ES/MS 401 Nuclear Physics

Multiple choice questions

(01: mark each, Total marks: 100)

1. Given that 3Li7 = 7.01816 amu, 3Li6 = 6.01692 amu and 0n1 = 1.00893 amu. The
binding energy of a neutron in 3Li7 nucleus is
a) 0.51 MeV c) 1.04 MeV
b) 2.08 MeV d) 7.17 MeV
2. If the nuclear radius of Al is 3.6 Fermi, the approximate nuclear radius of 64Cu in
27

Fermi is
a) 4.8 c) 3.6
b) 2.4 d) 1.2
3 Isotopes are atoms having
a) Same number of protons but different number of neutrons
b) Same number of protons but different number of protons
c) Same number of protons and neutrons
d) None of the above
4 The nucleus radius is of the order of
a) 10-5 m
b) 10-15 m
c) 10-6 m
d) 10-7 m
5 The difference between 92 U 235 and 92U 238 atoms is that

a) U 238 contains 3 more neutrons

b) U 238 contains 3 more neutrons nd three more electrons
c) U 238 contains 3 more protons and 3 more electrons
d) U 238 contains 3 more protons
6 Which of the following statements is true for nuclear forces
a) They are equal in strength to the electromagnetic forces
b) They are short range forces
c) They obey the inverse third power law of distance
d) They obey the inverse square law of distance
7 Of the three basic forces gravitational, electrostatic and nuclear which two are able to
provide an attractive force between two neutrons
a) gravitation and electrostatic
b) electrostatic and nuclear
 c) gravitational and nuclear
d) some other forces like van der Waals
8 In a nucleus the total mass of protons and neutrons is less than the sum of their
individual masses. This suggests that
a) The mass defect accounts for the enrgy of the electrons surrounding the nucleus
b) The mass defect accounts for the binding energy hoding he particles together in the
nucleus
c) The mass defect is due to electrons surrounding the nucleus
d) None of the above

9 Oxygen of atomic number 8 is known to have three stable isotopes of mass numbers
16,17 and 18. Which of the following statement is not correct?
a) All atoms of different mass numbers have different chemical properties
b) Some atoms have 10 neutrons, some have 9 neutrons and some have only 8 neutrons
c) Each atom has 8 protons in the nucleus and 8 electrons outside the nucleus
10 The binding energies per nucleon for deuteron ( 1 H 2 ) and helium  ,  and  are 1.1
MeV and 7.0 MeV respectively. The energy released when two neutrons form a helium
nucleus ( 2 He 4 ) is

a) 11.8MeV
b) 32.4MeV
c) 23.6MeV
d) 28MeV
11 which of the following does not obey inverse square law force
a) electrostatic force
b) magnetic force between two poles
c) gravitational force
d) nuclear force
12 The mass density of a nucleus varies with mass number A as
a) A 2
b) A
c) constant
d) 1/A
13 According to Yukawa the nuclear force arises though the exchange between nucleons
of
a) proton
b) photon
c) positron
 d) meson
14 If the binding energy of the deuterium is 2.23 Mev, the mass defect given in amu is (1
a.m.u =931 MeV)-
a) -0.0024
b) -0.0012
c) 0.0012
d) 0.0024
15 Which type of radiation is stopped by a sheet of paper?
a) alpha particle
b) beta particle
c) Gamma ray
d) X-ray
16 In a graph between binding energy per nucleon and mass numbers of small peaks
indicate that the corresponding elements are
a) radioactive
b) less stable
c) comparably more stable
d) more abundant
17 Which of the following pairs is an isobar?
a) 1 H 1 and 1H 2

b) 1 H 2 and 1 H 3

c) 6 C12 and 6C13

d) 15 P30 and 14 Si 30
18 The mass defect of an atom of mass M, atomic number Z and mass number A is given
by
a) a. M/A
b) M/ZA
c) ( A − Z ) M P

d) [ ZM p + ( A − Z ) M n − M ]

19 The order of magnitude of the density of nuclear matter is

a) 104 kg/m 2

b) 1017 kg/m3

c) 10−15 kg/m3

d) 1034 kg/m3
20 Atomic weight of Boron is 10.81 and it has two isotopes 10 B 5 and 5 B11 . Then the
radio of 10 B10 and 5 B11 isotopes in nature would be
a) 19:81
b) 10:11
c) 15:16
d) 81:19
13 14
21 The nuclei 6 C and 7 N can be described as
a) isotones c) isobars
b) isotopes of carbon d) isotopes of nitrogen
22 If M is the atomic mass, A is mass number, then (M-A)/A is called
a) packing fraction c) Fermi energy
b) mass defect d) binding energy
23 When the number of nucleons in nuclei in crease, the binding energy per nucleon
a) First increases and then decreases with increase of mass number
b) Remains constant with mass number
c) Decreases continuously with mass number
d) Increases continuously with mass number
24 The average binding energy of a nucleus is
a) 80 eV b) 8 MeV c) 8 keV d) 8eV
25 The mass defect for the nucleus of helium is 0.0303 a.m.u. What is the binding energy
per nucleon for helium in MeV
a) 27 b) 7 c) 4 d) d. 1
26 In stable nuclei, the number of neutrons (N) is related to the number of Z in a neutral
atom in general as
a) N ≥ Z b) N=Z c) N<Z d) N>Z
27 The more readily fissionable isotope of uranium has an atomic mass of
a) 238
b) 236
c) 235
d) 234
28 A nucleus ruptures into two nuclear parts which have their velocity ratio equal to 2:1
what will be the ratio of their nuclear size (nuclear radius)?
a) 21/ 3 :1
b) 21/ 3 :1
c) 31/ 3 :1
d) 1: 31/ 2
29 Given mneutron = 1.0087, mproton = 1.0073, m = 4.0015 (in amu units, 1 amu=931 MeV).
Binding energy of helium nucleus is
a) 28.4 MeV
b) 20.8 MeV
c) 27.3 MeV
d) 14.2Mev
30 What is the binding energy of 6 C 12 ? (Given mass of proton = 1.00078 a.m.u. mass of
neutron = 1.0087 a.m.u. =931 MeV)
a) 9.2 MeV
b) 92 MeV
c) 920 MeV
d) 0.92 Mev
31 The binding energy per nucleus were to split into two equal size nuclei, about how much
energy would be released in the process.
a) 238MeV
b) 23.8MeV
c) 2.38MeV
d) 119MeV
32 Which one of the following sets corresponds to fundamental particles?
a) proton, electron and neutron
b) proton, electron and photon
c) electron, photon and neutrino
d) quark, electron and meson
33. The difference in the mass of the resultant nucleus and the sum of the masses of two
parent nuclear particle is known as
a) Mass Defect
b) Solid Defect
c) Weight Defect
d) Nucleus Defect
34. Liquid drop model predict
a) Depth of net nuclear potential a symmetry term
b) Electric quadrapole moment
c) Magnetic number, nuclear spin, nuclear parity etc.
d) Accurate average mass and binding energy through semi-empirical mass formula
35. The probability of electrons being captured by the nucleus
a) L shell electron c) Electron in the outer most orbit
b) M shell electron d) K shell electron
36. In the semi-empirical mass formulae the observed parity of odd Z and odd N nuclei in
nature is taken care of by the
a) term c) Surface energy term
b) A symmetry term d) Coulombs energy term
37. The asymmetry terms in semi-empirical mass formula is because of
a) The odd number of proton inside the nucleus
b) Non spherical shape of the nucleus
c) Unequal number of protons and neutrons inside the nucleus
d) Non-Zero spin of nucleus
38. Shell model of nucleus is based upon
a) Spherically symmetric potential c) Ellipsoidal symmetrical
b) Bohr correspondence principle d) none of these
39. The pairing term appearing in the semi-empirical mass formula for the liquid drop model
depends only
a) Atomic mass of nucleus c) Only atomic number
b) Only on mass number d) None of these
40. The semi-empirical mass formula for the binding energy of nucleus contains a surface
correction term. This term depends on the mass number A of the nucleus as
a) A-1/3 b) A1/3 c) A2/3 d) A

41. In case of a Geiger-Muller (GM) counter, which one of the following statement is
CORRECT?
a) Multiplication factor of the detector is of the order of 1010
b) Type of the particles detected can be identified
c) Energy of the particles detected can be distinguished
d) Operating voltage of the detector is few tens of Volts
42. Geiger-Muller counter which operate in the Geiger region are still one of the most widely
used as
a) Smoke detector
b) LPG detector
c) Radiation detector
d) All of these

43. In G. M Counter, the tube consist of the gaseous mixture of 90% and 10% respectively as
a) Argon and Ethyl alcohol c) Ethyl alcohol and Argon
b) Nitrogen and Argon d) Both (a) and (b)
44. Which of the following is not a type of radiation detector?
a) Geiger Muller (G.M.) counter
b) Proportional counter
c) Semiconductor radiation detector
d) Flame emission detector

45. ‘When nuclear radiations pass through the counter, gas ionization is produced.’ This is
the principle of which of the following detectors?
a) Proportional counter
b) Flow counter
c) Geiger Muller counter
d) Scintillation counter

46. Which of the following acts as quenching gas in G.M. counter?

a) Alcohol
b) Argon gas
c) Krypton
d) Hydrogen

47. Which of the following acts as ionising gas in Geiger Muller (G.M.) counter?
a) Alcohol
b) Argon gas
c) Krypton
d) Hydrogen

48. Which of the detectors is similar to G.M. counter in construction but is filled with heavier
gas?
a) Proportional counter
b) Strip detector
c) Semiconductor detector
d) Scintillation counter

49. Which of the following gases are used in proportional counter as the ionising gas?
a) Alcohol
b) Neon gas
c) Krypton
d) Heavy water
50. Which of the following is the main disadvantage of solid state semiconductor radiation
detector?
a) Low accuracy
b) Low sensitivity
c) It should be maintained at low temperature
d) High avalanche breakdown voltage

51. Scintillation detector is a large flat crystal of which of the following materials?
a) Sodium chloride
b) Sodium sulphate
c) Sodium iodide
d) Sodium carbonate

52. Liquid Scintillators are used for which of the following materials?
a) Low energy beta materials
b) High energy beta materials
c) Low energy gamma materials
d) Fast neutron

53. Given below is the block diagram of proportional counter. Identify the unmarked
component.

a) Collimator b) Detector crystal c) Pre-amplifier d) Position logic circuit

54. Which of the following is known as a scintillation counter?

a) Scintillator
b) Scintillator along with a photo multiplier tube
c) Scintillator along with the crystal
d) Scintillator along with position circuitry

55. The reduction in counting efficiency of the scintillation detector is called as __________
a) Disintegration
b) Decay
c) Quenching
d) Reduction

56. Which of the following is not a type of quenching?

a) Chemical quench
b) Interference quench
c) Colour quenching
d) Self-absorption
57. Given below is a diagram of Scintillation detector. Identify the unmarked (?) component.
a) Lens
b) Collimator
c) Dynodes
d) Focussing cup

58 In which one of the following is the photoelectric effect most likely?

a) Air (Z numbers 7 and 8)
b) the patient (low Z numbers for C, H, O, N, Na, and other elements))
c) NaI crystal (Z numbers 11 and 53)
d) Pb collimator (Z number 82)

59 For which one of the following isotopes is the Photoelectric Effect most likely to occur in
a NaI(Tl) crystal?
a) Tl-201 (71-80 keV)
b) Co-57 (122 keV)
c) Tc-99m (140 keV)
d) I-123 (159 keV

60 In the diagram below, which angle is angle ?

a) Angle ABC b) Angle ABD c) Angle CBD d) None of the above

61 In Pair Production the electron pair is emitted at an 180o angle to each other
a) True b) False c) May be d) None of these

62 Assume that a 3.02 MeV,  -ray undergoes pair production. If the kinetic energy of each
 electron in the pair is half that value, 1.51 MeV, then find K.E. of shared particles.
a) 1 MeV b) 2 MeV c) 1.02 MeV d) 1.51 MeV

63 Which two types of radiation-matter interactions account for the majority of attenuation in
typical industrial radiography?
a) Compton Scattering and photoelectric absorption
b) Compton Scattering and pair production
c) Pair production and photoelectric absorption
d) None of the above
64 There are four types of radiation-matter interactions that can contribute to the total
attenuation. These are:
a) Compton scattering, pair production, photoelectric absorption, rayleigh scattering
b) Compton scattering, electron exchange, photoelectric absorption, rayleigh scattering
c) Electron exchange, pair production, photoelectric absorption, rayleigh scattering
d) None of the above
65 Exposure to ionizing radiation can be limited:
a) With the use of shielding
b) By increasing distance from the source
c) By limiting the time exposed to the radiation
d) All of the above
66 A nuclide A (with mass number m and atomic number n) disintegrates emitting an  -particle. The
resulting nuclide B has mass number and atomic number respectively equal to
a) m = -2 and n = 0 b) m = -4 and n = -2
c) m = -4 and n= -1 d) m= +4 and n = +1
67 Which of the following is the fusion reaction?

H 2 +1 H 2 → 2 He4 n1 +92 U 236 →93 Np 239 +  − + 

a) 1 b) 0

c) 0 n1 + 7 H 14 →6 C14 +1 H 1
d) 1 H 3 → 2 He3 +  − + 

40 40 40
68 K , Ar and Ca are
a) Isotopes b) Isotonesc) Isobars d) Isoganals
69 In Fermi theory of β-decay, the important thing is ….
a) To find out the value of β- transformation
b) To calculate the probability of β-transformation
c) To find out the parity of β-transformation
d) None of the above
70 If R is the range of α-particles and λ-decays constant, the Geiger-Nuttal law is…
a) b)
 c) d)

71 Which of the following pair is correct

a) Weak Force : W+-, Z, Bosons b) Strong Force : Graviton
c) Electromagnetic Force : Electron d) Gravitational Force : Gluon
72 What type of nuclear decay most often produces the greatest mass loss?
a) Beta decay b) Alpha decay
c) Gamma decay d) All of the above produce the same mass loss
73 If the nuclear radius of 27Al is 3.6 Fermi, the approximate nuclear radius of 64Cu in Fermi is
a) 2.8 b) 3.6 c) 4.8 d) 1.2

74 Pelletron accelerator is an operate in the maximum range of voltage from

a) 200 MeV to 25 mV b) 25 kV to 200 mV c) 200 kV to 25 mV d) 200 V to 25 V

75 A thin wire usually tungsten running along the central axis of G.M tube act as
a) Anode
b) Cathode
c) Neutral
d) None of above

76 Which of the following detectors is used for the measurement of energy of a particle ?
a) Ionisation chamber b) G.M. counter c) Proportional counter d) Cerenkov
counter
77 In the fusion process……
a) Energy is absorbed because binding energy per nucleon is greater in the heavier nucleus
b) Energy is released because binding energy per nucleon is less in the heavier nucleus
c) Energy is absorbed because binding energy per nucleon is less in the heavier nucleus
d) Energy is released because binding energy per nucleon is greater in the heavier nucleus
78 In quark model the proton is made up of two ‘u’ quarks and one ‘d’qurk, while neutron is made up
of two ‘d’ quark and one ‘u’ quark
a) False b) Partially true c) True d) None of the above
79 In an Archaeological expedition, charcoal from an ancient fire-pit was excavated. The sample
showed a 14C activity of 11.3 counts per gm per min. The absolute activity of 14C in a living tree is
independent of species and it is ~ 15.3 counts per gm per min. Estimate the age of the charcoal
sample.
a) ~ 2504.65 year b) ~1354 years c) ~ 2504. 65 days d) None of the above
80 Negative values of 'f' signify …….. binding energies whereas positive values of 'f' signify
……..binding energy, respectively.
a) Low, Low b) Large, Large c) Large, Low d) Low, Large
81 The quark structure of ∆0 is
a) sss b) uuu c) ddd d) udd
82 The theory governing combinations of quarks based on quantum electrodynamics is called as
a) Quantum chromo-dynamics b) Lepton theory
c) Baryon theory d) Meson theory
83 The decay chain for the nucleus involves eight α-decays and six β – decays. The final

nucleus at the end of the process will have

a) Z = 88, A = 206 b) Z = 84, A = 224 c) Z = 82, A = 206 d) Z = 76, A = 200
84 The radius of the dees is 45 cm and magnetic field is 3000 G. What would be velocity and energy
of the protons?
a) V= 1.293 × 107 sec, E = 0.86 eV b) V= 1.293 × 107 m/sec, E = 0.86 MeV
c) V= 0.86 m/sec, E = 1.293 × 107 MeV d) V= 1.293 × 107 m, E = 0.86 eV
85 The half life period of one of the atoms of radioactive sample is−

a) b) c) d)
86 Calculate the energy liberated, when a helium nucleus is formed by fusion of two deuterium
nuclei. The mass of 2H1=2.01478amu and mass of 4He2=4.00388 a.m.u.
a) 239 MeV b) 23.9 eV c) 23.9 MeV d) 0.239 MeV
A− 4 A− 4 A− 4
A
Z X → Y→
Z −2 Y→
Z −2 Z −1 K
87 In the reaction represented by The decay in sequence are
a)  ,  ,  b)  ,  ,  c)  ,  ,  d)  ,  , 
88 Which the following model does not predict the correct value of spin quantum number I in certain
nuclei?
a) Liquid drop model b) Shell model c) Collective model d) Unified model
89 For chain reaction to continue, the multiplication factor (K) should be
a) K ˃1 b) K < 1 c) K=1 d) None of the above
90 If any radioactive sample has half life 50 days, what is the average life?
a) 100 days b) 50 days c) 72 days d) None of the above
91 Radioactivity may be measured using …
a) Geiger counter b) Scintillation detector c) Proportional couner d) Both a)
and b)
92 Which of the following particles was assumed to be involved in β-decay process, in order to
explain continuous spectrum of β-rays ?
 a) Higg’s Boson b) Neutrino c) Pion d) Muon
93 The binding energy of deutron (1H2) is 1.112 MeV per nucleon and an alpha
particle (2H4) has a binding energy of 7.074 MeV per nucleon. Then in the
reaction 1H2 + 1H2 → 2He4 + Q the energy Q released is
a) 23.8 MeV b) 11.9 MeV c)1 MeV d) 931 MeV
94 Which is heavy water?
a) Water in which soap does not lather b) Compound of deuterium and oxygen
c) Compound of heavy oxygen and hydrogen d) Water at 4 0C
95 The critical mass of nuclear reaction is
a) The initial mass to start a nuclear fission
b) The minimum mass for the chain reaction
c) The size of the reactor core
d) The size of the nuclear fuel + size of the moderator
96 Which of the following is not a mode of radioactive decay
a) Aalpha decay b) Electron capture c) Fusion d) Positron emission
97 Choose the correct statement from the following –
a) Neutron interacts through electromagnetic interaction
b) Electron does not interacts through weak interaction
c) Neutrino interacts through weak electromagnetic interaction
d) Quark interacts through strong interaction but not through weak interaction
98 Van de Graaff generator could accelerate particles up to--
a) 10 MeV b) 5 MeV c) 20 MeV d) 50 MeV
99 The Van de Graaff generator is a device that separates electric charges through……process.
a) Chemical b) Mechanical c) Electrical d) All of the above
100 The scintillation counter –
a) It is not used for counting α-particles
b) Counts only γ-rays
c) It counts only β-particles
d) Uses a material which emits light when a charged particle strikes it