Answers to General Radioactivity Questions
(The correct answers are in boldface.)

Return to Radioactivity Menu

Return to questions

1) A positively charged particle made up of two protons and two neutrons and released by a radioactive nucleus is the alpha particle.

2) An electron released by a radioactive nucleus that causes a neutron to change into a proton is called a beta particle.

3) The amount of time for half the atoms in a radioactive sample to decay is called the half-life..

4) The process in which the nuclei of unstable atoms can become more stable by emitting particles and/or electromagnetic radiation is called radioactive decay.

5) High-energy electromagnetic radiation released by a radioactive nucleus are called gamma rays.

6) Radioactive decay is the breaking up of a radioactive element, more often than not resulting in the formation of a new nucleus.

7) Transmutation is the changing of an atom into another kind of atom that takes place during radioactive decay.

8) In the year 1896, Henri Becquerel of France discovered radioactivity.

9) Alpha radiation is actually a stream of (positively, negatively) charged particles.

10) Beta radiation is actually a stream of (positively, negatively) charged particles.

11) Whenever an element undergoes (alpha, beta, gamma) decay, it turns into another element with an atomic number two less than before and a mass number four less than before.

12) During (alpha, beta, gamma) decay, a neutron in the nucleus decays into a proton, an electron, and an anti-neutrino.

13) The more stable a nucleus is, the (longer, shorter) its half-life.

14) (Alpha particles, Beta particles, Gamma rays) can be stopped with a piece of paper.

15) (Alpha particles, Beta particles, Gamma rays) can be stopped with a thin metal sheet.

16) It takes a thick metal sheet to stop (alpha particles, beta particles, gamma rays).

17) (Alpha particles, Beta particles, Gamma rays) travel at the speed of light.

18) The term radioactivity was coined by Marie Curie.

19) (Alpha particles, Beta particles, Gamma rays) are not affected by a magnetic field because they carry no electrical charge.

20) An alpha particle is actually a nucleus of helium.

21) Beta particles originate in the nucleus of the atom.

22) Radioactive decay processes occur until a stable element is formed.

23) The half-life of a given isotope can be altered by heat, pressure, or some other physical means. True or False.

24) What happens in a chain reaction?

A) Radioactive reactants are deposited on control rods.
B) Products that are radioactive are lost.
C) Reactants that have two parts split.
D) Products that start a new reaction are released.

25) Why is ionizing radiation more dangerous to children than to adults? (The following list is not intended to exhaustive. You may be able to think of more reasons.)

a) children are smaller than adults, so the ionizing radiation is more concentrated in terms of body size.
b) because of the smaller body size, a greater percentage of the body is damaged, including vital organs.
c) since a child is still developing physically (intellectually, emotionally, etc.), the radiation can damage this process before it is completed. this having an adverse effect over the rest of the child's life.

Return to Radioactivity Menu

Return to questions