DP IB Physics: HL

Topic Questions

IBPhysics: HLDPTopic Questions12. Quantum & Nuclear Physics (HL only)12.2 Nuclear Physics

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First teaching 2014

Last exams 2024

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12.2 Nuclear Physics

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1
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Which of the following statements about the nuclear radius is incorrect?

  • As more nucleons are added to a nucleus the radius increases

  • The radius of nuclei depends on the atomic number, Z of the nucleus

  • The exact relationship between the radius and nucleon number can be determined from experimental data

  • The radius of the nucleus can be calculated using an equation which involves the constant of proportionality, R0

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2
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The graph shows the scattering of electrons due to diffraction by oxygen-16 nuclei.
jCIVaS1V_12-2-ib-hl-mcqs-easy-q2-answers

Which point on the graph represents the first minimum?

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3
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What do the deviations from the Rutherford scattering give evidence for?

  • The nuclear radius

  • The charge on the nucleus

  • The electrostatic force

  • The strong nuclear force

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4
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What is the radius of cobalt-27?

  • 3.6 fm

  • 10.8 fm

  • 27 fm

  • 32.4 fm

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5
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Which graph shows how intensity I varies with angle θ when electrons are diffracted by a nucleus?

I9SWxx7e_12-2-ib-hl-mcqs-easy-q5-answers

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6
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Which of the following is the unit for the decay constant λ?

  • Bq s−1

  • s

  • s−1

  • The decay constant has no units

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7
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Which of the following graphs of the number of undecayed nuclei N over time has the smallest decay constant?

CSFNQLD~_12-2-ib-hl-mcqs-easy-q7-answers

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8
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Which of the following provides evidence for the existence of neutrinos?

  • Some particles were indistinguishable from their antiparticles

  • Nuclear energy levels have a continuous spectrum

  • The energy of emitted beta particles have a continuous spectrum

  • The emission spectrum only contains specific wavelengths

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9
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When alpha particles of speed v are directed at nuclei with atomic number A, scattering occurs. Small deviations from the predicted intensity of the scattered particles are observed.

Which change in nucleon number and energy will give the greatest deviation from the Rutherford scattering predictions?

  Atomic number Speed
A. decrease increase
B. decrease decrease
C. increase increase
D. increase decrease

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10
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A radioactive element has a decay constant λ. At time, t = 0 the number of nuclei of this element is N0. These are linked by the equation N subscript t equals N subscript 0 e to the power of negative lambda t end exponent where Nt is the number of nuclei expected at time t. 

What number of nuclei would you expect to remain after 1 second?

  • 0

  • N subscript 0 left parenthesis 1 minus e to the power of negative lambda end exponent right parenthesis

  • N subscript 0 e to the power of negative lambda end exponent

  • 1

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1
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A radioactive source X consists of 10.4 × 1011 atoms of a nuclide of half-life 5 days. A second source Y consists of 5.2 × 1010 atoms of another nuclide of half-life 6 days.

After how many days will the number of radioactive atoms in X be equal to Y?

  • fraction numerator 30 ln open parentheses 2 close parentheses over denominator ln open parentheses 20 close parentheses end fraction

  • fraction numerator ln open parentheses 20 close parentheses over denominator 30 ln open parentheses 2 close parentheses end fraction

  • fraction numerator 30 ln open parentheses 20 close parentheses over denominator ln open parentheses 2 close parentheses end fraction

  • fraction numerator ln open parentheses 2 close parentheses over denominator 30 ln open parentheses 20 close parentheses end fraction

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2
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Two radioactive elements X and Y have half–lives TX and TY respectively. Initially samples of S, NX contains three times as many atoms of Y, NY .

After a certain time t, which of the expressions for fraction numerator n u m b e r space o f space d e c a y e d space a t o m s space o f space X over denominator n u m b e r space o f space d e c a y e d space a t o m s space o f space Y end fraction is correct?

 

  • fraction numerator 3 open parentheses N subscript Y blank – N subscript Y open parentheses 1 half close parentheses to the power of t over T subscript X end exponent close parentheses over denominator N subscript Y blank – N subscript Y open parentheses 1 half close parentheses to the power of t over T subscript Y end exponent end fraction

  • fraction numerator N subscript X open parentheses 1 half close parentheses to the power of t over T subscript X end exponent minus N subscript X over denominator N subscript Y open parentheses 1 half close parentheses to the power of t over T subscript Y end exponent minus N subscript Y end fraction

  • fraction numerator N subscript X open parentheses 1 half close parentheses to the power of t over T subscript X end exponent over denominator N subscript Y open parentheses 1 half close parentheses to the power of t over T subscript Y end exponent end fraction

  • fraction numerator 3 N subscript Y open parentheses 1 half close parentheses to the power of t over T subscript X end exponent over denominator N subscript Y open parentheses 1 half close parentheses to the power of t over T subscript Y end exponent end fraction

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3
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The initial activity of a radioactive source is 160 counts per second. After a time T, its activity becomes 5 counts per second.

 If the half–life of the source is 18 hours, what is T?

  • fraction numerator ln open parentheses 32 close parentheses over denominator 18 ln open parentheses 2 close parentheses end fraction hours

  • fraction numerator 18 ln open parentheses 32 close parentheses over denominator ln open parentheses 2 close parentheses end fractionhours

  • fraction numerator ln open parentheses 2 close parentheses over denominator 18 ln open parentheses 32 close parentheses end fraction hours

  • fraction numerator 18 ln open parentheses 2 close parentheses over denominator ln open parentheses 32 close parentheses end fraction hours

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4
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A pure sample of a radioactive nuclide has mass m, half-life T1/2 and initial activity A0.

Identify the half-life and initial activity of another sample which is otherwise identical but has mass 3m.

  Half-life  Initial activity
A.  T subscript 1 divided by 2 end subscript A subscript 0
B. 3 T subscript 1 divided by 2 end subscript 1 third space A subscript 0
C.  T subscript 1 divided by 2 end subscript 3 A subscript 0
D. 3 T subscript 1 divided by 2 end subscript 3 A subscript 0

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5
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Alpha particles with various energy E are directed at a nuclei with atomic number Z. Small deviations from the predictions of the Rutherford scattering model are observed.

Which value of E and Z is most likely to result in the greatest deviations from the Rutherford scattering model?

  E / MeV Z
A. 39.0 350
B. 2.4 190
C. 39.0 190
D. 2.5 350

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6
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Two radioactive nuclides, P and Q, have half-lives of 70 s and 175 s respectively. At time t = 0, samples of P and Q contain the same number of nuclei.

What is fraction numerator n u m b e r space o f space n u c l e i space o f space P space d e c a y e d over denominator n u m b e r space o f space n u c l e i space o f space Q space d e c a y e d end fractionwhen t = 350 s?

  • 8

  • 24 over 31

  • 31 over 24

  • 1 over 8

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7
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The diameter of Iridium-192 (I presubscript 77 presuperscript 192 r) nucleus is approximately four times that of the diameter of a nucleus of which other isotope?

  • H presubscript 1 presuperscript 3

  • T presubscript 22 presuperscript 48 i

  • B presubscript 5 presuperscript 11

  • L presubscript 3 presuperscript 7 i

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8
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Two unstable isotopes are initially present in equal numbers. Isotope Y has a half life of 6 minutes and isotope Z has a half life of 3 minutes. Which expression correctly describes the ratio of the activity of Y to Z after 12 minutes?

  • space e to the power of negative fraction numerator l n 2 over denominator 2 end fraction cross times 12 end exponent over e to the power of negative fraction numerator ln 2 over denominator 2 end fraction cross times 12 end exponent

  • space 3 over 6 space cross times space e to the power of negative ln 2 cross times 12 end exponent over e to the power of negative l n 2 cross times 12 end exponent

  • space 1 half space cross times space e to the power of negative 4 ln 2 end exponent over e to the power of negative 3 ln 2 end exponent

  • space 1 half space cross times space e to the power of negative 2 ln 2 end exponent over e to the power of – 4 ln 2 end exponent

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9
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The ratio fraction numerator r a d i u s space o f space n u c l e u s space o f space Y over denominator r a d i u s space o f space n u c l e u s space o f space X end fraction is equal to 1.2 where the nucleus of X is X presubscript 80 space end presubscript presuperscript 125 space end presuperscript .

How many nucleons does nucleus Y have?

  • 36

  • 125

  • 6

  • 216

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10
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A pure sample of a known element has a very short half-life. What measurement(s), together with the initial activity of the sample, must be made in order to measure the half-life of the element?

  • The number of moles of the sample.

  • The activity and the number of moles of the sample after a given period of time.

  • The number of moles after a given period of time.

  • The activity after a given period of time.

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1
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Two elements are compared where the nucleus of the first element, N1 has radius r and nucleon number Z, and the nucleus of the second element N2 has radius 3r and nucleon number 5 over 3  Z. What is the ratio of  fraction numerator d e n s i t y space N subscript 1 over denominator d e n s i t y space N subscript 2 end fraction ?

  • 1 fifth

  • 4 over 9

  • 1

  • 5 over 2

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21 mark

The Physicists Geiger and Marsden bombarded a thin gold foil with alpha particles. They observed that

I.
most alpha particles passed through without deflection
II.
a very small number of alpha particles were deflected by a large angle

Select the row which explains these effects.

  I. II.
A. most α-particles miss the gold atoms a small number of α-particles are deflected by the gold atoms
B. the nucleus of the gold atom is very small so that most α-particles do not interact with it the ratio of deflected particles is small because it reflects the ratio of the size of the nucleus compared to the atom
C. the charge on the nucleus is insufficient to deflect the α-particle the ratio of deflected particles is small because it reflects the ratio of the size of the nucleus compared to the atom
D. α-particles are high energy and able to pass through the nucleus the charges on the α-particle and the nucleus are such that large angle deflection cannot occur

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3
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Two samples P and Q of different radioactive isotopes have the same initial activity. Sample P has a third of the number of atoms as sample Q. The half-life of P is T seconds.

What is the half-life of sample Q?

  • straight T over 3

  • fraction numerator straight T over denominator 3 square root of 2 end fraction

  • 3 straight T

  • 3 square root of 2 straight T

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4
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The half-life of a radioactive isotope is 10 days. What is the approximate percentage of the sample remaining after 25 days?

  • 20

  • 19

  • 16

  • 15

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5
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A pure sample of a radioactive nuclide undergoes a decay resulting in a stable daughter nuclide. What fraction of the sample is made up of the daughter nuclide after five half-lives?

  • 1 over 16

  • 1 over 32

  • 15 over 16

  • 31 over 32

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6
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A series of radioactive decays produce both alpha particles and anti-neutrinos. Which answer option describes the nature of the energy spectrum of these two particles?

  Anti-neutrino Alpha-particle
A. discrete discrete
B. discrete continuous
C. continuous discrete
D. continuous continuous

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7
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The decay of several unstable nuclei are observed in a radiation chamber. The following identifications are made: 

  1. Alpha-particles have discrete kinetic energy levels
  2. Beta-particles have a continuous range of kinetic energies
  3. Gamma-ray photons have discrete kinetic energy levels

These observations directly relate to two important discoveries; the use of emission spectra to identify elements and the existence of the neutrino.

Which row correctly identifies the observations that lead researchers to the discovery of emission spectra and the existence of the neutrino?

  Emission spectra Existence of the neutrino
A. II only II only
B. I and III only II only
C. II only I and III only
D. I and III only I and II

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8
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The best estimate of the radii of nuclei is determined from experiments involving

  • The scattering of charged particles.

  • The emission of photoelectrons due to UV light incident on a metal surface.

  • Diffraction of high energy electron beams.

  • Ionisation due to alpha-particle radiation.

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9
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A radioactive sample of initial activity 10.0 Bq has a half-life of 1.0 day. Which value represents the most likely activity after 2.5 days?

  • 0.8 Bq

  • 1.2 Bq

  • 1.6 Bq

  • 2.2 Bq

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10
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A pure sample of a radioactive nuclide has mass m, half-life T1/2 and initial activity A0.

Identify the half-life and initial activity of another sample which is otherwise identical but has mass 3m.

  Half-life  Initial activity
A.  T subscript 1 divided by 2 end subscript A subscript 0
B. 3 T subscript 1 divided by 2 end subscript 1 third space A subscript 0
C.  T subscript 1 divided by 2 end subscript 3 A subscript 0
D. 3 T subscript 1 divided by 2 end subscript 3 A subscript 0

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