NUCLEUS

Synopsis
1. In every atom, the positive charge and mass are densely concentrated at the centre of the
atom forming its nucleus. More than 99.9% mass of the atom is concentrated in the nucleus.
2. Atomic Mass Unit (amu) The unit to express atomic masses is called atomic mass
unit. Atomic mass unit is defined as 1/12 th of the mass of carbon atom (C 12).

3. Composition of Nucleus The composition of a nucleus can be described by using the

following terms and symbols.
(i) Atomic Number Z Atomic number of an element is the number of protons present inside
the nucleus of an atom of the element.
Atomic number = Number of protons = Number of electrons
(ii) Mass Number A Mass number of an element is the total number of protons and neutrons
inside the atomic nucleus of the element.
Mass number = Number of protons + Number of neutrons = Number of electrons + Number
of neutrons i.e. A=Z.+ N
4. Size of Nucleus If R is the radius of the nucleus having mass number A, then

5. Nuclear Density Density of nuclear matter is the ratio of mass of nucleus and its volume.
6. Radioactivity It is the phenomenon of spontaneous disintegration of the nucleus of an
atom with emission of one or more radiations like α-particle, β-particle or γ-rays.
7. Radioactive Decay It is a nuclear transformation process in which the radioactive rays are
emitted from the nucleus of the atom. This process cannot be accelerated and slow down by
any physical or chemical process.
8. Radioactivity Decay Law According to this law, the rate of decay of radioactive atoms at
any instant is proportional to the number of atoms present at that instant.

9. Half-life Half-life of a radioactive element is defined as the time during which half the
number of atoms present initially in the sample of the element decay.
10. Mean Life/Average Life Average life of a radioactive element can be obtained by
calculating the total life time of all the atoms of the radioactive element and dividing it by the
total number of atoms present initially in the sample of the element.

11. Time required to decay from N0 to N

12. Decay Constant The radioactive decay constant may be defined as the reciprocal of the
time during which the number of atoms in a radioactive substance reduces to 36.8% of their
initial number.

13. Radioactive Displacement Law The law of radioactive displacement is also known as
Fajan’s and Soddy law. This law describes which chemical element and isotope is created
during the particular type of radioactive decay.
(i) α- Decay In α-decay, the mass number of the product nucleus is four less than that of
decaying nucleus while the atomic number decreases by two.

(ii) β-Decay In β-decay, the mass number of product nucleus remains same but atomic
number increases or decreases by one.
In beta-minus decay (β– ),an electron and an antineutrino are created and emitted from the
nucleus via the reaction given below:
In beta-plus decay (β+), a positron and a neutrino are created and emitted from the nucleus
via the reaction given below:

(iii) γ-Decay A γ- ray is emitted when a or β-decay results in a daughter nucleus in an excited
state. Atom then returns to ground state by a single photon transition or successive transitions
involving more than one photon.

14. The SI unit of radioactivity is Becquerel (Bq).

1 Becquerel(Bq) = 1 disintegration/second Other units
(i) Curie The activity of a radioactive sample is said to be one curie.
1 curie (Ci) = 3.7 x 1010 decays/second
(ii) Rutherford The activity of a radioactive sample is said to be one rutherford.
1 rutherford (Rd) = 106 decays/second
1 Nucleus of an atom whose atomic mass is 24 consists of

(a) 11 electrons, 11 protons and 13 neutrons

(b) 11 electrons, 13 protons and 11 neutrons

(c) 11 protons and 13 neutrons

(d) 11 protons and 13 electrons

2. The electrons cannot exist inside the nucleus because

(a) de-Broglie wavelength associated with electron in E -decay is much less than the size of nucleus
(b) de-Broglie wavelength associated with electron in E -decay is much greater than the size of
nucleus

(c) de-Broglie wavelength associated with electron in E -decay is equal to the size of nucleus

(d) negative charge cannot exist in the nucleus

3. In ...X... water is circulated though the reactor vessel and transfers energy to steam generator in
the ...Y... Here, X and Y refer

(a) primary loop, secondary loop

(b) reactor core, turbine

(c) secondary loop, primary loop

(d) turbine, reactor core

4. A nuclei having same number of neutron but different number of protons / atomic number are
called

(a) isobars

(b) isomers

(c) isotones

(d) isotopes

5. Which one of the following has the identical property for isotopes?

(a) Physical property

(b) Chemical property

(c) Nuclear property

(d) Thermal property

6. The number of protons in an atom of atomic number Z and mass number A is

(a) zero

(b) Z

(c) A – Z

(d) A

7. When the number of nucleons in nuclei increases, the binding energy per nucleon

(a) increases continuously with mass number

(b) decreases continuously with mass number

(c) remains constant with mass number

(d) first increases and then decreases with increase of mass number
 8. M p denotes the mass of a proton and Mn that of a neutron. A given nucleus, of binding energy B,
contains Z protons and N neutrons. The mass M(N, Z) of the nucleus is given by (c is the velocity of
light)

(a) M(N, Z) = NMn + ZM p + B/c2

(b) M(N, Z) = NMn + ZM p – Bc2

(c) M(N, Z) = NMn + ZM p + Bc2

(d) M(N, Z) = NMn + ZM p – B/c2

9. Mass energy equation was propounded by

(a) Newton

(b) Madam Curie

(c) C. V. Raman

(d) Einstein

10. The mass of an atomic nucleus is less than the sum of the masses of its constituents. This mass
defect is converted into

(a) heat energy

(b) light energy

(c) electrical energy

(d) energy which binds nucleons together

11. The radius of germanium (Ge) nuclide is measured to be twice the radius of 4 9 Be. The number
of nucleons in Ge are

(a) 72

(b) 73

(c) 74

(d) 75

12. The volume occupied by an atom is greater than the volume of the nucleus by a factor of about
(a) 101

(b) 105

(c) 1010

(d) 1015

13. 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) 31/2 : 1

(b) 1 : 31/2
(c) 21/3 : 1

(d) 1 : 21/3

14. The mass number of He is 4 and that of sulphur is 32. The radius of sulphur nucleus is larger than
that of helium by the factor of

(a) 4

(b) 2

(c) 8

(d) 8

15. The mass density of a nucleus varies with mass number A as

(a) A2

(b) A

(c) constant

(d) 1/A

16. Which of the following statement is not true regarding Einsteins mass energy relation?

(a) Mass disappears to reappear as energy.

(b) Energy disappears to reappear as mass.

(c) Mass and energy are two different forms of the same entity.

(d) Mass and energy can never be related to each other.

17. The curve of binding energy per nucleon as a function of atomic mass number has a sharp peak
for helium nucleus. This implies that helium

(a) can easily be broken up

(b) is very stable

(c) can be used as fissionable material

(d) is radioactive

18. Nuclear forces are

(a) spin dependent and have no non-central part

(b) spin dependent and have a non-central part

(c) spin independent and have no non-central part

(d) spin independent and have a non-central part

19. Nuclear forces exists between

(a) neutron - neutron

(b) proton – proton

(c) neutron - proton

(d) all of these

20. The antiparticle of electron is

(a) positron

(b) D-particle

(c) proton

(d) E-particle

21. Neutron decay in free space is given as follows

Then the parenthesis [ ] represents a

(a) neutrino

(b) photon

(c) antineutrino

(d) graviton

22. Radioactivity is

(a) irreversible process

(b) self disintegration process

(c) spontaneous

(d) all of the above

23. J-rays are deflected by

(a) an electric field but not by a magnetic field

(b) a magnetic field but not by an electric field

(c) both electric and magnetic field

(d) neither by electric field nor by magnetic field

24. Beta rays emitted by a radioactive material are

(a) electromagnetic radiations

(b) the electrons orbiting around the nucleus

(c) charged particles emitted by nucleus

(d) neutral particles

25. Which of the following is not a mode of radioactive decay ?

(a) Positron emission

(b) Electron capture

(c) Fusion

(d) Alpha decay

26. The half-life period and the mean life period of a radioactive element are denoted respectively
by Th and Tm . Then

(a) Th = Tm

(b) Th > T m

(c) Th < Tm

(d) t TT mh

27. In J ray emission from a nucleus

(a) only the proton number changes

(b) both the neutron number and the proton number change

(c) there is no change in the proton number and the neutron number

(d) only the neutron number changes

28. Artificial radioactivity was discovered by

(a) Klaproth

(b) Rontgen

(c) Irene Curie and Joliot

(d) P. Curie and M. Curie

29. Radioactive samples are stored in lead boxes because it is

(a) heavy

(b) strong

(c) good absorber

(d) bad conductor

30. The process of radioactive radiations remains unaffected due to

(a) physical changes

(b) chemical changes

(c) electric or magnetic fields

(d) all of the above

31. A radioactive material undergoes decay by ejecting electrons. The electron ejected in this
process is

(a) the electron from the decay of a neutron

(b) the electron present in the nucleus

(c) the resulting from the conversion of J photon

(d) an orbital electron

32. The same radioactive nucleus may emit

(a) all the three D, E and J one after another

(b) all the three D, E and J radiations simultaneously

(c) only D and E simultaneously

(d) only one D, E and J at a time

33. Which of the following of a radioactive material is a measure of its instability?

(a) Full life

(b) Mean life

(c) Half life

(d) None of these

34. The rate of disintegration at a given instant, is directly proportional to the number of atoms
present at that instant. This is the statement of

(a) law of radioactive decay

(b) half life

(c) law of radioactive transformation

(d) group displacement law

35. N atoms of a radioactive substance emit na-particles per second. The half life of the radioactive
substance is

36. Three specimens A, B, C of same radioactive element has activities 1 microcurie, 1 rutherford and
1 becquerel respectively. Which specimen has maximum mass?

(a) A

(b) B
(c) C

(d) all have equal masses

37. Charge on an D-particle is

(a) 1.6 × 10–19 C

(b) 3.2 × 10–19 C

(c) 1.6 × 10–20 C

(d) 4.8 × 10–19 C

38. A nucleus of uranium decays at rest into nuclei of thorium and helium. Then

(a) The helium nucleus has more momentum than the thorium nucleus.

(b) The helium nucleus has less kinetic energy than the thorium nucleus.

(c) The helium nucleus has more kinetic energy than the thorium nucleus.

(d) The helium nucleus has less momentum than the thorium nucleus.

39. The binding energy per nucleon of 7 3Li and 4 2He nuclei are 5.60 MeV and 7.06 MeV
respectively. In the nuclear reaction

the value of energy Q released is

(a) 19.6 MeV

(b) –2.4 MeV

(c) 8.4 MeV

(d) 17.3 MeV

40. A radioisotope X with a half life 1.4 × 109 years decays to Y which is stable. A sample of the rock
from a cave was found to contain X and Y in the ratio 1 : 7. The age of the rock is

(a) 1.96 × 109 years

(b) 3.92 × 109 years

(c) 4.20 × 109 years

(d) 8.40 × 109 years

41. The half life of a radioactive isotope ‘X’ is 20 years. It decays to another element ‘Y’ which is
stable. The two elements ‘X’ and ‘Y’ were found to be in the ratio 1 : 7 in a sample of a given rock.
The age of the rock is estimated to be

(a) 80 years

(b) 100 years

(c) 40 years
(d) 60 years

42. a-particles, b-particles and g-rays are all having same energy. Their penetrating power in a given
medium in increasing order will be

43. A mixture consists of two radioactive materials A1 and A2 with half lives of 20 s and 10 s
respectively. Initially the mixture has 40 g of A1 and 160 g of A2. The amount of the two in the
mixture will become equal after

(a) 60 s

(b) 80 s

(c) 20 s

(d) 40 s

44. The half life of a radioactive nucleus is 50 days. The time interval (t2 – t1) between the time t2
when 2 3 of it has decayed and the time t1 when 1 3 of it had decayed is

(a) 30 days

(b) 50 days

(c) 60 days

(d) 15 days

45. The half life of a radioactive isotope X is 50 years. It decays to another element Y which is stable.
The two elements X and Y were found to be in the ratio of 1 : 15 in a sample of a given rock. The age
of the rock was estimated to be

(a) 150 years

(b) 200 years

(c) 250 years

(d) 100 years

46. A radioactive nucleus of mass M emits a photon of frequency u and the nucleus recoils. The
recoil energy will be

47. A nucleus emits one α particle and two β– particles. The resulting nucleus is
48. Two radioactive nuclei P and Q, in a given sample decay into a stable nucleus R. At time t = 0,
number of P species are 4 N0 and that of Q are N0 . Half-life of P (for conversion to R) is 1 minute
where as that of Q is 2 minutes. Initially there are no nuclei of R present in the sample. When
number of nuclei of P and Q are equal, the number of nuclei of R present in the sample would be

(a) 2 N0

(b) 3 N0

(c) 9No /2

(d) 5 N0 /2

49. The activity of a radioactive sample is measured as N0 counts per minute at t = 0 and N0/e
counts per minute at t = 5 minutes. The time (in minutes) at which the activity reduces to half its
value is

50. The decay constant of a radio isotope is l. If A1 and A2 are its activities at times t1 and t2
respectively, the number of nuclei which have decayed during the time (t1 – t2)

(a) A1t1 – A2t2

(b) A1 – A2

(c) (A1 – A2)/ λ

(d) λ (A1 – A2

51. In the nuclear decay given below

52. The number of beta particles emitted by a radioactive substance is twice the number of alpha
particles emitted by it. The resulting daughter is an

(a) isomer of parent

(b) isotone of parent

(c) isotope of parent

(d) isobar of parent

53. Two radioactive materials X1 and X2 have decay constants 5l and l respectively. If initially they
have the same number of nuclei, then the ratio of the number of nuclei of X1 to that X2 will be 1/e
after a time
54. Two radioactive substances A and B have decay constants 5l and l respectively. At t = 0 they have
the same number of nuclei. The ratio of number of nuclei of A to those of B will be (1/e)2 after a
time interval

(a) 4λ

(b) 2λ

(c) 1/2λ

(d) 1/4λ

55. In a radioactive decay process, the negatively charged emitted b-particles are

(a) the electrons produced as a result of the decay of neutrons inside the nucleus

(b) the electrons produced as a result of collisions between atoms

(c) the electrons orbiting around the nucleus

(d) the electrons present inside the nucleus.

56. In a radioactive material the activity at time t1 is R1 and at a later time t2, it is R2. If the decay
constant of the material is l, then

57. In the reaction

if the binding energies of 2H 3 H and 4H are respectively a, b and c (in MeV), then the energy (in MeV)
released in this reaction is

(a) a + b + c

(b) a + b – c

(c) c – a – b

(d) c + a – b

58. The half life of radium is about 1600 years. If 100 g of radium existing now, 25 g will remain
unchanged after

(a) 4800 years

(b) 6400 years

(c) 2400 years

(d) 3200 years

 59. A sample of radioactive element has a mass of 10 g at an instant t = 0. The approximate mass of
this element in the sample after two mean lives is

(a) 1.35 g

(b) 2.50 g

(c) 3.70 g

(d) 6.30 g

60. A nuclear reaction given by

represents

(a) b-decay

(b) g-decay

(c) fusion

(d) fission

61. A sample of radioactive element containing 4 × 1016 active nuclei. Half life of element is 10 days,
then number of decayed nuclei after 30 days

(a) 0.5 × 1016

(b) 2 × 1016

(c) 3.5 × 1016

(d) 1 × 1016

62. A deutron is bombarded on 8O16 nucleus then a-particle is emitted. The product nucleus is

63. Which rays contain (positive) charged particles?

(a) α-rays

(b) β-rays

(c) γ-rays

(d) X-rays

64

65. Half life of a radioactive element is 12.5 hours and its quantity is 256 g. After how much time its
quantity will remain1 g?

(a) 50 hrs
(b) 100 hrs

(c) 150 hrs

(d) 200 hrs

66. For the given reaction, the particle X is

67

68. Alpha particles are

(a) neutrally charged

(b) positron

(c) protons

(d) ionized helium atoms

69. After 1a and 2b-emissions

(a) mass number reduces by 6

(b) mass number reduces by 4

(c) mass number reduces by 2

(d) atomic number remains unchanged

70. Complete the equation for the following fission process

71. Half-lives of two radioactive substances A and B are respectively 20 minutes and 40 minutes.
Initially the samples of A and B have equal number of nuclei. After 80 minutes the ratio of remaining
numbers of A and B nuclei is

(a) 1 : 4

(b) 4 : 1

(c) 1 : 16

(d) 1 : 1
72. The most penetrating radiation out of the following are

(a) β-rays

(b) γ-rays

(c) X-rays

(d) α-rays

73. What is the respective number of a and b particles emitted in the following radioactive decay?

(a) 8 and 8

(b) 8 and 6

(c) 6 and 8

(d) 6 and 6

74. The binding energies per nucleon for a deuteron and an a-particle are x1 and x2 respectively. The
energy Q released in the reaction

(a) 4(x1 + x2)

(b) 4(x2 – x1)

(c) 2(x2 – x1)

(d) 2(x1 + x2)

75. The count rate of a Geiger Muller counter for the radiation of a radioactive material of half-life of
30 minutes decreases to 5 second–1 after 2 hours. The initial count rate was

(a) 80 second–1

(b) 625 second–1

(c) 20 second–1

(d) 25 second–1

76. The mass of a-particle is

(a) less than the sum of masses of two protons and two neutrons

(b) equal to mass of four protons

(c) equal to mass of four neutrons

(d) equal to sum of masses of two protons and two neutrons

77. The half life of radium is 1600 years. The fraction of a sample of radium that would remain after
6400 years
(a) 1/4

(b) 1/2

(c) 1/8

(d) 1/16

78. The nucleus 6C12 absorbs an energetic neutron and emits a beta particle (b). The resulting
nucleus is

79. The mass number of He is 4 and that for sulphur is 32. The radius of sulphur nuclei is larger than
that of helium by

(a) √8

(b) 4

(c) 2

(d) 8

80. A nucleus splits into two nuclear parts which have their velocity ratio equal to 2 : 1. What will be
the ratio of their nuclear radius?

(a) 21/3 : 1

(b) 1 : 21/3

(c) 31/2 : 1

(d) 1 : 31/2

81. If radius of the nucleus is estimated to be 3.6 fermi then the radius of nucleus be
nearly

(a) 8 fermi

(b) 6 fermi

(c) 5 fermi

(d) 4 fermi

82

83
84

85

(a) 46 MeV

(b) 5.6 MeV

(c) 3.9 MeV

(d) 23 MeV

86. The mass defect in a particular nuclear reaction is 0.3 grams. The amount of energy liberated in
kilowatt hour is (Velocity of light = 3 × 108 m/s)

(a) 1.5 × 106

(b) 2.5 × 106

(c) 3 × 106

(d) 7.5 × 106

87. The binding energies per nucleon for a deuteron and an D-particle are x1 and x2 respectively.
What will be the energy Q released in the reaction

(a) 4(x1 + x2 )
(b) 4(x2 – x1 )

(c) 2(x1 + x2 )

(d) 2(x2 – x1 )

88. A heavy nucleus having mass number 200 gets disintegrated into two small fragments of mass
number 80 and 120. If binding energy per nucleon for parent atom is 6.5 MeV and for daughter
nuclei is 7 MeV and 8 MeV respectively, then the energy released in the decay is X × 110 MeV. Find
the value of X

(a) 3

(b) 4

(c) 2

(d) 1

89. The masses of neutron and proton are 1.0087 a.m.u. and 1.0073 a.m.u. respectively. If the
neutrons and protons combine to form a helium nucleus (alpha particles) of mass 4.0015 a.m.u the
binding energy of the helium nucleus will be (1 a.m.u. = 931 MeV)

(a) 28.4 MeV

(b) 20.8 MeV

(c) 27.3 MeV

(d) 14.2 MeV

90. If 1 mg of U235 is completely annihilated, the energy liberated is

(a) 9 × 1010 J

(b) 9 × 1019 J

(c) 9 × 1018 J

(d) 9 × 1017 J

91. A radioactive substance has a half life of four months. Three fourth of the substance will decay
in

(a) three months

(b) four months

(c) eight months

(d) twelve months

92. In the uranium radioactive series, the initial nucleus is and that the final nucleus is .
When uranium nucleus decays to lead, the number of D particles and E particles emitted are

(a) 8D, 6 E

(b) 6D, 7E
(c) 6D, 8E

(d) 4D, 3E

93. A radioactive nucleus undergoes D -emission to form a stable element. What will be the recoil
velocity of the daughter nucleus if v is the velocity of D emission?

94. A radioactive element forms its own isotope after three consecutive disintegrations. The
particles emitted are

(a) 3 E–particles

(b) 2 E–particles and 1 D–particle

(c) 3 E–particles and 1 D–particle

(d) 2 D–particles and 1 E–particle.

95. The ratio of half-life times of two elements A and B is . The ratio of respective decay constant
AB, is

96. A radioactive nucleus undergoes a series of decay according to the scheme

If the mass number and atomic number of ‘A’ are 180 and 72 respectively, then what are these
numbers for A4

(a) 172 and 69

(b) 174 and 70

(c) 176 and 69

(d) 176 and 70

97. The radioactivity of a sample is R1 at a time T1 and R2 at a time T2 . If the half-life of the
specimen is T, the number of atoms that have disintegrated in the time (T1 – T2 ) is proportional to

(a) (R1 T1 – R2 T2 )

(b) (R1 – R2 )
(c) (R1 – R2 )/T

(d) (R1 – R2 ) T

98

99. The activity of a radioactive sample is measured as 9750 counts per minute at t = 0 & 975 counts
per minute at T = 5 minutes. The decay constant is approximately.

(a) 0.922 per minutes

(b) 0.691 per minutes

(c) 0.461 per minutes

(d) 0.230 per minutes

100. Half lives of two radio active substance A & B are respectively 20 minutes & 40 minutes. Initially
the samples of A & B have equal numbers of nulcei. After 80 minutes the ratio of remaining numbers
of A & B nuclei is

(a) 1 : 16

(b) 4 : 1

(c) 1 : 4

(d) 1 : 1

101. The activity of a radioactive sample is measured as N0 counts per minute at t = 0 and N0 /e
counts per minute at t = 5 minutes. The time (in minutes) at which the activity reduces to half its
value is

102. A radioactive nucleus of mass M emits a photon of frequency Q and the nucleus recoils. The
recoil energy will be

103 The graph between the instantaneous concentration (N) of a radioactive element and time (t) is
104. The half life of a radioactive nucleus is 50 days. The time interval (t 2 – t 1 ) between the time t
2when 2 3 of it has decayed and the time t1 when 1 3 of it had decayed is

(a) 30 days

(b) 50 days

(c) 60 days

(d) 15 days

105. A mixture consists of two radioactive materials A1 and A2 with half lives of 20 s and 10 s
respectively. Initially the mixture has 40 g of A1 and 160 g of A2 . The amount of the two in the
mixture will become equal after

(a) 60 s

(b) 80 s

(c) 20 s

(d) 40 s
106. The half life of a radioactive isotope ‘X’ is 20 years. It decays to another element ‘Y’ which is
stable. The two elements ‘X’ and ‘Y’ were found to be in the ratio of 1 : 7 in a sample of a the given
rock. The age of the rock is estimated to be

(a) 60 years

(b) 80 years

(c) 100 years

(d) 40 years

107. If N0 is the original mass of the substance of half-life period t 1/2 = 5 years, then the amount of
substance left after 15 years is

(a) N0 /8

(b) N0 /16

(c) N0 /2

(d) N0 /4
108. When a 238 U nucleus originally at rest, decays by emitting an alpha particle having a speed ‘u’,
the recoil speed of the residual nucleus is

109. A radioactive sample at any instant has its disintegration rate 5000 disintegrations per minute.
After 5 minutes, the rate is 1250 disintegrations per minute. Then, the decay constant (per minute)
is

(a) 0.4 ln 2

(b) 0.2 ln 2

(c) 0.1 ln 2

(d) 0.8 ln 2

110. Ra 221 87 is a radioactive substance having half life of 4 days. Find the probability that a
nucleus undergoes decay after two half lives

(a) 1

(b) 2 1

(c) 4 3

(d) 4 1

111. The activity of a freshly prepared radioactive sample is 1010 disintegrations per second, whose
mean life is 109 s. The mass of an atom of this radioisotope is 10–25 kg. The mass (in mg) of the
radioactive sample is

(a) 1

(b) 3

(c) 5

(d) 6
112. The half life of the radioactive substance is 40 days. The substance will disintegrate completely
in

(a) 40 days

(b) 400 days

(c) 4000 days

(d) infinite time

113. A radioactive substance contains 10000 nuclei and its halflife period is 20 days. The number of
nuclei present at the end of 10 days is
(a) 7070

(b) 9000

(c) 8000

(d) 7500

114. The half-life of radioactive Radon is 3.8 days. The time at the end of which (1/20)th of the
Radon sample will remain undecayed is (given log10e = 0.4343)

(a) 13.8 days

(b) 16.5 days

(c) 33 days

(d) 76 days

115. A freshly prepared radioactive source of half life 2 hr emits radiation of intensity which is 64
times the permissible safe level. The minimum time after which it would be possible to work safely
with this source is

(a) 6 hr

(b) 12 hr

(c) 24 hr

(d) 128 hr

116. At time t = 0, N1 nuclei of decay constant O1 and N2 nuclei of decay constant O2 are mixed. The
decay rate of mixture is

117. Radium 226Ra, spontaneously decays to radon with the emission of an D-particle and a J ray. If
the speed of the D particle upon emission from an initially stationary radium nucleus is 1.5 ×107 m/s,
what is the recoil speed of the resultant radon nucleus? Assume the momentum of J ray is negligible
compared to that of D particle.

(a) 2..0 × 105 m/s

(b) 2.7 × 105 m/s

(c) 3.5 × 105 m/s

(d) 1.5 × 107 m/s

118. The fossil bone has a 14C : 12C ratio, which is 1 16 ª º « » ¬ ¼ of that in a living animal bone. If the
half-life of 14C is 5730 years, then the age of the fossil bone is

(a) 11460 years

(b) 17190 years

(c) 22920 years

(d) 45840 years

119. An archaeologist analyses the wood in a prehistoric structure and finds that C 14 (Half life = 5700
years) to C12 is only one-fourth of that found in the cells of buried plants. The age of the wood is
about

(a) 5700 years

(b) 2850 years

(c) 11,400 years

(d) 22,800 years

120. Atomic weight of boron is 10.81 and it has two isotopes 5B10 and 5B11. Then ratio of 5B10 : 5B11 in
nature would be

(a) 19 : 81

(b) 10 : 11

(c) 15 : 16

(d) 81 : 19

121. A radioactive element X converts into another stable element Y. Half life of X is 2 hrs. Initially
only X is present. After time t, the ratio of atoms of X and Y is found to be 1 : 4, then t in hours is

(a) 2

(b) 4

(c) between 4 and 6

(d) 6

122. After 150 days, the activity of a radioactive sample is 5000 dps. The activity becomes 2500 dps
after another 75 days. The initial activity of the sample is

(a) 20000 dps

(b) 40000 dps

(c) 7500 dps

(d) 10000 dps

123. At any instant, the ratio of the amount of radioactive substances is 2 : 1. If their half lives be
respectively 12 and 16 hours, then after two days, what will be the ratio of the substances ?
(a) 1 : 1

(b) 2 : 1

(c) 1 : 2

(d) 1 : 4

124. Half lives for D and E emission of a radioactive material are 16 years and 48 years respectively.
When material decays giving Dand Eemission simultaneously, time in which 3/ 4 th material decays
is

(a) 29 years

(b) 24 years

(c) 64 years

(d) 12 years

125 The charge density in a nucleus varies with distance from the centre of the nucleus according to
the curve in Fig.

126. An element A decays into an element C by a two step process

Then,

(a) A and C are isotopes

(b) A and C are isobars

(c) B and C are isotopes

(d) A and B are isobars

127. In which sequence the radioactive radiations are emitted in the following nuclear reaction?
128. Half life of a radioactive substance is 20 minute. Difference between points of time when it is
33% disintegrated and 67% disintegrated is approximately

(a) 40 minute

(b) 10 minute

(c) 15 minute

(d) 20 minute

129. A nucleus n Xm emits one D-particle and two β-particles. The resulting nucleus is

130

131. The half-life period of a radio-active element X is same as the mean life time of another radio-
active element Y. Initially they have the same number of atoms. Then

(a) X and Y decay at same rate always

(b) X will decay faster than Y

(c) Y will decay faster than X

(d) X and Y have same decay rate initially

132. A radioactive nucleus (initial mass number A and atomic number Z emits 3 α- particles and 2
positrons. The ratio of number of neutrons to that of protons in the final nucleus will be

133. A nuclear transformation is denoted by X (n, D ) 7Li 3 . Which of the following is the nucleus of
element X ?

134. In a fission reaction

the binding energy per nucleon of X & Y is 8.5 MeV. Whereas of 236U is 7.6 MeV. The total energy
liberated will be about

(a) 2000 MeV

(b) 200 MeV

(c) 2 MwV

(d) 200 KeV

135. If a star can convert all the He nuclei completely into oxygen nuclei. The energy released per
oxygen nuclei is [Mass of He nucleus is 4.0026 amu and mass of Oxygen nucleus is 15.9994 amu]

(a) 7.6 MeV

(b) 56.12 MeV

(c) 10.24 MeV

(d) 23.9 MeV

136. The energy released per fission of a 92U235 nucleus is nearly

(a) 200 eV

(b) 20 eV

(c) 200 MeV

(d) 2000 eV

137. If 200 MeV energy is released in the fission of a single U 235 nucleus, the number of fissions
required per second to produce 1 kilowatt power shall be (Given 1eV = 1.6 × 10–19 J)

(a) 3.125 × 1013

(b) 3.125 × 1014

(c) 3.125 × 1015

(d) 3.125 × 1016

138. A certain mass of Hydrogen is changed to Helium by the process of fusion. The mass defect in
fusion reaction is 0.02866 a.m.u. The energy liberated per a.m.u. is (Given : 1 a.m.u = 931 MeV)

(a) 26.7 MeV

(b) 6.675 MeV

(c) 13.35 MeV

(d) 2.67 MeV

139. The binding energy per nucleon of deuteron

H2 1 and helium nucleus
He 4 2 is 1.1 MeV and 7 MeV respectively. If two deuteron nuclei react to form a single helium
nucleus, then the energy released is

(a) 23.6 MeV

(b) 26.9 MeV

(c) 13.9 MeV

(d) 19.2 MeV

140. If the binding energy per nucleon in 3Li 7and 2He 4 nuclei are 5.60 MeV and 7.06 MeV
respectively, then in the reaction

energy of proton must be

(a) 28.24 MeV

(b) 17.28 MeV

(c) 1.46 MeV

(d) 39.2 MeV

141. Assume that a neutron breaks into a proton and an electron. The energy released during this
process is : (mass of neutron = 1.6725 × 10–27 kg, mass of proton = 1.6725 × 10–27 kg, mass of
electron = 9 × 10–31 kg).

(a) 0.511 MeV

(b) 7.10 MeV

(c) 6.30 MeV

(d) 5.4 MeV

142. Which of the following particles are constituents of the nucleus [CBSE PMT 199(a) Protons and
electrons (b) Protons and neutrons (c) Neutrons and electrons (d) Neutrons and positrons

143. The particles which can be added to the nucleus of an atom without changing its chemical
properties are called

(a) Electrons

(b) Protons

(c) Neutrons

(d) None of the above

144. The neutron was discovered by

(a) Marie Curie

(b) Pierre Curie

(c) James Chadwick

(d) Rutherford

145. The mass number of a nucleus is

(a) Always less than its atomic number

(b) Always more than its atomic number

(c) Always equal to its atomic number

(d) Sometimes more than and sometimes equal to its atomic number

146. The energy equivalent of 1 kilogram of matter is about

(a) 15 10  J

(b) 1 J

(c) 12 10  J

(d) 17 10 J

147. Nuclear binding energy is equivalent to

(a) Mass of proton

(b) Mass of neutron

(c) Mass of nucleus

(d) Mass defect of nucleus

148. If the binding energy of the deutrium is 2.23 MeV. The mass defect given in a.m.u. is

(a) – 0.0024

(b) – 0.0012

(c) 0.0012

(d) 0.0024

149. Which of the following has the mass closest in value to that of the positron

(a) Proton

(b) Electron

(c) Photon

(d) Neutrino (1 a.m.u  931 MeV)

150. Size of nucleus is of the order of

(a) 10 -10 m

(b) 10 -15 m

(c) 10 12 m
(d) 10 19 m

ANSWERS
1 (c) Nucleus does not contain electron.

2 (b)

3 (a) In pressurised-water, nuclear reactor, in primary loop water is circulated through the reactor
vessel and transfers energy to steam generator in secondary loop

4 (c)

5 (B)

6 (b)

7 (d) Average BE/nucleon increases first, and then decreases, as is clear from BE curve.

9 (d)

10 (d

11

12
13

14

15

(c) : The nuclear radius r varies with mass number A according to the relation

16. (d)

17. (b)

18. (b)

19. (d)

20. (a) Antiparticle of electron is positron

21. (c) An electron is accompanied by an antineutrino.

22. (d) All the characteristics given are true for radioactivity.

23. (d) J-rays carry no charge. They are neither deflected by an electric field nor by a magnetic field.
24. c E-rays are charged particles emitted by nucleus.
25. (c) Fusion is not a mode of decay

26

27. (c)

28. (c)

29. (c)

30. (d)

31. (a)

32. (d)

33. (c)

34. (a)

35. (c) Number of a-particles emitting

36. (b) Activity is proportional to mass. Activity of specimen B is maximum. Thus, mass of specimen B
is also maximum.

37. (b)

38
66. (c)

67. (a)

68. (d)

69. (b, d) : 1a reduce the mass number by 4 units and atomic number by 2 units, while 1b only
increase the atomic number by 1 unit.

70. (c)
71. (a) : For A, 80 min. = 4 half lives Number of atoms left = N 0/16 For B, 80 min. =2 half lives
Number of atoms left = N0/ 4 . Required ratio = 1 : 4.

72. (b) : g-ray are most penetrating radiations.

73. (b) : On emission of one a-particle, atomic number decreases by 2 units and mass number
decrease by 4 units. While the emission of b-particle does not effect the mass number and atomic
number increases by 1 unit. Here, decrease in mass number = 200 – 168 = 32.

Number of a-particles = 32/4 = 8.

Number of b-particles = 16 – 10 = 6.

74. (b) : No. of nucleon on reactant side = 4 Binding energy for one nucleon = x1 Binding energy for 4
nucleons = 4x1 Similarly on product side binding energy = 4x2 Now, Q = change in binding energy =
4(x2 – x1)

75. (a) : Half-life time = 30 minutes; Rate of decrease (N) = 5 per second and total time = 2 hours =
120 minutes. Relation for initial and final count rate,
83. (a) Iodine and Yttrium are medium sized nuclei and therefore have more binding energy per
nucleon as compared to Uranium which has a big nucleus and less B.E. / nucleon. In other words,
Iodine and Yttrium are more stable and therefore, possess less energy and less rest mass. Also, when
Uranium nuclei explodes, it will convert into I and Y nuclei having kinetic energies.

88. (c) Energy released = (80 × 7 + 120 × 8 – 200 × 6.5)

92. (a) Let no. of D-particles emitted be x and no. of E particles emitted be y. Diff. in mass no. 4x =
238 – 206 = 32

x=8

Diff. in charge no. 2x – 1y = 92 – 82 = 10 16 – y = 10, y = 6

93. (a) We assume that mass number of nucleus when it was at rest = A ' mass number of D -particle
= 4 ? mass number of remaining nucleus = A - 4 As there is no external force, so momentum of the
system will remain conserved
103
110. (b) Radioactive decay is a random process. Each decay is a completely independent event.
Therefore, which particular nucleus will decay at a given instant of time cannot be predicted. In
other words when a particular nucleus will decay cannot be predicted. Each nucleus has same
probability of disintegration.
125 (c) Charge density is uniform inside and then falls rapidly near the surface of the nucleus.

126. (a)

127. (c)

128. (d)

129. (c) When n Xm emits one D-particle then its atomic mass decreases by 4 units and atomic
number by 2.

132. (b) As a result of emission of 1 D-particle, the mass number decreases by 4 units and atomic
number decreases by 2 units. And by the emission of 1 positron the atomic number decreases by 1
unit but mass number remains constant. ? Mass number of final nucleus = A – 12 Atomic number of
final nucleus = Z – 8 ? Number of neutrons = (A – 12) – (Z – 8) = A – Z – 4 Number of protons = Z – 8
142. (b)

143. (c) Neutrons are neutral particles.

144. (c) James Chadwick discovered the neutron

145. (d) In hydrogen, atomic number and mass number are equal.

146. (d) E mc J 2 8 2 16 17   1(3 10 )  9 10  10

147. (d) B.E. = m amu = m  931 MeV.

148. (d) Mass defect 931 2.23 m  = 0.0024.

149. (b) Positron is the antiparticle of electron.

150. (b)