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Nuclear and Particle Physics MCQs — Physics (page 3)

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.

51. CERN's 'Antimatter Factory' produces:

  1. antiprotons and antihydrogen for experiments
  2. uranium
  3. electricity for homes
  4. ordinary hydrogen

Answer: A) antiprotons and antihydrogen for experiments

Explanation: Antiproton Decelerator. SLO P-11-F-24 · Understanding

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52. A nucleus ^2211 Na emits a beta^+ particle. The daughter nucleus has nucleon number A and proton number Z:

  1. A = 22, Z = 8
  2. A = 18, Z = 9
  3. A = 22, Z = 11
  4. A = 22, Z = 10

Answer: D) A = 22, Z = 10

Explanation: Nucleon number and charge are conserved: daughter ^2210X. SLO P-11-F-07 · Knowledge

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53. Theories suggest that in the very early universe:

  1. only matter existed
  2. only antimatter existed
  3. matter and antimatter were created in almost equal amounts
  4. neither existed

Answer: C) matter and antimatter were created in almost equal amounts

Explanation: A slight excess of matter survived. SLO P-11-F-26 · Knowledge

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54. In quantum field theory, particles are seen as:

  1. magnets
  2. tiny solid balls
  3. waves in water
  4. excitations (energised states) of fields

Answer: D) excitations (energised states) of fields

Explanation: e.g. electrons are excitations of the electron field. SLO P-11-F-22 · Understanding

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55. An electron and a positron, both at rest, annihilate. The total energy released is (c = 3 10^8 m/s):

  1. 8.2 10^-14 J
  2. 5.47 10^-22 J
  3. 1.64 10^-13 J
  4. 3.28 10^-13 J

Answer: C) 1.64 10^-13 J

Explanation: E = 2mc^2 = 2 9.11 10^-31 (3 10^8)^2 = 1.64 10^-13 J. SLO P-11-F-28 · Understanding

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56. The mass of a beta particle is about:

  1. 1 u
  2. 4 u
  3. 11836 u (same as an electron)
  4. 0 u

Answer: C) 11836 u (same as an electron)

Explanation: ≈ 9.11 10^-31 kg. SLO P-11-F-08 · Understanding

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57. Which property is the SAME for a particle and its antiparticle?

  1. baryon number
  2. charge
  3. lepton number
  4. mass

Answer: D) mass

Explanation: Others are reversed. SLO P-11-F-19 · Understanding

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58. The Sun is made of:

  1. dark matter only
  2. matter
  3. antimatter
  4. equal amounts of both

Answer: B) matter

Explanation: Solar wind particles are matter. SLO P-11-F-26 · Knowledge

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59. The positron was predicted by:

  1. Marie Curie
  2. Ernest Rutherford
  3. Albert Einstein
  4. Paul Dirac

Answer: D) Paul Dirac

Explanation: Dirac's equation (1928). SLO P-11-F-09 · Understanding

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60. Protons are stable, but free neutrons decay because:

  1. neutrons have no quarks
  2. neutrons are leptons
  3. protons have more quarks
  4. a d quark can change into a u quark, and the proton has lower mass

Answer: D) a d quark can change into a u quark, and the proton has lower mass

Explanation: Weak decay. SLO P-11-F-20 · Understanding

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61. In d to u + e^- + barnue, charge is conserved because:

  1. - 13 = + 23 - 1 + 0
  2. charge isn't conserved
  3. - 13 = + 23 + 1
  4. + 23 = - 13 - 1

Answer: A) - 13 = + 23 - 1 + 0

Explanation: Check of charges. SLO P-11-F-15 · Knowledge

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62. Which is NOT an exchange particle?

  1. electron
  2. gluon
  3. W boson
  4. photon

Answer: A) electron

Explanation: Electrons are leptons. SLO P-11-F-17 · Knowledge

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63. Which statement about mesons is correct?

  1. They contain one quark and one antiquark
  2. They contain three quarks
  3. They are stable like protons
  4. They are leptons

Answer: A) They contain one quark and one antiquark

Explanation: Definition. SLO P-11-F-21 · Knowledge

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64. A graph of number of alpha particles against energy for one nuclide shows:

  1. a smooth continuous curve
  2. nothing
  3. one or a few sharp lines
  4. a straight sloping line

Answer: C) one or a few sharp lines

Explanation: Discrete energies. SLO P-11-F-11 · Understanding

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65. A nucleus ^146 C emits a beta^- particle. The daughter nucleus has nucleon number A and proton number Z:

  1. A = 14, Z = 6
  2. A = 10, Z = 4
  3. A = 14, Z = 7
  4. A = 14, Z = 9

Answer: C) A = 14, Z = 7

Explanation: Nucleon number and charge are conserved: daughter ^147X. SLO P-11-F-07 · Knowledge

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66. Antiparticles can be created in pairs with particles when:

  1. a magnet is moved
  2. two electrons collide slowly
  3. an atom is heated gently
  4. enough energy is available (pair production)

Answer: D) enough energy is available (pair production)

Explanation: Energy → matter + antimatter. SLO P-11-F-19 · Understanding

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67. A neutron differs from a proton by:

  1. having no quarks
  2. having an extra electron
  3. one up quark replaced by a down quark
  4. having four quarks

Answer: C) one up quark replaced by a down quark

Explanation: uud to udd. SLO P-11-F-13 · Understanding

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68. A Sigma^+ particle (uus) has charge:

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

Answer: C) +e

Explanation: 23 + 23 - 13. SLO P-11-F-21 · Knowledge

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69. Which pair has equal mass but opposite charge?

  1. proton and neutron
  2. electron and proton
  3. muon and antimuon
  4. photon and electron

Answer: C) muon and antimuon

Explanation: Particle–antiparticle pair. SLO P-11-F-25 · Understanding

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70. Neutrons cannot be accelerated directly in accelerators because:

  1. they are too small
  2. they are too heavy
  3. they move too fast
  4. they have no charge

Answer: D) they have no charge

Explanation: Need charge for electric fields. SLO P-11-F-23 · Understanding

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71. One electronvolt (eV) is:

  1. 1 J
  2. 6.02 10^23 J
  3. 1.6 10^-19 J
  4. 9.11 10^-31 J

Answer: C) 1.6 10^-19 J

Explanation: Energy gained by an electron through 1 V. SLO P-11-F-23 · Understanding

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72. The antimatter counterpart of an electron is:

  1. a proton
  2. a neutron
  3. a photon
  4. a positron

Answer: D) a positron

Explanation: Same mass, opposite charge. SLO P-11-F-24 · Understanding

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73. Before the neutrino was proposed, the beta spectrum seemed to violate:

  1. conservation of energy
  2. conservation of nucleon number
  3. Newton's first law
  4. conservation of charge

Answer: A) conservation of energy

Explanation: Missing energy. SLO P-11-F-11 · Understanding

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74. The continuous energy spectrum of beta particles is explained by:

  1. the nucleus changing mass randomly
  2. the emission of an (anti)neutrino that carries some of the energy
  3. energy not being conserved
  4. the electron losing energy to heat

Answer: B) the emission of an (anti)neutrino that carries some of the energy

Explanation: Three-body decay. SLO P-11-F-11 · Understanding

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75. The antiproton has:

  1. twice the proton's charge
  2. the mass of a proton and a negative charge
  3. no charge
  4. the mass of an electron and a positive charge

Answer: B) the mass of a proton and a negative charge

Explanation: Antiparticle of the proton. SLO P-11-F-09 · Understanding

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