Nuclear Forces and Radioactive Decays

**1. What is the primary constituent of the nucleus?**

a. Electrons
b. Protons
c. Neutrons
d. Positrons

**Answer: b. Protons**

**2. The mass of the nucleus is mainly due to the:**

a. Protons
b. Neutrons
c. Electrons
d. Positrons

**Answer: a. Protons and b. Neutrons**

**3. The binding energy of a nucleus is a measure of:**

a. Its mass
b. The energy required to break it apart
c. Its charge
d. Its density

**Answer: b. The energy required to break it apart**

**4. What is the unit of binding energy per nucleon often used in nuclear physics?**
a. Joules
b. Electron volts (eV)
c. Watts
d. Newtons

**Answer: b. Electron volts (eV)**

**5. The relationship between the binding energy per nucleon and the stability of a nucleus is that:**
a. Higher binding energy per nucleon indicates greater stability
b. Lower binding energy per nucleon indicates greater stability
c. There is no correlation between binding energy and stability
d. It depends on the number of neutrons only

**Answer: a. Higher binding energy per nucleon indicates greater stability**

**6. The radius of a nucleus is typically of the order of:**
a. Angstroms
b. Nanometers
c. Picometers
d. Micrometers

**Answer: c. Picometers**

**7. What is the relationship between the nuclear radius and the mass number of a nucleus?**
a. Directly proportional
b. Inversely proportional
c. No relationship
d. Exponential relationship

**Answer: a. Directly proportional**

**8. The nuclear density is highest in:**

a. Small nuclei
b. Medium-sized nuclei
c. Large nuclei
d. The density is the same for all nuclei

**Answer: c. Large nuclei**

**9. Which force is responsible for overcoming the electrostatic repulsion between protons in the nucleus?**
a. Gravitational force
b. Weak nuclear force
c. Strong nuclear force
d. Electromagnetic force

**Answer: c. Strong nuclear force**

**10. The stability of a nucleus is determined by a balance between:**

a. Proton-proton repulsion and neutron-neutron repulsion
b. Proton-proton attraction and neutron-neutron attraction
c. Proton-proton repulsion and neutron-neutron attraction
d. Proton-neutron repulsion and neutron-proton attraction

**Answer: c. Proton-proton repulsion and neutron-neutron attraction**

**11. What is the primary factor that determines the range of the strong nuclear force in the nucleus?**
a. Mass of protons
b. Mass of neutrons
c. Energy of the nucleons
 d. Distance between nucleons

**Answer: d. Distance between nucleons**

**12. The saturation of nuclear forces means that:**

a. The forces become weaker as more nucleons are added
b. The forces become stronger as more nucleons are added
c. The forces remain constant regardless of the number of nucleons
d. The forces only act on protons

**Answer: c. The forces remain constant regardless of the number of nucleons**

**13. The process of combining smaller nuclei to form a larger, more stable nucleus is known as:**
a. Nuclear fission
b. Nuclear fusion
c. Alpha decay
d. Beta decay

**Answer: b. Nuclear fusion**

**14. What is the consequence of a nucleus having an excess of neutrons over protons?**
a. It becomes positively charged
b. It becomes negatively charged
c. It becomes unstable and undergoes radioactive decay
d. It becomes stable and non-radioactive

**Answer: c. It becomes unstable and undergoes radioactive decay**

**15. The concept of the magic numbers in nuclear physics refers to:**
a. Specific numbers of protons in a nucleus
b. Specific numbers of neutrons in a nucleus
c. Nuclei with both specific numbers of protons and neutrons
d. Nuclei with no protons or neutrons

**Answer: c. Nuclei with both specific numbers of protons and neutrons**

**Angular Momentum of Nucleus:**

1. **What is the quantum number associated with nuclear angular momentum?**
a. Principal quantum number (n)
b. Azimuthal quantum number (l)
c. Magnetic quantum number (m)
d. Spin quantum number (s)

**Answer: b. Azimuthal quantum number (l)**

2. **Which property of a rotating nucleus is described by its angular momentum?**
a. Size
b. Shape
c. Charge
d. Mass

**Answer: b. Shape**

3. **The conservation of angular momentum in a nucleus is responsible for which phenomenon?**

a. Nuclear fission
b. Nuclear fusion
c. Nuclear decay
d. Nuclear resonance

**Answer: a. Nuclear fission**

4. **In a nucleus, what happens to the angular momentum as the nuclear state changes?**
a. It remains constant
b. It decreases
c. It increases
d. It becomes zero

**Answer: a. It remains constant**

5. **The unit of nuclear angular momentum is typically measured in:**

a. Joule-seconds
b. Electron volts
c. Hertz
d. Newton-meters

**Answer: a. Joule-seconds**

6. **Which nucleon contributes significantly to the nuclear angular momentum?**

a. Proton
b. Neutron
c. Both protons and neutrons
d. Neither protons nor neutrons

**Answer: c. Both protons and neutrons**

**Magnetic Dipole Moment Vector of Nucleus:**

7. **The magnetic dipole moment of a nucleus is associated with the:**

 a. Spinning motion of the nucleus
b. Orbital motion of the nucleus
c. Vibration of the nucleus
d. Decay of the nucleus

**Answer: a. Spinning motion of the nucleus**

8. **What is the direction of the magnetic dipole moment vector in a nucleus with nonzero angular momentum?**
a. Along the direction of angular momentum
b. Opposite to the direction of angular momentum
c. Perpendicular to the direction of angular momentum
d. Random direction

**Answer: a. Along the direction of angular momentum**

9. **The precession of the nuclear magnetic dipole moment is analogous to the behavior of a:**
a. Spinning top
b. Falling object
c. Oscillating pendulum
d. Rotating wheel

**Answer: a. Spinning top**

10. **In a magnetic field, the interaction energy of a nucleus is maximized when the magnetic dipole moment is
aligned:**
a. Parallel to the magnetic field
b. Anti-parallel to the magnetic field
c. Perpendicular to the magnetic field
d. Irregularly to the magnetic field

**Answer: a. Parallel to the magnetic field**

11. **Which property of a nucleus is responsible for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)?**
a. Electric charge
b. Angular momentum
c. Magnetic dipole moment
d. Electric quadrupole moment

**Answer: c. Magnetic dipole moment**

12. **The gyromagnetic ratio is a measure of the:**

a. Magnetic susceptibility
b. Nuclear spin
c. Magnetic dipole moment strength
 d. Angular momentum

**Answer: c. Magnetic dipole moment strength**

**Electric Quadrupole Moment Tensor of Nucleus:**

13. **The electric quadrupole moment of a nucleus provides information about its:**
a. Size
b. Charge distribution
c. Mass
d. Spin

**Answer: b. Charge distribution**

14. **The electric quadrupole moment tensor describes the distribution of:**
a. Electric charge in a nucleus
b. Magnetic charge in a nucleus
c. Angular momentum in a nucleus
d. Mass in a nucleus

**Answer: a. Electric charge in a nucleus**

15. **A nucleus with a nonzero electric quadrupole moment tensor is typically associated with:**
a. Spherical shape
b. Cylindrical shape
c. Ellipsoidal shape
d. Rectangular shape

**Answer: c. Ellipsoidal shape**

16. **The electric quadrupole moment tensor involves components in:**

a. One dimension
b. Two dimensions
c. Three dimensions
d. Four dimensions

**Answer: c. Three dimensions**

17. **The unit of electric quadrupole moment is typically measured in:**

a. Coulomb-meters
b. Coulombs
c. Coulomb-squared
d. Joules
 **Answer: a. Coulomb-meters**

18. **The orientation of the electric quadrupole moment tensor is defined with respect to the:**
a. Magnetic field
b. Electric field
c. Angular momentum
d. Magnetic dipole moment

**Answer: c. Angular momentum**

**General Characteristics of Nuclear Force:**

1. **What is the primary force responsible for binding protons and neutrons in a nucleus?**
a. Gravity
b. Electromagnetic force
c. Weak nuclear force
d. Strong nuclear force

**Answer: d. Strong nuclear force**

2. **The range of the nuclear force is approximately:**

a. 1 pm (picometer)
b. 1 nm (nanometer)
c. 1 mm (millimeter)
d. 1 m (meter)

**Answer: a. 1 pm (picometer)**

3. **The nuclear force between nucleons is:**

a. Attractive only
b. Repulsive only
c. Both attractive and repulsive
d. Independent of distance

**Answer: a. Attractive only**

4. **The nuclear force is charge-independent, meaning it is:**

a. Affected by the charge of nucleons
b. Independent of the charge of nucleons
c. Repulsive for protons and attractive for neutrons
d. Repulsive for neutrons and attractive for protons

**Answer: b. Independent of the charge of nucleons**

5. **The exchange of which particles mediates the nuclear force between nucleons?**
a. Photons
b. Pions
c. Electrons
d. Neutrinos

**Answer: b. Pions**

**Deuteron Ground State Properties:**

6. **A deuteron is composed of:**

a. One proton and one neutron
b. Two protons
c. Two neutrons
d. One proton and two neutrons

**Answer: a. One proton and one neutron**

7. **What is the total spin of the deuteron?**

a. 0
b. 1/2
c. 1
d. 3/2

**Answer: b. 1/2**

8. **The deuteron has what type of nuclear spin?**

a. Integer spin
b. Half-integer spin
c. No spin
d. Variable spin

**Answer: b. Half-integer spin**

9. **The binding energy of the deuteron is primarily due to the exchange of:**
a. Protons
b. Neutrons
c. Pions
d. Electrons

**Answer: c. Pions**

10. **The deuteron is a stable nucleus with a lifetime on the order of:**
a. Milliseconds
 b. Seconds
c. Minutes
d. Years

**Answer: c. Minutes**

11. **What is the primary factor responsible for the stability of the deuteron?**
a. Strong nuclear force
b. Electromagnetic force
c. Weak nuclear force
d. Gravity

**Answer: a. Strong nuclear force**

12. **The deuteron has what type of electric charge?**

a. Positive
b. Negative
c. Neutral
d. Variable

**Answer: c. Neutral**

13. **What is the primary energy state of the deuteron?**

a. Ground state
b. Excited state
c. Metastable state
d. Unstable state

**Answer: a. Ground state**

14. **The magnetic dipole moment of the deuteron is primarily due to the:**
a. Magnetic moment of the proton
b. Magnetic moment of the neutron
c. Spin of the proton
d. Spin of the neutron

**Answer: c. Spin of the proton**

15. **The deuteron's electric quadrupole moment arises from its:**

a. Spherical shape
b. Ellipsoidal shape
c. Triangular shape
d. Rectangular shape
 **Answer: b. Ellipsoidal shape**

16. **The mass of the deuteron is approximately equal to the sum of the masses of its constituent:**
a. Proton and neutron
b. Two protons
c. Two neutrons
d. Proton and electron

**Answer: a. Proton and neutron**

17. **Which force is responsible for the binding of the proton and neutron in the deuteron?**
a. Electromagnetic force
b. Strong nuclear force
c. Weak nuclear force
d. Gravity

**Answer: b. Strong nuclear force**

18. **The deuteron has what type of parity?**

a. Even parity
b. Odd parity
c. Zero parity
d. Variable parity

**Answer: a. Even parity**

19. **What is the approximate half-life of a free neutron?**

a. Minutes
b. Hours
c. Days
d. Indefinite (stable)

**Answer: a. Minutes**

20. **What is the primary decay mode of a free neutron?**

a. Beta decay
b. Alpha decay
c Gamma decay
d. Spontaneous fission

**Answer: a. Beta decay**

**Beta-Minus Decay:**
1. **In beta-minus decay, a neutron is transformed into a:**
a. Proton
b. Electron
c. Neutrino
d. Positron

**Answer: b. Electron**

2. **The emitted electron in beta-minus decay is known as:**

a. Alpha particle
b. Beta particle
c. Positron
d. Neutrino

**Answer: b. Beta particle**

3. **Which particle carries away the missing energy and momentum in beta-minus decay?**
a. Neutrino
b. Proton
c. Electron
d. Positron

**Answer: a. Neutrino**

4. **During beta-minus decay, the atomic number of the nucleus:**

a. Increases
b. Decreases
c. Remains the same
d. Becomes negative

**Answer: a. Increases**

5. **What is the electric charge of the emitted electron in beta-minus decay?**

a. Positive
b. Negative
c. Neutral
d. Variable

**Answer: b. Negative**

**Beta-Plus Decay:**

6. **In beta-plus decay, a proton is transformed into a:**

a. Neutron
 b. Electron
c. Neutrino
d. Positron

**Answer: a. Neutron**

7. **The emitted positron in beta-plus decay has a charge of:**

a. Positive
b. Negative
c. Neutral
d. Variable

**Answer: a. Positive**

8. **What is the antiparticle of the electron, which is also involved in beta-plus decay?**
a. Neutrino
b. Antineutrino
c. Positron
d. Antipositron

**Answer: c. Positron**

9. **During beta-plus decay, the atomic number of the nucleus:**

a. Increases
b. Decreases
c. Remains the same
d. Becomes negative

**Answer: b. Decreases**

10. **Which particle carries away the missing energy and momentum in beta-plus decay?**
a. Neutrino
b. Antineutrino
c. Electron
d. Positron

**Answer: b. Antineutrino**

**Alpha Decay:**

11. **In alpha decay, a nucleus emits an:**

a. Electron
b. Positron
c. Alpha particle
 d. Gamma ray

**Answer: c. Alpha particle**

12. **What is the charge of an alpha particle?**

a. Positive
b. Negative
c. Neutral
d. Variable

**Answer: a. Positive**

13. **The emitted alpha particle consists of:**

a. Protons and electrons
b. Neutrons and positrons
c. Protons and neutrons
d. Electrons and positrons

**Answer: c. Protons and neutrons**

14. **During alpha decay, the atomic number of the nucleus:**

a. Increases
b. Decreases
c. Remains the same
d. Becomes negative

**Answer: b. Decreases**

15. **What is the mass number of an alpha particle?**

a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4

**Answer: d. 4**

**Gamma Decay:**

16. **Gamma decay involves the emission of:**

a. Electrons
b. Positrons
c. Alpha particles
d. Gamma rays
 **Answer: d. Gamma rays**

17. **What is the charge of a gamma ray?**

a. Positive
b. Negative
c. Neutral
d. Variable

**Answer: c. Neutral**

18. **Gamma decay is associated with the release of:**

a. Electrons
b. Positrons
c. Excess energy
d. Alpha particles

**Answer: c. Excess energy**

19. **Which type of decay does not change the atomic number or mass number of the nucleus?**
a. Beta-minus decay
b. Beta-plus decay
c. Alpha decay
d. Gamma decay

**Answer: d. Gamma decay**

20. **The energy of a gamma ray is typically in the range of:**

a. Electron volts (eV)
b. Kiloelectron volts (keV)
c. Megaelectron volts (MeV)
d. Gigaelectron volts (GeV)

**Answer: c. Megaelectron volts (MeV)**

**Electron Capture:**

21. **In electron capture, a nucleus captures an:**

a. Electron
b. Positron
c. Alpha particle
d. Gamma ray

**Answer: a. Electron**
22. **What is the charge of the captured electron in electron capture?**
a. Positive
b. Negative
c. Neutral
d. Variable

**Answer: b. Negative**

23. **The process of electron capture leads to the conversion of a proton into a:**
a. Neutron
b. Electron
c. Positron
d. Alpha particle

**Answer: a. Neutron**

24. **During electron capture, the atomic number of the nucleus:**

a. Increases
b. Decreases
c. Remains the same
d. Becomes negative

**Answer: b. Decreases**

25. **What particle is emitted along with a neutrino in electron capture?**

a. Electron
b. Positron
c. Neutrino
d. Antineutrino

**Answer: c. Neutrino**

**Fundamental Laws of Radioactive Disintegration:**

1. **What is the primary quantity used to measure the rate of radioactive decay?**
a. Activity
b. Energy
c. Half-life
d. Decay constant

**Answer: a. Activity**

2. **The decay law, N = N₀e^(-λt), describes the relationship between:**

a. Activity and time
 b. Half-life and decay constant
c. Initial and final number of nuclei
d. Energy and frequency

**Answer: c. Initial and final number of nuclei**

3. **The half-life of a radioactive substance is the time it takes for:**

a. One-fourth of the nuclei to decay
b. One-half of the nuclei to decay
c. Three-fourths of the nuclei to decay
d. All nuclei to decay

**Answer: b. One-half of the nuclei to decay**

4. **What is the relationship between the decay constant (λ) and the half-life (T₁/₂) in radioactive decay?**
a. λ = ln(2)/T₁/₂
b. λ = 2/T₁/₂
c. λ = T₁/₂/ln(2)
d. λ = ln(T₁/₂)/2

**Answer: a. λ = ln(2)/T₁/₂**

5. **Which law states that the probability of a radioactive decay event is constant over time?**
a. Curie's law
b. Rutherford's law
c. Geiger's law
d. Decay law

**Answer: d. Decay law**

**Radioactive Series:**

6. **A series of radioactive decays in which one element transforms into another through a sequence of decays is
known as:**
a. Beta series
b. Alpha series
c. Gamma series
d. Radioactive series

**Answer: d. Radioactive series**

7. **What is the initial nucleus in the Uranium-238 decay series?**

a. Uranium-234
b. Thorium-234
 c. Protactinium-234
d. Uranium-238

**Answer: d. Uranium-238**

8. **The final stable nucleus in the Uranium-238 decay series is:**

a. Uranium-238
b. Thorium-234
c. Lead-206
d. Radon-222

**Answer: c. Lead-206**

9. **What type of decay is predominant in the Thorium-232 decay series?**

a. Alpha decay
b. Beta decay
c. Gamma decay
d. Electron capture

**Answer: a. Alpha decay**

10. **The final stable nucleus in the Thorium-232 decay series is:**
a. Thorium-232
b. Radon-220
c. Lead-208
d. Bismuth-208

**Answer: c. Lead-208**

11. **Which element is part of the actinium series and is present in the decay of Uranium-235?**
a. Actinium-227
b. Radium-226
c. Thorium-232
d. Protactinium-234

**Answer: a. Actinium-227**

12. **What is the decay product of Radon-222 in the Radon decay series?**
a. Polonium-210
b. Bismuth-214
c. Lead-214
d. Radium-226

**Answer: b. Bismuth-214**
13. **In the Neptunium series, the decay of Neptunium-237 eventually leads to the formation of:**
a. Protactinium-233
b. Thorium-229
c. Uranium-233
d. Plutonium-239

**Answer: c. Uranium-233**

14. **What is the decay product of Thorium-234 in the Thorium decay series?**
a. Protactinium-234
b. Radium-228
c. Lead-208
d. Radon-220

**Answer: b. Radium-228**

15. **Which radioactive series is associated with the decay of Uranium-232?**

a. Thorium series
b. Actinium series
c. Uranium series
d. Neptunium series

**Answer: a. Thorium series**

16. **What is the decay product of Protactinium-234 in the Uranium series?**

a. Thorium-230
b. Radium-226
c. Lead-210
d. Bismuth-214

**Answer: a. Thorium-230**

17. **The final stable nucleus in the Neptunium-237 decay series is:**
a. Protactinium-233
b. Thorium-229
c. Uranium-233
d. Plutonium-239

**Answer: c. Uranium-233**

18. **Which radioactive series involves the decay of Uranium-235?**

a. Uranium series
b. Thorium series
 c. Actinium series
d. Neptunium series

**Answer: a. Uranium series**

19. **The decay product of Lead-210 in the Uranium series is:**

a. Polonium-210
b. Bismuth-214
c. Radium-226
d. Lead-206

**Answer: a. Polonium-210**

20. **Which element is part of the Uranium series and is present in the decay of Uranium-238?**
a. Protactinium-234
b. Radium-226
c. Thorium-232
d. Neptunium-237

**Answer: c. Thorium-232**