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Nuclear and Particle Physics MCQs — Physics (page 10)

330 multiple-choice questions on Nuclear and Particle Physics from Physics, each with the correct answer and, where available, a teacher's explanation. Read through them to revise the chapter, then practise the same questions one by one to test yourself.

226. Antimatter is produced in:

  1. chemical reactions
  2. high-energy particle collisions and some radioactive decays
  3. burning wood
  4. electric circuits

Answer: B) high-energy particle collisions and some radioactive decays

Explanation: e.g. beta^+ decay. SLO P-11-F-24 · Understanding

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227. Photons have zero mass because:

  1. they are leptons
  2. they do not interact with the Higgs field
  3. they interact strongly with it
  4. they are quarks

Answer: B) they do not interact with the Higgs field

Explanation: No coupling. SLO P-11-F-18 · Knowledge

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228. The total charge of the quarks uud is:

  1. +2e
  2. 0
  3. +e
  4. -e

Answer: C) +e

Explanation: Proton. SLO P-11-F-13 · Understanding

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229. In quantum field theory, forces arise from:

  1. direct contact only
  2. the exchange of particles (field quanta) between interacting particles
  3. magnetism only
  4. gravity only

Answer: B) the exchange of particles (field quanta) between interacting particles

Explanation: Exchange bosons. SLO P-11-F-22 · Understanding

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230. In some annihilations, instead of only photons:

  1. energy disappears
  2. the particles reappear unchanged
  3. mass increases
  4. new subatomic particles may be produced

Answer: D) new subatomic particles may be produced

Explanation: e.g. pions from proton–antiproton annihilation. SLO P-11-F-28 · Understanding

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231. Accelerators are used to make radioisotopes for:

  1. medical imaging and treatment
  2. cooking
  3. electric power
  4. lighting

Answer: A) medical imaging and treatment

Explanation: e.g. PET tracers. SLO P-11-F-23 · Understanding

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232. A nucleus ^6027 Co emits a beta^- particle. The daughter nucleus has nucleon number A and proton number Z:

  1. A = 60, Z = 30
  2. A = 60, Z = 27
  3. A = 56, Z = 25
  4. A = 60, Z = 28

Answer: D) A = 60, Z = 28

Explanation: Nucleon number and charge are conserved: daughter ^6028X. SLO P-11-F-07 · Knowledge

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233. Compared with an electron, a positron's rest energy is:

  1. the same (0.511 MeV)
  2. negative
  3. zero
  4. twice as large

Answer: A) the same (0.511 MeV)

Explanation: Same mass. SLO P-11-F-09 · Understanding

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234. The symbol barnue represents:

  1. an electron antineutrino
  2. an electron neutrino
  3. a photon
  4. a positron

Answer: A) an electron antineutrino

Explanation: The bar denotes the antiparticle. SLO P-11-F-10 · Knowledge

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235. An antiproton is made of:

  1. one up and two down quarks
  2. two up and one down quark
  3. two anti-up quarks and one anti-down quark
  4. electrons

Answer: C) two anti-up quarks and one anti-down quark

Explanation: barubarubard. SLO P-11-F-24 · Understanding

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236. If the laws of physics treated matter and antimatter exactly the same, we would expect:

  1. only matter
  2. only antimatter
  3. equal amounts of each, which would annihilate
  4. more antimatter

Answer: C) equal amounts of each, which would annihilate

Explanation: Hence a puzzle. SLO P-11-F-27 · Understanding

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237. Particle accelerators are used in medicine to:

  1. measure blood pressure
  2. produce X-rays and beams for cancer therapy
  3. cure the common cold
  4. make vaccines directly

Answer: B) produce X-rays and beams for cancer therapy

Explanation: Radiotherapy. SLO P-11-F-23 · Understanding

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238. The symbol for a positron is:

  1. e^-
  2. n
  3. e^+
  4. p^+

Answer: C) e^+

Explanation: Also beta^+. SLO P-11-F-09 · Understanding

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239. In beta^- decay, the baryon number:

  1. changes from 0 to +1
  2. changes from +1 to 0
  3. is conserved (stays +1)
  4. doubles

Answer: C) is conserved (stays +1)

Explanation: Neutron → proton. SLO P-11-F-15 · Knowledge

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240. Which particle is produced in beta^+ decay but not in beta^- decay?

  1. an electron neutrino
  2. an antineutrino
  3. an electron
  4. an alpha particle

Answer: A) an electron neutrino

Explanation: beta^+: e^+ + nue. SLO P-11-F-10 · Knowledge

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241. A proton consists of:

  1. ddd
  2. uud
  3. uuu
  4. udd

Answer: B) uud

Explanation: Charge 23 + 23 - 13 = +1. SLO P-11-F-13 · Understanding

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242. The word 'lepton' comes from Greek for:

  1. heavy
  2. light (in mass), small
  3. fast
  4. strong

Answer: B) light (in mass), small

Explanation: Originally named for light particles. SLO P-11-F-16 · Knowledge

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243. Gamma radiation is:

  1. a stream of neutrons
  2. a stream of helium nuclei
  3. high-energy electromagnetic radiation
  4. a stream of electrons

Answer: C) high-energy electromagnetic radiation

Explanation: No mass, no charge. SLO P-11-F-08 · Understanding

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244. The quarks that make up ordinary matter are:

  1. strange and top
  2. charm and strange
  3. top and bottom
  4. up and down

Answer: D) up and down

Explanation: Protons and neutrons. SLO P-11-F-12 · Understanding

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245. A cyclotron uses:

  1. lasers only
  2. a single straight tube
  3. a battery only
  4. two D-shaped electrodes in a magnetic field with an alternating p.d.

Answer: D) two D-shaped electrodes in a magnetic field with an alternating p.d.

Explanation: Particles spiral outward. SLO P-11-F-23 · Understanding

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246. Leptons are:

  1. force carriers
  2. made of quarks
  3. nucleons
  4. fundamental particles that do not feel the strong force

Answer: D) fundamental particles that do not feel the strong force

Explanation: Not composite. SLO P-11-F-16 · Knowledge

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247. The charge of a positron is:

  1. +3.2 10^-19 C
  2. -1.6 10^-19 C
  3. +1.6 10^-19 C
  4. zero

Answer: C) +1.6 10^-19 C

Explanation: Opposite to the electron. SLO P-11-F-09 · Understanding

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248. Which statement is true?

  1. Antimatter travels faster than light
  2. Antimatter cannot exist
  3. Antimatter has negative mass
  4. Antimatter obeys the same laws of physics as matter

Answer: D) Antimatter obeys the same laws of physics as matter

Explanation: Experiments confirm. SLO P-11-F-24 · Understanding

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249. The matter–antimatter asymmetry is described as:

  1. not a real observation
  2. a solved problem from 1900
  3. fully explained
  4. an unsolved mystery in physics

Answer: D) an unsolved mystery in physics

Explanation: Open question. SLO P-11-F-27 · Understanding

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250. The charge of a strange quark is:

  1. + 13e
  2. + 23e
  3. 0
  4. - 13e

Answer: D) - 13e

Explanation: Same as down. SLO P-11-F-12 · Understanding

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