Nuclear Reactions Review

• 1. Radioactive materials have unstable• A.electrons.• C.protons.• B.nuclei.• D.neutrons.

• 2. The type of nuclear radiation that can penetrate farthest through matter is called

• A.radons.• C.neutron emission.• B.gamma rays.• D.X-rays.

• 3. Nuclei with too many or too few neutrons are

• A.never found.• C.unnatural.• B.unstable.• D.stable.

• 4. The process by which a nucleus splits into two or more smaller fragments, releasing neutrons and energy is called...

• A.strong nuclear split• C.change reaction• B.fusion.• D.fission.

• 5. Fusion occurs when nuclei• A.split.• C.mutate.• B.combine.• D.gain energy.

• 6. A fission chain reaction can be slowed by using materials that will

• A.absorb some of the neutrons.• B.convert some of the neutrons to protons.• C.increase the rate of the neutron

multiplication.• D.decrease the amount of available oxygen in

the air.

• 7. You prepare a large screened-in box, inside which you place several dozen mouse traps. You set each trap and on each mouse trap you place a ping pong ball. You then drop another ping pong ball into the box, which sets off one of the mouse traps, which sets off other mouse traps, and so on. You have just demonstrated

• A.a chain reaction.• C.the theory of relativity.• B.fusion.• D.alpha decay.

• 8. Background radiation can come from• A.the sun.• C.plants.• B.water.• D.all of the above

• 9. Our body tissues are normally protected from most background radiation by

• A.special deflectors in the atmosphere.• B.our outer skin.• C.staying indoors or in protected areas.• D.special molecules within our bodies that

fight radiation.

• 10. Short-lived isotopes like magnesium-28 that are used in fields such as geology, agriculture, and medicine are called

• A.trace elements.• C.carbon tracers.• B.radioactive tracers.• D.alpha-emitting isotopes.

• 11. Radioactive tracers are short-lived• A.drugs.• C.tumors.• B.isotopes.• D.rays.

• 12. To treat certain brain tumors, doctors can use small beams of ____ that are focused to kill only the tumor cells.

• A.X-rays• C.alpha rays• B.beta rays• D.gamma rays

• 13. The use of nuclear reactors to generate electricity is

• A.decreasing rapidly.• C.found in dozens of countries.• B.found only in the United States.• D.totally safe.

• 14. The ideal location for a radioactive-waste storage facility is one that is

• A.in a sparsely populated area.• C.far away from ground water• B.in an area free from earthquakes.• D.all of the above

• 15. When a fusion reactor for safely generating energy is developed, the element that could meet Earth's energy demands for millions of years is

• A.oxygen.• C.hydrogen.• B.nitrogen.• D.lithium.

• 16. What two elements are involved in nuclear fusion reactions?

• A.barium and krypton• C.uranium and hydrogen• B.uranium and barium• D.hydrogen and helium

• 17. Nuclear reactors use __________ to turn large turbines to produce electricity.

• A.water• C.wind• B.solar energy• D.steam

• 18. Our sun is powered by nuclear __________.

• A.fission• C.waste• B.fusion• D.reactors

• 19. Which element is the largest source of radiation in the Earth's crust?

• A.Uranium• C.Radon• B.Krypton• D.Barium

• 20. What is the force that binds protons and neutrons together in the nucleus of an atom called?

• A.gravity• C.strong nuclear force• B.magnetic force• D.air force one

• 21. What is the name for the process in which light nuclei combine at extremely high temperatures, forming a heavier nucleus and releasing energy?

• A.alpha contact• C.fusion• B.fission• D.change reaction

• 22. Name one good use of the energy produced in a controlled chain reaction.

• A.tanning• C.electricity• B.x-rays• D.nuclear waste

• 23. During beta decay, a nucleus• A.gives up two protons and two neutrons.• B.maintains the same number of protons and

neutrons.• C.loses a proton and gains a neutron.• D.gains a proton and loses a neutron.

• 24. In alpha decay, the mass number of the atom before the decay

• A.equals the sum of the mass numbers of the products.

• B.does not change after the decay.• C.is the same as the atomic number.• D.cannot be determined.

• 25. Which of the following occurs in the nucleus during alpha decay?

• A.Two neutrons and two electrons are gained.• B.Two protons and two neutrons are gained.• C.Two neutrons and two electrons are lost.• D.Two protons and two neutrons are lost.

• 26. What changes in the nucleus during nuclear decay by gamma rays?

• A.energy content• C.atomic number• B.atomic mass• D.All of the above