Nuclear Energy Test Review Sheet
Name:__________________________________________________________ period:__________
1. Describe the interaction of forces in a radioactive nucleus (unstable nucleus) vs a stable
nucleus. (discuss strong nuclear force and repulsive force)
2. What is Nuclear Fission?
a. How do we get energy from this?
b. Draw a picture of it:
c. What are some advantages and disadvantages?
d. Why can’t use nuclear fusion as a power source on Earth?
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3. Write out the nuclear reaction that occurs in the core of the sun.
_____________ + _____________ 
______________ + 10n
4. Is the above equation a fission or fusion? How do you know?
5. Draw a picture of nuclear fusion?
6. What produces more energy/gram of fuel: fission or fusion?
7. What is an isotope?
8. Write the nuclear notation for the following isotopes: Chlorine 35 and Chlorine 37.
Describe the differences and similarities between the two isotopes.
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9. Fill in the chart below to compare the types of nuclear radiation/emission:
Alpha Particle
Beta
Gamma
What (exactly) is
released?
Symbol?
How does it
affect the
atom?
B. Practice Problems
1. Complete the following nuclear reactions:
a. 23892U  23490Th + ____________
b. 23491Pa  __________ + 42He
c. 23491Pa  __________ + 0-1e
d. 10n + 23892U  _____________ + 42He
e. 22086Rn  __________ +
00γ
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Name:____________________________________________________________________ period:____
Graphing Review:
Graph the following data then answer the questions.
Time passed
0 years
10 years
20 years
30 years
40 years
Amt. of parent nuclei
100 grams
50 grams
25 grams
12.5 grams
6.25 grams
Amt of daughter nuclei
0
1. Fill in the amount of daughter nuclei for each time passed.
2. What is the half-life for this radioactive isotope?
3. How many half-lives have passed at 30 years?
4. What fraction of the original amount has decayed after 30 years?
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Use the chart to answer questions below:
Radioactive
Substance
Radon-222
Iodine-131
Radium-226
Carbon-14
Plutonium-239
Uranium-238
Approximate HalfLife
4 days
8 days
1,600 years
5,730 years
24,120 years
4,470,000,000 years
3. If we start with 8000 atoms of radium- 226, what fraction of it would remain after 3,200
years? (Extension- how many atoms remain?)
5. If we start with 60 atoms of uranium-238, what fraction will remain after 4,470,000,000
years? (Extension- how many atoms remain?)
6. If we start with 24 atoms of iodine-131, what fraction will remain after 32 days? (Extensionyou know the drill…)
EXTENSION: You find a sample of Uranium that is in the process of decaying. If there were
3,000 grams initially and there are only 187.5 grams still radioactive (parent atoms), how
many half lives have passed?
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