Practice Exam #1 14-23

Question 1

Definition of radioactive decay?

Answer 1

1. A radionuclide will seek stability by radioactive decay in a specific manner.
2. And the rate of decay for a specific nuclide will be a characteristic for that nuclide.

Question 2

The half-life of a radionuclide is best defined as?

Answer 2

The amount of time it takes for the activity present to be reduced to one-half.

Question 3

Definition of alpha decay?

Answer 3

1. Only relatively heavy nuclides decay by alpha.
2. An alpha particle is essentially a helium nucleus consisting of two protons and two neutrons.
3. And the charge of an alpha particle is a plus two… to the electrical charge of protons.

Question 4

A nucleus emitting an alpha particle decays to a daughter element with an atomic number Z reduced by 1. True or False?

Answer 4

False

Question 5

Which best describes a beta particle?

Answer 5

Are negatively charge particle that have the same mass as an electron.

Question 6

Due to their kinetic energy, beta particles can travel several hundred times the distance of alpha particles and require a few millimeters of aluminum to stop them. True or False?

Answer 6

True

Question 7

A smear sample was taken from the refueling canal and analyzed and found to contain 12.6 microcuries of CO-58. If the sample was counted 70 days later, and found to contain 6.3 microcuries of activity, then we can determine that the half-life of CO-58 is 70 days. True or False?

Answer 7

True

Question 8

The amount time required for the activity present to be reduced to one-tenth is called the half-life. True or False?

Answer 8

False