AP® Physics 2
Myers Park High School
Problem Set: Nuclear Physics
1.
The nuclei of different isotopes of a given element have the same number of
A) protons.
B) neutrons.
C) nucleons.
D) electrons.
2.
The atomic number is equal to the number of what particles in the nucleus?
A) protons
B) neutrons
C) nucleons
D) electrons
3.
The mass number is equal to the number of what particles in the nucleus?
A) protons
B) neutrons
C) nucleons
D) electrons
4.
A fusion reaction works because the binding energy of the resulting nucleus
A) is greater than the binding energy of the original nuclei.
B) is less than the binding energy of the original nuclei.
C) is released in the process.
D) is absorbed in the process.
5.
A fission reaction in which more neutrons are given off than are needed to initiate the reaction is called
A) a critical reaction.
B) a chain reaction.
C) a fusion reaction.
D) a neutron catastrophe.
6.
The symbol for a certain isotope of strontium is
90
38
Sr. What is the mass number of this isotope?
A) 38
B) 52
C) 90
D) 128
7.
The neutral deuterium atom,
2
1
H, has a mass of 2.014102 u; a neutral hydrogen atom has a mass of
1.007825 u; a neutron has a mass of 1.008665 u; and a proton has a mass of 1.007277 u. What is the
binding energy of the
2
1
H nucleus? 1 u = 931.494 MeV/c2.
A) 1.1 MeV
B) 1.7 MeV
C) 2.2 MeV
D) 2.9 MeV
1
AP® Physics 2
Myers Park High School
8.
Problem Set: Nuclear Physics
The neutral helium atom,
4
2
He, has a mass of 4.002603 u, a neutron has a mass of 1.008665 u, a proton has
a mass of 1.007277 u, and a neutral hydrogen atom has a mass of 1.007825 u. What is the binding energy
of the
4
2
He nucleus? 1 u = 931.494 MeV/c2.
A) 22.4 MeV
B) 27.3 MeV
C) 28.3 MeV
D) 23.4 MeV
9.
An oxygen-15 nucleus (
A)
15
N
7
B)
16
F
8
C)
D)
15
O)
8
decays by emitting a b+ ray and one other particle. What is the other particle?
15
C
6
17
N
7
10. Plutonium-239 decays into uranium-235 plus an alpha particle. The energy released in the process is 5.24
MeV. Given the following mass values:
239
94
4
2
He, 4.002603 u;
235
92
U, 235.043924 u; what is the mass value of
Pu? 1 u = 931.494 MeV/c2.
A) 239.052157 u
B) 239.027750 u
C) 239.001889 u
D) 238.988842 u
11. Uranium-238 decays into thorium-234 plus an alpha particle. How much energy is released in this process?
1 u = 931.494 MeV/c2. The relevant mass values are:
4
2
He, 4.002603 u;
234
90
Th, 234.043583 u;
238
92
U,
238.050786 u.
A) 4.28 MeV
B) 3.76 MeV
C) 3.18 MeV
D) 2.89 MeV
12. Radium-226 decays into radon-222 plus an alpha particle. How much energy is released in this process? 1 u
= 931.494 MeV/c2. The relevant mass values are:
226.025402 u.
A) 4.24 MeV
B) 4.87 MeV
C) 5.05 MeV
D) 5.39 MeV
2
4
2
He, 4.002603 u;
222
86
Rn, 222.017570 u;
266
88
Ra,
AP® Physics 2
Myers Park High School
13. Two deuterium nuclei,
Problem Set: Nuclear Physics
2
1
3
H, fuse to produce a tritium nucleus, H, and a hydrogen nucleus. A neutral
1
deuterium atom has a mass of 2.014102 u; a neutral tritium atom has a mass of 3.016050 u; a neutral
hydrogen atom has a mass of 1.007825 u; a neutron has a mass of 1.008665 u; and a proton has a mass of
1.007277 u. How much energy is released in the process? 1 u = 931.494 MeV/c2.
A) 3.03 MeV
B) 3.53 MeV
C) 4.03 MeV
D) 4.53 MeV
14. Two deuterium nuclei,
2
1
H, fuse to produce a helium nucleus,
3
2
He, and a neutron. A neutral deuterium
atom has a mass of 2.014102 u; a neutral helium atom has a mass of 3.016030 u; a neutral hydrogen atom
has a mass of 1.007825 u; a neutron has a mass of 1.008665 u; and a proton has a mass of 1.007277 u. How
much energy is released in the process? 1 u = 931.494 MeV/c2.
A) 3.27 MeV
B) 3.57 MeV
C) 4.00 MeV
D) 4.50 Me
1. A
8. C
2. A
9. A
3. C
10. A
4. A
11. A
3
5. B
12. B
6. C
13. C
7. C
14. A