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Nuclear and Particle Physics MCQs — Physics (page 11)

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.

251. Beta particles from the same source have different ranges in aluminium because:

  1. they have different energies
  2. they have different charges
  3. aluminium is not uniform
  4. some are alphas

Answer: A) they have different energies

Explanation: Continuous spectrum. SLO P-11-F-11 · Understanding

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252. The ratio of antimatter to matter in the observable universe is:

  1. about 10 : 1
  2. about 1 : 1
  3. about 2 : 1
  4. extremely small

Answer: D) extremely small

Explanation: Matter dominance. SLO P-11-F-26 · Knowledge

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253. The positron was first observed by:

  1. Thomson in cathode rays
  2. Rutherford in gold foil
  3. Chadwick
  4. Carl Anderson in cosmic rays (1932)

Answer: D) Carl Anderson in cosmic rays (1932)

Explanation: Cloud chamber tracks. SLO P-11-F-09 · Understanding

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254. The charge of an alpha particle is:

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

Answer: B) +2e

Explanation: Two protons. SLO P-11-F-08 · Understanding

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255. The electromagnetic force has an infinite range because:

  1. it is very strong
  2. it acts only on quarks
  3. its carrier, the photon, is massless
  4. photons are heavy

Answer: C) its carrier, the photon, is massless

Explanation: Massless carrier. SLO P-11-F-17 · Knowledge

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256. Neutrino experiments like DUNE and Hyper-Kamiokande aim to:

  1. measure the Earth's mass
  2. measure CP violation in neutrinos
  3. make antimatter fuel
  4. detect sound

Answer: B) measure CP violation in neutrinos

Explanation: Clues to the asymmetry. SLO P-11-F-27 · Understanding

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257. Changes of quark flavour in beta decay are caused by:

  1. the strong interaction
  2. the electromagnetic interaction
  3. the weak interaction
  4. gravity

Answer: C) the weak interaction

Explanation: Mediated by W bosons. SLO P-11-F-15 · Knowledge

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258. If the Moon were made of antimatter, the Apollo landings would have:

  1. been impossible to see
  2. been normal
  3. caused huge annihilation explosions
  4. made the Moon disappear silently

Answer: C) caused huge annihilation explosions

Explanation: The Moon is matter. SLO P-11-F-26 · Knowledge

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259. The mass of a positron is about:

  1. 9.11 10^-31 kg
  2. 1.67 10^-27 kg
  3. 1.6 10^-19 kg
  4. 0 kg

Answer: A) 9.11 10^-31 kg

Explanation: Same as an electron. SLO P-11-F-25 · Understanding

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260. Protons and neutrons are made of three quarks, so they are classified as:

  1. bosons
  2. mesons
  3. leptons
  4. baryons

Answer: D) baryons

Explanation: Three-quark hadrons. SLO P-11-F-13 · Understanding

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261. The antiparticle of a pi^+ (ubard) is:

  1. pi^+
  2. pi^0
  3. pi^- (barud)
  4. a proton

Answer: C) pi^- (barud)

Explanation: Swap quarks and antiquarks. SLO P-11-F-19 · Understanding

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262. Which particle gets the largest mass from the Higgs mechanism?

  1. the gluon
  2. the electron neutrino
  3. the photon
  4. the top quark

Answer: D) the top quark

Explanation: Strongest coupling. SLO P-11-F-18 · Knowledge

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263. Which is a baryon?

  1. electron
  2. neutron
  3. photon
  4. pion

Answer: B) neutron

Explanation: Three quarks. SLO P-11-F-14 · Knowledge

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264. Which combination of three quarks has charge -e?

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

Answer: A) ddd

Explanation: The Delta^- baryon. SLO P-11-F-13 · Understanding

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265. PET scanners detect:

  1. sound echoes
  2. magnetic resonance
  3. X-rays from the patient
  4. pairs of gamma photons from positron–electron annihilation

Answer: D) pairs of gamma photons from positron–electron annihilation

Explanation: Locating the tracer. SLO P-11-F-28 · Understanding

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266. In circular accelerators, magnetic fields are used to:

  1. bend the particles into a circular path
  2. stop them
  3. give them charge
  4. speed them up

Answer: A) bend the particles into a circular path

Explanation: Magnetic force does no work. SLO P-11-F-23 · Understanding

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267. For every billion antiparticles in the early universe, there were about:

  1. a billion antiparticles more
  2. zero particles
  3. one particle
  4. a billion and one particles

Answer: D) a billion and one particles

Explanation: Tiny asymmetry. SLO P-11-F-26 · Knowledge

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268. The lightest mesons are the:

  1. muons
  2. neutrons
  3. pions
  4. protons

Answer: C) pions

Explanation: About 140 MeV/c^2. SLO P-11-F-21 · Knowledge

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269. A free proton does not undergo beta^+ decay because:

  1. protons have no up quarks
  2. it has no charge
  3. a neutron is heavier than a proton, so energy would not be conserved
  4. the weak force doesn't act on protons

Answer: C) a neutron is heavier than a proton, so energy would not be conserved

Explanation: Happens only inside nuclei with extra binding energy. SLO P-11-F-15 · Knowledge

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270. An antialpha particle (antihelium nucleus) has charge:

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

Answer: C) -2e

Explanation: Opposite to an alpha particle. SLO P-11-F-25 · Understanding

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271. A particle made of ubars is a:

  1. boson
  2. baryon
  3. lepton
  4. meson

Answer: D) meson

Explanation: One quark + one antiquark (a kaon). SLO P-11-F-14 · Knowledge

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272. beta^+ and beta^- particles in the same field curve:

  1. not at all
  2. in opposite directions
  3. into straight lines
  4. the same way

Answer: B) in opposite directions

Explanation: Opposite charges. SLO P-11-F-08 · Understanding

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273. Compared with a proton, an antiproton has:

  1. no mass
  2. opposite mass
  3. the same charge
  4. the same mass (weight) and opposite charge

Answer: D) the same mass (weight) and opposite charge

Explanation: Mirror properties. SLO P-11-F-25 · Understanding

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274. Quarks inside protons and neutrons carry a 'colour charge' of:

  1. only red
  2. no colour
  3. black and white
  4. red, green or blue (one of each in a nucleon)

Answer: D) red, green or blue (one of each in a nucleon)

Explanation: Colour neutrality. SLO P-11-F-20 · Understanding

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275. Antimatter is difficult to store because:

  1. it has no mass
  2. it is unstable in a vacuum
  3. it is very heavy
  4. it annihilates on contact with ordinary matter

Answer: D) it annihilates on contact with ordinary matter

Explanation: Stored using magnetic traps. SLO P-11-F-24 · Understanding

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