter nucleus is ____.
a. 212
b. 215
c. 209
d. 220
9) The pair of nuclei 4018Ar and 40 20Ca is an example of ____.
a. Isotopes
b. Isotones
c. Isobars
d. Isomers
10) Nuclear reactor works on the principle of____.
a. Nuclear fusion
b. Uncontrolled nuclear fission
c. Sustained controlled chain reaction
d. Thermionic emission
11) The atom bomb works on the principle of____.
a. Nuclear fusion
b. Controlled nuclear fission
c. Uncontrolled nuclear fission
d. Thermionic Emission
12) When 23592U is bombarded with a slow-moving neutron, it
undergoes fission reaction according to the equation,
1
+ 23592U → 14156Ba + 9236Kr + 3x + Q where Q is the energy
0n
released in the fission and the x is ____:
a. An electron
b. A proton
c. A positron
d. A neutron
13) The nucleus of lead, 20782Pb contains ____.
a. 82 neutrons and 125 protons
b. 82 protons and 125 neutrons
c. 82 electrons and 125 neutrons
d. 82 protons and 207 neutrons
14) The average number of neutrons produced per fission of
one uranium atom are ____.
a. 3
b. 4
c. 2.5
d. 5
15) A radioactive element undergoes a
gamma decay. Then the atomic number of
the daughter nucleus ____.
a. decrease by 2
b. increases by 1
c. decreases by 1
d. remains same
16) Radioactivity was discovered by ____.
a. James Chadwick
b. Ernest Rutherford
c. Henry Becquerel
d. Marie Curie
17) The mass of 146C nucleus is ____kg.
(mp=1.00727,mn=1.00866u )
a. 14.113 ×10−27
b. 23.435 ×10−27
c. 14.113
d. 23.435
18) Which of the following decay emits electromagnetic
radiation?
a. Alpha decay
b. Beta plus decay
c. Beta minus decay
d. Gamma decay
19) Calculate the energy required to disintegrate the nucleus
of 73Li, if the binding energy nucleon is 5.8 Mev.
a. 5.8 Mev
b. 17.4 MeV
c. 40.6 MeV
d. 58 MeV
20) Which of the following is a pair of
isotones?
a. 21H, 31H
b. 146C, 147N
c. 146C, 168O
d. 146C, 137N
22) The volume of nucleus is directly
proportional to ____.
a. A
b. A1/3
c. A2
d. A3
23) India's first nuclear reactor is ____.
a. PURNIMA
b. CIRUS
c. APSARA
24) The ratio of the radii of the nuclei 6427Co and 12552Te is
approximately ____.
a. 27:52
b. 37:73
c. 4:5
d. 91:177
25) 1 MeV is equal to ____ J.
a. 1.6 × 10−19
b. 931.5
c. 1.6 × 10−13
d. 1.66 × 10−27
26) The number of α particles and β particles emitted in the
following radioactive decay are____22486P →20880D where P
and D represents parent nucleus and daughter nucleus.
a. 2α and 2β
b. 4α and 4β
c. 4α and 2β
d. 2α and4β
27) Fermi is the unit of ____.
a. Nuclear density
b. Atomic mass
c. Charge
d. Length, used to measure the nuclear distances
28) Which of the following statement(s) is (are)
true? a. High average binding energy → High
stability b. High average binding energy → Low
stability c. Low average binding energy → Low
stability d. Low average binding energy → High
stability
a. a, b
b. b, d
c. a, c
d. c, d

VERY SHORT QUESTIONS

1) Write the relationship between the size of a nucleus and its mass
number?
2) How is the mean life of radioactive sample related to its half-life?
3) Why is it found experimentally difficult to detect neutrinos in β –
decay?
4) 2He4 and 1H3 have the same mass number . Do they have the same
binding energy?
5) Draw a graph showing the variation of decay rate with number of
radioactive nuclei?
6) Two nuclei have mass number in the ratio 1: 8.What is the ratio of
their nuclear radii?
7) Write the β – decay of tritium in symbolic form?
8) What is the SI unit of activity of a radioactive sample?
9) Why is the mass of a nucleus always less than the sum of the
masses of its constituents ?
10) Explain why the density of nuclear matter independent of the
size of nucleus?

SHORT QUESTIONS (I)

1) State two characteristic properties of nuclear force.

2) An electron and alpha particle have the same de-Broglie
wavelength associated with them. How are their kinetic
energies related to each other?
3) State the reason, why heavy water is generally used as a
moderator in a nuclear reactor.
4) Name the absorbing material used to control the reaction
rate of neutrons in a nuclear reactor.
5) State two characteristic properties of nuclear force.
6) Two nuclei have mass numbers in the ratio 1: 2. What is
the ratio of their nuclear densities?
7) Two nuclei have mass number in the ratio 1 : 3. What is
the ratio of their nuclear densities?
8) Two nuclei have mass numbers in the ratio 1: 8. What is
the ratio of their nuclear radii?
9) What is the relationship between decay constant and
mean life of a radioactive nucleus?
10) Write the relationship between the size and the atomic
mass number of a nucleus.
11) Define the activity of a given radioactive substance. Write
its S.I. unit.
12) How is the radius of a nucleus related to its mass number
A?
13) Why is it found experimentally difficult to detect
neutrinos in nuclear β-decay?
14) Name and define, the SI unit for the ‘activity’, of a given
sample of radioactive nuclei.
15) A nucleus 1023Ne undergoes b-decay and becomes 1123Na.
Calculate the maximum kinetic energy of electrons emitted if
the daughter nucleus and anti-neutrino carry negligible
kinetic energy.

16) Calculate the energy released in MeV in the following

nuclear reaction:
17) A radioactive nucleus ‘A’ undergoes a series of decays according
to the following scheme:

The mass number and atomic number of A are 190 and 75

respectively. What are these numbers for A4?
18) (a) The mass of a nucleus in its ground state is always less than
the total mass of its constituents – neutrons and protons. Explain.
(b) Plot a graph showing the variation of potential energy of a pair of
nucleons as function of their separation.
19) A heavy nucleus X of mass number 240 and binding energy per
nucleon 7.6 MeV is split into two fragments Y and Z of mass numbers
110 and 130. The binding energy of nucleons in Y and Z is 8.5 MeV
per nucleon. Calculate the energy Q released per fission in MeV.
20) Draw a plot of potential energy of a pair of nucleons as a function
of their separation. Write two important conclusions which you can
draw regarding the nature of nuclear forces.
21) Draw a plot of the binding energy per nucleon as a function of
mass number for many nuclei, 2 ≤ A ≤ 240. How do you explain the
constancy of binding energy per nucleon in the range 30 < A < 170
using the property that nuclear force is short ranged?
22) Using the curve for the binding energy per nucleon as a function
of mass number A, state clearly how the release of energy in the
processes of nuclear fission and nuclear fusion can be explained.
23) If both the number of protons and neutrons in a nuclear reaction
is conserved, in what way is mass converted into energy (or vice
versa)? Explain giving one example.
24) Complete the following nuclear reactions :
25) Calculate the energy released in the following reaction;

26) Write the relation between half-life and decay constant of a

radioactive nucleus.
27) Two radioactive samples, X, Y have the same number of atoms at
t = 0. Their half-lives are 3h and 4h respectively. Compare the rates
of disintegration of the two nuclei after 12 hours.
28) Distinguish between nuclear fission and fusion. Explain how the
energy is released in both the processes.

SHORT QUESTIONS(II)

1) Draw a plot showing the variation of binding energy per

nucleon versus the mass number (A). Explain with the help of
this plot the release of energy in the processes of nuclear
fission and fusion.
2) Define the activity of a radionuclide. Write its S.I. unit. Give
a plot of the activity of a radioactive species versus time.
How long will a radioactive isotope, whose half-life is T years,
take for its activity to reduce to 1/8th of its initial value?
3) (i) Define ‘activity’ of a radioactive material and write its
S.I. unit.
(ii) Plot a graph showing variation of activity of a given
radioactive sample with time.
(iii) The sequence of stepwise decay of a radioactive nucleus
is:

If the atomic number and mass number of D2, are 71 and 176
respectively, what are their corresponding values for D?
4) a) Write symbolically the β decay process of 15 P32
(b) Derive an expression for the average life of a radionuclide.
Give its relationship with the half-life.
5) State the law of radioactive decay.
Plot a graph showing the number (N) of undecayed nuclei as
a function of time (t) for a given radioactive sample having
half-life T 1/2. Depict in the plot the number of
undecayed nuclei at:
(i) t = 3 T 1/2
(ii) t = 5 ½
6) (i) What characteristic property of nuclear force explains
the constancy of binding energy per nucleon (BE/A) in the
range of mass number ‘A’ lying 30 < A < 170?
(ii) Show that the density of nucleus over a wide range of
nuclei is constant- independent of mass number A.
7) Draw a plot of potential energy of a pair of nucleons as a
function of their separations. Mark the regions where the
nuclear force is
(i) attractive and
(ii) repulsive. Write any two characteristic features of nuclear
forces.
8) (i) Why is the binding energy per nucleon found to be
constant for nuclei in the range of mass number (A) lying
between 30 and 170?
(ii) When a heavy nucleus with mass number A = 240 breaks
into two nuclei, A = 120, energy is released in’ the process.
(iii) In β-decay, the experimental detection of neutrinos (or
antineutrinos) is found to be extremely difficult?
9) (a) In a typical nuclear reaction, e.g.

although number of nucleons is conserved, yet energy is

released. How? Explain.
(b) Show that nuclear density in each nucleus is independent
of mass number A.
10) In the following reaction:
though the mass number is conserved on both sides of the
reaction, yet the energy is released. How? Explain.
(b) Draw a plot of potential energy between a pair of
nucleons as a function of their separation. Mark the regions
where potential energy is:
(i) positive
(ii) negative.
11)(a) The number of nuclei of a given radioactive sample at
time t = 0 and t = T are N0 and N0/n respectively. Obtain an
expression for the half-life (T 1/2) of the nucleus in terms of n
and T.
(b) Write the basic nuclear process underlying β-decay of a
given radioactive nucleus.
12) Write the relation for binding energy (BE) (in MeV) of a
nucleus of AZN, atomic number (Z) and mass number (A) in
terms of the masses of its constituents –neutrons and
protons.
(b) Draw a plot of BE/A versus mass number A for 2 ≤ A ≤
170. Use this graph to explain the release of energy in the
process of nuclear fusion of two light nuclei.
13) (a) Define the term ‘activity of a sample of radioactive
nucleus. Write its S.I. unit.
(b) The half-life of 23892U undergoing α decay
is 4.5×109 years. Determine the activity of 10g sample of
 92U. Given that 1g of U contains U contains 25.3* 10 20
238

atoms
14) (i) Write the relation between ‘average life’ and ‘half-life’
of a radioactive nucleus.

15)(i) Define the term ‘mass defect’ of a nucleus. How is it

related with its binding energy?
(ii) Determine the Q-value of the following reaction:

16) Complete the following nuclear reactions :

(c) Why is it found experimentally difficult to detect
neutrinos?
17) (a) Write the basic nuclear process involved in the emission of β+
in a symbolic form, by a radioactive nucleus.
(b) In the reactions given below :

Find the values of x, y, and z and a, b and c.

18) (i) A radioactive nucleus ‘A’ undergoes a series of decays as given
below:

The mass number and atomic number of A2 are 176 and 71

respectively. Determine the mass and atomic numbers of A4 and A.

19) (a) Draw a graph showing the variation of binding energy per
nucleon (BE/A) vs mass number A for the nuclei in 20 ≤ A ≤ 170.
(b) A nucleus of mass number 240 and having binding
energy/nucleon 7.6 MeV splits into two fragments Y, Z of mass
numbers 110 and 130 respectively. If the binding energy/ nucleon of
Y, Z is equal to 8.5 MeV each, calculate the energy released in the
nuclear reaction.
 LONG QUESTIONS

1) Draw a graph showing the variation of binding energy per

nucleon with the with the mass number for many nuclei 2< A
< 240. What are the main inferences from the graph ?How do
you explain the constancy of binding energy in the range 30 <
A < 170 using the property that the nuclear force is short
ranged? Explain with this graph the release of energy in the
process of nuclear fission and fusion ?
2) a) Define the term ‘activity’ of a given sample of
radionuclide. Write the expression for the law of radioactive
decay in terms of the activity of a given sample.
(b) A radioactive isotope has a half-life of T years. How long
will it take the activity to reduce to 3.125% of its original
value?
(c) When a nucleus (X) undergoes β-decay, and transforms to
the nucleus (Y), does the pair (X, Y) form isotopes, isobars or
isotones? Justify your answer.
3) (a) Draw the plot of binding energy per nucleon (BE/A) as a
function of mass number A. Write two important conclusions
that can be drawn regarding the nature of nuclear force.
(b) Use this graph to explain the release of energy in both the
processes of nuclear fusion and fission.
(c) Write the basic nuclear process of neutron undergoing β-
decay. Why is the detection of neutrinos found very difficult?
 CASE BASED QUESTIONS
1.In the year 1939, German scientist Otto Hahn and Strassman
discovered that when a uranium isotope was bombarded with
a neutron, it breaks into two intermediate mass fragments. It
was observed that, the sum of the masses of new fragments
formed were less than the mass of the original nuclei. This
difference in the mass appeared as the energy released in the
process. Thus, the phenomenon of splitting of a heavy nucleus
(usually A> 230) into two or more lighter nuclei by the
bombardment of proton, neutron, a-particle, etc with
liberation of energy is called nuclear fission.
92U +0n1→92U236→56Ba144+36Kr89+30n1+Q
235

Unstable nucleus
(i) Nuclear fission can be explained on the basis of
(a) Millikan's oil drop method
(b) Liquid. drop model
(c) Shell model
(d) Bohr's model
(ii) For sustaining the nuclear fission chain reaction in a
sample (of small size) 23592U, it is desirable to slow down fast
neutrons by
(a) friction
(b) elastic damping/scattering
(c) absorption
(d) none of these
(iii) Which of the following is/are fission reaction(s)?
(I) 10n+23592U→23692U→13351Sb+9941Nb+410n
(II) 10n+23592U→1.4054Xe+9438Sr+210n
(III)21H+21H→32He+10n
(a) Both II and III
(b) Both I and III
(c) Only II
(d) Both I and II
(iv) On an average, the number of neutrons and the energy of
a neutron released per fission of a uranium atom are
respectively
(a) 2.5 and 2 keV
(b) 3 and 1 keV
(c) 2.5 and 2 MeV
(d) 2 and 2 keV
(v) In any fission process, ratio of mass of daughter nucleus to
mass of parent nucleus is
(a) less than 1
(b) greater than 1
(c) equal to 1
(d) depends on 0 the mass of parent nucleus
2. Neutrons and protons are identical particle in the sense
that their masses are nearly the same and the force, called
nuclear force, does into distinguish them. Nuclear force is the
strongest force. Stability of nucleus is determined
by the neutron proton ratio or mass defect or packing
fraction. Shape of nucleus is calculated by quadrupole
moment and spin of nucleus depends on even or odd mass
number. Volume of nucleus depends on the mass number.
Whole mass of the atom (nearly 99%) is centred at the
nucleus.
(i) The correct statement about the nuclear force is/are
(a) change independent
(b) short range force
(c) non-conservative force
(d) all of these.
(ii) The range of nuclear force is the order of
(a) 2 x 10-10 m
(b) 1.5 x 10-20 m
(c) 1.2 x 10-4 m
(d) 1.4 x 10-15 m
(iii) A force between two protons is same as the force
between proton and neutron. The nature of the force is
(a) electrical force
(b) weak nuclear force
(c) gravitational force
(d) strong nuclear force.
(iv) Two protons are kept at a separation of 40 A˙. Fn is the
nuclear force and Fe is the electrostatic force between them.
Then
(a) Fn << Fe
(b) Fn = Fe
(c) Fn >> Fe
(d) Fn ≈ Fe
(v) All the nucleons in an atom are held by
(a) nuclear forces
(b) van der Waal's forces
(c) tensor forces
(d) coulomb forces