Nuclear and Particle Physics MCQs

Question 1

In the reaction ^147 N + ^42 He to ^178 O + X, X is:

Accepted Answer

a proton ^11 p

Answer

an alpha particle

Answer

a neutron

Answer

an electron

Question 2

A proton is accelerated through a p.d. of 5000 V. The kinetic energy it gains is:

Accepted Answer

8 10^-16 J

Answer

8 10^-15 J

Answer

1.6 10^-15 J

Answer

4 10^-16 J

Question 3

Quarks are never observed alone because:

Accepted Answer

they are always confined inside hadrons

Answer

they are too small

Answer

they have no charge

Answer

they decay instantly

Question 4

An alpha particle consists of:

Accepted Answer

2 protons and 2 neutrons (a helium nucleus)

Answer

a photon

Answer

2 electrons

Answer

1 electron

Question 5

An electron and a positron moving at the same velocity through an electric field are deflected:

Accepted Answer

by equal amounts in opposite directions

Answer

not at all

Answer

the same way

Answer

by different amounts the same way

Question 6

The charge of a down quark is:

Accepted Answer

- 13e

Answer

+ 13e

Answer

+ 23e

Answer

-e

Question 7

Which force carrier is responsible for the decay of a neutron?

Accepted Answer

W boson

Answer

photon

Answer

gluon

Answer

Z boson only

Question 8

When a particle meets its antiparticle, they:

Accepted Answer

annihilate, converting mass into energy

Answer

merge into a heavier particle

Answer

become neutrons

Answer

bounce apart

Question 9

Antimatter galaxies, if they existed, would look like ordinary galaxies because:

Accepted Answer

antiatoms emit the same light spectra

Answer

they would be invisible

Answer

they emit sound

Answer

they would be blue

Question 10

A pi^+ meson has the quark composition:

Accepted Answer

ubard

Answer

uud

Answer

barud

Answer

ubaru

Question 11

An antineutron consists of:

Accepted Answer

barubardbard

Answer

udd

Answer

barubarubard

Answer

uud

Question 12

The quarks in a proton and neutron are held together by:

Accepted Answer

the strong force (carried by gluons)

Answer

the weak force

Answer

the electromagnetic force

Answer

gravity

Question 13

A positron and an electron in a uniform electric field have accelerations that are:

Accepted Answer

equal in magnitude and opposite in direction

Answer

unequal in magnitude

Answer

zero

Answer

equal and in the same direction

Question 14

The W and Z bosons were discovered at CERN in:

Accepted Answer

1983

Answer

2012

Answer

1905

Answer

1950

Question 15

Which statement is correct?

Accepted Answer

String theory and quantum field theory are both attempts to explain the origin of particles and forces

Answer

Mass has no explanation in physics

Answer

Quantum field theory has been disproven

Answer

String theory has been confirmed experimentally

Question 16

Total charge before an electron–positron annihilation is:

Accepted Answer

zero

Answer

-e

Answer

+2e

Answer

+e

Question 17

Which radiation is the most ionising?

Accepted Answer

alpha

Answer

all equal

Answer

gamma

Answer

beta

Question 18

The Higgs field is thought to:

Accepted Answer

fill all of space

Answer

exist only inside atoms

Answer

exist only in accelerators

Answer

exist only near the Sun

Question 19

Why must particles in accelerators move in a vacuum?

Accepted Answer

so they don't collide with air molecules

Answer

to keep them cold

Answer

vacuum gives them energy

Answer

to make them heavier

Question 20

Which force do leptons NOT experience?

Accepted Answer

the strong force

Answer

gravity

Answer

the electromagnetic force (for charged leptons)

Answer

the weak force

Question 21

Which statement is correct?

Accepted Answer

Physicists do not yet know why matter dominates over antimatter

Answer

Antimatter dominates

Answer

The cause is fully known

Answer

There is no asymmetry

Question 22

The number of up quarks in a ^42 He nucleus is:

Accepted Answer

6

Answer

4

Answer

8

Answer

12

Question 23

A neutron consists of:

Accepted Answer

udd

Answer

uuu

Answer

uud

Answer

ubard

Question 24

Which radiation is the most penetrating?

Accepted Answer

gamma

Answer

all equal

Answer

alpha

Answer

beta

Question 25

The antiproton has:

Accepted Answer

the mass of a proton and a negative charge

Answer

twice the proton's charge

Answer

no charge

Answer

the mass of an electron and a positive charge

Nuclear and Particle Physics MCQs — Physics (page 2)

26. In the reaction ^147 N + ^42 He to ^178 O + X, X is:

27. A proton is accelerated through a p.d. of 5000 V. The kinetic energy it gains is:

28. Quarks are never observed alone because:

29. An alpha particle consists of:

30. An electron and a positron moving at the same velocity through an electric field are deflected:

31. The charge of a down quark is:

32. Which force carrier is responsible for the decay of a neutron?

33. When a particle meets its antiparticle, they:

34. Antimatter galaxies, if they existed, would look like ordinary galaxies because:

35. A pi^+ meson has the quark composition:

36. An antineutron consists of:

37. The quarks in a proton and neutron are held together by:

38. A positron and an electron in a uniform electric field have accelerations that are:

39. The W and Z bosons were discovered at CERN in:

40. Which statement is correct?

41. Total charge before an electron–positron annihilation is:

42. Which radiation is the most ionising?

43. The Higgs field is thought to:

44. Why must particles in accelerators move in a vacuum?

45. Which force do leptons NOT experience?

46. Which statement is correct?

47. The number of up quarks in a ^42 He nucleus is:

48. A neutron consists of:

49. Which radiation is the most penetrating?

50. The antiproton has:

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