13 Nuclei-F

13.
NUCLEI
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Nuclei
Atomic nucleus
All atomic nuclei are made up of fundamental particles called protons and neutrons. A proton has a positive charge
of the same magnitude as that of an electron. A neutron is electrically neutral and has the mass nearly equal to that
of proton. The protons and the neutrons are together called nucleons.
Terms used
• Nucleons: Constituents of an atomic nucleus are called nucleons. Protons and neutrons are the nucleons.
• Chemical Symbol: The chemical symbol for an atom (or its nucleus) is AZ X or Z X A .
The symbol A represents the numbers of nucleons and is called the mass number. Z represents proton number in
an atomic nucleus as well as the number of extra nuclear electron in the atom. The symbol n represents the number
of neutrons in an atomic nucleus. Thus, A = Z + n; n = A − Z
• Nuclide: It is an accepted type or species of an atom characterised by its number of nucleons. A nuclide is
represented by XA. For convenience z number may also be included. For example, an oxygen nuclide is represented
as 16 O or 16 16
8 O or 8 O .
➢ Isotopes: Nuclides with the same z are called isotopes. For example, hydrogen (11 H ) , deutron ( 12 D ) and tritium
( 13T ) are the isotopes. The word isotope implies more than one species occupying the same place in the periodic
table. The element like beryllium or aluminium has only one species in nature, and is said to form a single stable
nuclide, rather than a single stable isotope. Unstable nuclides (natural or artificial) are called radioactive nuclides
or radionuclides.
➢ Isobars: Nuclides with the same mass numbers and different atomic numbers Z are called isobars.
Example: 14 14
6 C and 7 N (A = 14)
16 16
7 N and 8 O (A = 16)
➢ Isotones: Nuclides with same neutron number n are called isotones.

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Examples: 15 32
P and 16 S ; 14 15 16
6 C, 7 N, 8 O
➢ Isomers: Nuclides with the same mass number (isobaric) and the same atomic number (isotopic) but different
nuclear properties (such as life times, angular momentum and magnetic moment) are called Isomers. Isomeric
state or level is usually denoted by the letter m attached to the mass number.
69m 69
For example Zn represents an isomeric state of Zn .
➢ Mirror nuclides: Nuclides with same mass number, but neutron number of one nuclide is equal to the proton
number of the other are called mirror nuclides.
Examples:
+
6 C →5 B +  ;
11 11
N C = 5; ZB = 5
+
8 O →7 N +  ;
15 15
N0 = 7; ZN = 7
+
9 F →8 O +  ;
17 17
N0 = 9; ZF = 9
Relative abundance of isotopes of an element
Every element consists of a mixture of several isotopes. The relative abundance of different isotopes differ from one
element to other.
Let the relative abundances of an element having three stable isotopes be (x) %, (y) % and (z) %. Let the atomic
masses of these isotopes be M1, M2 and M3. The average atomic mass of this element will be found using the following
expression.
x y z
Average atomic mass of the element =  M1 +  M2 +  M3
100 100 100
The sum of percentage relative abundances is 100. i.e., x + y + z = 100
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General properties of a nucleus
1. Constituents: Protons and neutrons are the nuclear constituents.
2. Mass: It is the actual mass of the nucleus. It is slightly less then the sum of the masses of requisite number of nucleons
in free state at rest constituting the nucleus.
3. Size: Experiments show that most nuclei are approximately proportional to the mass number A.
4R 3
VA  A
3
Thus, the nuclear radius R is approximately proportional to the cube root of the mass number
R  A1/ 3  R = R0 A1/3 where R0 = 1.2  10−15 m = 1.2 fm
4. Nuclear density: It is the ratio of the nuclear mass of a nucleus to its volume. It is of the order of
1017 kg m−3. It is nearly the same for all nuclei.
5. Nuclear charge: The charge of a nucleus is the total charge of its protons.
q N = + Ze , where e → magnitude of the electron charge, Z → atomic number of the nucleus
6. Nuclear spin: Many nuclides have an intrinsic nuclear angular momentum, or spin. Associated with the spin is the
nuclear magnetic moment. The measured nuclear magnetic moments are of the order of
10−27 J T−1. The nuclear magnetic moments are expressed in terms of a quantity called nuclear magneton (N)
eh
N = = 5.05  10 −27 J T −1 = 3.153  10−8eVT−1, where e → magnitude of the electron charge,
4m p
h → planck’s constant, mp → mass of the proton. (Recall : Magnetic moment of an electron (I-orbit) in orbital motion
 eh 
= l =  
 4me 
Magnetic moment of proton = 2.793 N. Though the charge of the neutron is zero, it has a spin magnetic moment n =
−1.913 N. These results suggests that proton and neutron have complex structures.
Nuclear forces
It is clear from the stability of the nuclei, that there must be a strong attractive force which holds the nucleons
together. This force which binds the neutrons and protons together in a nucleus is called nuclear force. Like
gravitational and electromagnetic forces, nuclear force is also a basic force in nature.
Characteristics
• Nuclear force is the strongest force in nature (Fnuclear > Felectric > > Fgravitation)
• Nuclear force is charge independent (Fpp = Fnn = Fpn)
• Nuclear force is of short range (~ a few fermi)
• Nuclear force between nucleons within a nucleus is generally attractive
• Nuclear forces is saturated
• Nuclear forces has a non-central feature also.
• Nuclear forces is an exchange force (Exchange particle : -meson)
• Nuclear force is spin dependent
Einstein’s mass - energy relation
Einstein established from his theory of relativity, that mass and energy are equivalent. The energy equivalent of
mass m is given by E = mc2, where, c is the speed of light in vacuum.
Applications
1. Mass defect and binding energy of a nucleus are explained using mass-energy relation
2. During nuclear reactions such as fission and fusion, the total mass of the products is less than the total mass of the
reactants. It is this difference in mass which appears as energy.
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3. Annihilation of matter: When an electron and a positron come very close to each other, they annihilate. Their mass,
appears as energy and is radiated in the form of -rays.
4. Pair production: A -ray photon (minimum energy ~ 1.02 mev) collides with a nucleus to create an electron position
pair. In this process, energy is converted into mass.
Atomic mass unit
th
1
Atomic mass unit (u) is defined as   the mass of a neutral carbon-12 atom.
 12 
1  12 
1u =  kg = 1.66 10 −27 kg
12  6.023 10 26 
Relation between amu and eV
According to Einstein’s mass energy relation E = mc2. The energy equivalent of 1 u = 931.5 MeV
• The following table gives the masses of some elementary particles expressed in u and kg
Particle Mass (in u) Mass in (kg)

1 1.6605  10−27
Electron 0.00055 9.1094  10−31
Proton 1.007276 1.6726  10−27
 Hydrogen atom
Neutron
1.007825
1.008665
1.6735  10−27
1.6749  10−27
• Electron Volt
One electron volt is defined as the energy gained by a particle carrying one elementary electric charge (no matter
whether it is an electron or any singly charged positive or negative ion), when it is accelerated due to a potential
difference of 1 volt.
1 eV = 1.6  10–19 joule, 1 MeV = 1.6  10−13 J.
Mass defect
Mass defect is the amount of mass which would be converted to energy if a nucleus were to be assembled from the
requisite numbers of protons and neutrons. The same amount of energy would be required to break the nucleus into
its constituent particles. Thus, the energy equivalent of the mass defect is a measure of binding energy of the
nucleus.
The mass of the constituent particles is the sum of the masses of Z protons, (A − Z) neutrons. The mass defect of a
nucleus can be calculated by, m = [Zmp + (A − Z)mn ] − M Z,A (nuclear mass)
Binding energy
The nucleons i.e., protons and neutrons, are bound together in a nucleus. The energy needed just to take all the
nucleons in a nucleus apart, so that they are completely separated, is called the binding energy of the nucleus.
BE = m (u)  931.5 MeV
Binding energy divided by the number of nucleons in a nucleus gives its binding energy per nucleon, also
called Specific binding energy (SBE).
Binding energy curve
A graph showing the variation of binding energy per nucleon with the mass number of nuclides is known as Binding
energy curve (of the element).
Some of features of the BE curves are as follows:
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• It is seen that specific binding energy has a low value for deuteron (nucleus of heavy hydrogen). Then it rapidly
increases. For example, specific binding energy is around 7
MeV/nucleon for helium,
8 MeV/nucleon for oxygen and 8.8 MeV/nucleon in the
neighborhood of around A = 60.
• It is seen that specific binding energy is about

8 MeV/nucleon for the elements with mass number between 30 and
170. For very light and very heavy elements, it is less than 8
MeV/nucleon.
• In the case of small mass numbers (approximately from 4 to 20) the

curve shows characteristics peaks. For example 2 He 4 , 6 C12 , 8 O16 , etc have higher SBE compared to their neighbours.
• In the case of the nuclei with specific binding energy around the maximum value, it requires more energy to tear the
nucleons apart. Hence, they are more stable.
• For very high mass numbers the value goes on decreasing upto to 7.6 MeV / nucleon for uranium.
• Significance: There is an increase in the energy when a very heavy nucleus breaks into two or more lighter nuclei
(nuclear fission) and also when two or more lighter nuclei fuse together to form a single nucleus (nuclear fusion). Both
the processes liberate energy. Thus, binding energy curve helps in understanding the mechanism of release of energy
in nucleus fission and nucleus fusion reactions.
Nuclear fission
The process in which a heavy nucleus captures a neutron and splits into two lighter nuclei (fragments) of
intermediate masses, releasing two or three neutrons and a large amount of energy is called nuclear fission.
The energy is due to the conversion of a portion of atomic mass into energy. One possible process is the fission
235
process of 235U can be represented as 92 U + 01 n → 92
236
U → 141
56 Ba + 36 Kr + 3 0 n + energy .
92 1
Other possible reactions are:

+ energy
+ energy
Energy  200 MeV
+ energy
+ energy
In some modes of fission, 2 neutrons are released; in some other modes, 3 neutrons are released. Thus, on the
average 2.5 neutrons are released per fission 235 U .
When 1 kg of 235U undergoes fission, the energy released is about 23  106 kwh, much of the energy released
appears as the kinetic energy of the fission fragments and of the neutrons.
Nuclear chain reaction
During the fission process, two or three neutrons are also released per fission. These neutrons can cause further
fission thereby liberating more neutrons. This process continues. Thus, the neutrons released during one fission
can cause further fission and the process continues. Such a reaction is called a chain reaction. There are two
types of chain reactions;
In a controlled chain reaction, the reaction is accelerated to build up neutron population and then the rate of
reaction is controlled. Thus, the energy is released at a constant rate. The controlled chain reaction is the principle
of a nuclear reactor.
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In an uncontrolled chain reaction, fission neutrons are allowed to multiply indefinitely which leads to release of
enormous energy in a very short interval of time. Explosion of an atom bomb is the result of uncontrolled chain
reaction.
Critical size and critical mass
235 239
The achievement of a sustained nuclear chain reaction with nuclear fuel like U or U uranium depends on a
favourable balance among four competing processes:
1. fission of uranium nuclei, with the release of more neutrons than are captured,
2. non-fission capture of neutrons by uranium
3. non fission capture of neutrons by other materials
4. escape of neutrons without being captured.
If the loss of neutrons by the last three processes is less than or equal to the surplus produced by the first process, the
chain reaction occurs; otherwise, chain reaction does not occur. There is a certain size, called the critical size, for which
the surplus of neutrons is just equal to their non fission capture and escape, and a chain reaction is possible. If the size
of the system is smaller than the critical size, a chain reaction cannot be sustained.
The amount of a particular fissionable material required to make a fission reaction self-sustaining is called the critical
mass.
Nuclear reactor
A nuclear reactor is a device in which controlled fission of certain substances is used to produce new substances and
energy.
Types of nuclear reactors
Nuclear reactors can be classified into 3 types based on the application.
1. Research reactor: It is used for producing radio isotopes and neutrons needed for research work.
2. Breeder reactor: A breeder reactor is one in which a fissionable material is produced at a greater rate than the fuel is
consumed. It is used for producing fissionable material like Plutonium-239 from a fertile material like Uranium-237.
3. Power reactor: It is used for production of electrical energy. It is an arrangement in which the chain
reaction is controlled to supply energy at a constant rate. It has an arrangement to slow down neutrons and a means of
stopping the fission process when desired.
Nuclear power reactor
A nuclear reactor is a system in which the controlled nuclear fission reaction in carried out such that the reaction is self
sustained. The main components of the nuclear reactor are as follows
1. Nuclear fuel: Nuclear fuel is the fissionable material like 233U, 235U, 239Pu, etc.
2. Neutron source: Usually beryllium sand serves as the source of neutrons.
3. Moderator: Moderator is a material used to slow down neutrons produced during fission. The material of the moderator
should be light and it should not absorb neutrons. Heavy water, graphite, paraffin are used as moderators. These
moderators are rich in protons.
4. Control rods: Control rods have the ability to absorb slow neutrons. Cadmium and boron rods are used as control rods.
By adjusting the length of these control rods in the reactor core, the rate of fission reaction is controlled.
5. Coolant: A substance used to remove heat from the reactor core and transfer it to the surrounding is called coolant.
Liquid sodium and heavy water are the commonly used coolants
6. Steam exchanger: The hot coolant is circulated in steel pipes dipped in a steam exchanger. Cold water is circulated
through this steam exchanger is converted into high pressure superheated steam. This steam is used to run a gas turbine
which generates electrical power.
7. Protective shield: The whole reactor is protected with concrete walls 2 m to 2.5 m thick so that radiations emitted
during nuclear reactions are prevented from reacting the surroundings.
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Multiplication factor (k)
Because of the use of a moderator, it is possible that the ratio (k) of number of fission produced by a given generation
of neutrons to the number of fissions of the preceding generation may be greater than unity. k is called the
multiplication factor. It is a measure of growth rate of the neutrons in the reactor. When k = 1, the operation of the
reactor is said to be critical.
Differences between nuclear fission and fusion
Nuclear fission Nuclear fusion
1. The process of splitting of a heavy nucleus into two light The process of combining two light nuclei to produce a
nuclei of comparable masses is called fission. heavy nucleus is called fusion.
2. Fission is initiated by a slow neutron. Hence easier to Fusion is initiated at very high temperatures of about 108
start fission. K. Hence very difficult to achieve fusion.
3. Fission can be controlled Fusion cannot be controlled.

4. Energy released is small. It is less than 1 MeV per Energy released is large. It is greater than
nucleon. 1 MeV per nucleon.
5. Heavy nuclei are required for fission which are not Light nuclei are abundantly available in nature. Hence
abundantly available. Hence the source of energy is an infinite source of energy exists.
restricted.
6. Fission products are generally radioactive and harmful The fusion products are stable and hence they are
to the environment. environment, friendly.
7. Used to construct nuclear bombs. Used to construct hydrogen bombs (hydrogen bombs
use both fission and fusion reaction).
Disposal of nuclear waste

Nuclear waste containing radioactive materials cannot be dumped anywhere as we like as radiations from it are harmful.
The waste must be therefore, isolated to avoid environmental and biological contamination. Generally nuclear waste
can be buried by adopting one of the following methods.
1. The waste can be packed and buried underground.
2. The waste can be stored in unused deep mines.
3. The waste can be packed in enclosures with in thick concrete thick containers and then buried under the sea.
Nuclear fusion
The process in which two or more light nuclei, combine to form a single heavy nucleus, with the release of large
amount of energy, is called nuclear fusion.
The mass of a nucleus is always less than the sum of the masses of the individual nucleons that form the nucleus. The
difference in mass is converted into energy in accordance with the Einstein’s mass-energy relation.
Example
Following are a few examples of fusion reactions
(i) 12 H + 12 H → 13 H + 11H + Q
where Q factor is the energy released and its value in this reaction is about 4 MeV.
1 H + 1H → 32 He + 10 n + 3.2 MeV
2 2
(ii)
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(iii) 13 H +12 H → 42 He + 10 n + 17.6 MeV
Fusion is very difficult to achieve because the combining nuclei have to overcome the electrostatic repulsion. Hence,
the nuclei that combine should approach each other at very high velocities. This means that the temperature of the
system should be very large. Fusion reactions can take place only at very high temperatures. For example, the coulomb
barrier (in terms of energy) for two protons to fuse is ~ 400 k eV. The corresponding temperature to which protons
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shows be heated is estimated by = KT = KE  T  3 109 K (K = Boltzman constant = 1.37  10−23 JK−1). Hence,
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reactions are called thermo nuclear reactions. The working of a hydrogen bomb is based on thermonuclear reaction.
 • The energy released per unit mass during fusion is greater than that during fission.
• The energy released per fission reaction is greater than the energy released per fusion reaction.
Stellar energy
Thermonuclear reactions are the source of energy in stars. These reactions that are taking place in the stars have
supplied energy to the earth for ages. Bethe has explained how two series of reactions called the carbon cycle and
proton-proton cycle account for the combination of four protons to form a helium nucleus.
Carbon cycle
6 C +1 H → 13
7 N + energy
12 1
13
7 N → 13
6 C +1 e
0
6 C +1 H → 14
7 N + energy
13 1
7 N +1 H → 15
8 O + energy
14 1
15
8 O → 15
7 N +1 e + energy
0
7 N +1 H → 12
6 C + 2 He + energy
15 1 4
4( 1 H1 ) → 42 He + 2( 10 e ) + energy
Proton - proton cycle
1 H +1 H → 12 H +10 e + 0.4 MeV

1 1
1 H +1 H → 32 He + 5.5 MeV
1 2
2 He + 2 He → 42 He + 2 ( 11H ) + 12.9 MeV

3 3
4( 11 H ) → 42 He + 2( 10 e ) + 24.7 MeV
A star is able to sustain thermonuclear reaction in its core because of its strong self gravity. The thermo nuclear reactions
in the core of Sun cause the high temperature, which generates a strong outward pressure known as radiation pressure.
These act against Sun’s own gravity, preventing it from contracting and holding it in equilibrium.
Comparison
Nuclear fission Nuclear fusion
1. A heavy nucleus is split into two fragments of 1. Two or more light nuclei are fused to form a
comparable masses comparatively heavy nucleus
2. A stray neutron can cause fission of U 235 2. Very high temperature of the order of
107 − 108 K is required for fusion to take place
3. Energy released per fission is bout 200 MeV 3. Energy released per fusion is around 20 MeV
4. Energy released per unit mass is small compared to 4. Energy released per unit mass is around eight times more
that in fusion than that in fission
5. The fission chain reaction has been controlled 5. The fusion process is yet to be controlled
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Illustrations
1. Number of electrons, protons and neutrons present in 92 U238 are respectively,
(A) 92, 92, 238 (B) 92, 92, 146 (C) 92, 146, 146 (D) 146, 146, 92
Ans (B)
238
22 U is of the form Z U A which means atomic number Z = 92 and mass number A = 238. Atomic number indicates
the number of protons, which is equal to the number of electrons.
Mass number represents the total number of protons and neutrons
 Number of neutrons = A − Z = 238 − 92 = 146 .
2. The ratio of the surface areas of the nuclei (assuming spherical shape) Zn64 and Al27 is
(A) 9 : 16 (B) 16 : 9 (C) 64 : 27 (D) 4 : 3
Ans (B)
1
Radius of a nucleus, R = R 0 A 3
A1 (Zn) = 64, A 2 (Al) = 27
1 1
R1  A1  3  64  3 4
=  =  =
R 2  A 2   27  3
Surface area of a sphere  (radius)2
2
(Surface area)1  4  16
 =  =
(Surface area)2  3  9
3. The graph of log (R/R0) versus log A [where A is mass number of the nucleus and R is its radius] is
(A) a circle (B) a parabola (C) a straight line (D) a hyperbola.
Ans (C)
1
The radius of the nucleus is given by the approximate relation R = R 0 A 3
1
log R = log R 0 + log A
3
1  R 
log R − log R 0 = log A or log  R  1
3  0  = log A  log  R   log A
 
3  R0 
 R 
Therefore, the graph of log   versus log A is a straight line.
 R0 
4. The rest mass of a nucleus is

(A) greater than the sum of the masses of constituent nucleons
(B) always less than the sum of the masses of the constituent nucleons
(C) equal to the sum of the masses of the constituent nucleons
(D) greater than or equal to the sum of the masses of the constituent nucleons.
Ans (B)
The difference between the sum of the masses of the nucleons and the actual mass of the nucleus, is called mass defect.
m = [z m P + (A − Z)m N − M] , where M is the actual mass of the nucleus. According to Einstein’s mass-energy
relation, this mass defect appears in the form of the equivalent binding energy during the formation of the nucleus.
5. The mass number of a nucleus
(A) is always greater than its atomic number
(B) is always less than its atomic number
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(C) is greater than or equal to its atomic number
(D) is less than or equal to its atomic number.
Ans (C)
For hydrogen atom (1 H1 ) mass number (A) = atomic number (Z). For all other nuclei, A > Z.
6. An atomic nucleus possesses

(A) integral spin (B) half integral spin
(C) either integral or half integral spin (D) no spin motion at all.
Ans (C)
The protons and neutrons (together called nucleons) possess half integral spin. Depending on the number of nucleons
present inside the nucleus, the spin of the nucleus may be either integral (for even number of nucleons) or half integral
(for odd number of nucleons). However, the above principle may not always be true.
7. The magnetic moment of a free proton is approximately 2.8 n (n = nuclear magneton, a unit of magnetic moment; n
= 5.05  10−27 JT−1). The potential energy of a proton subjected to a magnetic field 1.4 T is (assume that the magnetic
moment is almost opposite to B while processing)
(A) 3.92  10−26 J (B) −3.92  10−26 J (C) 1.96  10−26 J (D) −1.96  10−26 J
Ans (C)
Potential energy, U = −   B
= − B cos 
U = B [ = 180, cos 180 = −1]
= 2.8  5.05  10−27  1.4 19.6  10−27 J= 1.96  10−26 J
8. Of the three basic forces, gravitational, nuclear, and electrostatic forces, the forces that can provide considerable
attractive force between two neutrons is
(A) gravitation and electrostatic forces (B) gravitational and nuclear forces
(C) nuclear and electrostatic force (D) the nuclear force only
Ans (D)
Since the neutrons are electrically neutral, the electrostatic force is absent. However, the gravitational and the nuclear
forces of attraction act between them. However, gravitational attraction is negligible.
9. Two protons are kept apart by 10Å. If f N and f E represent the nuclear and the electrostatic force between them
respectively, then
(A) f N = f E (B) f N  f E (C) f N  f E (D) f N  f E
Ans (B)
The nuclear force exists between the nucleons within a distance of 10–14 m. Since the separation between the protons is
10–9 m, the nuclear force does not exist between them. However, the electrostatic force of repulsion acts between the
two protons.
10. If Fpp , Fpn , and Fnn are the magnitudes of the nuclear force between proton−proton, proton−neutron and neutron
− neutron respectively, then
(A) FPP = Fnn  FPn (B) FPP = Fnn  FPn (C) FPP = Fnn = FPn (D) FPn  FPP  Fnn
Ans (C)
The magnitude of the nuclear force acting between any two nucleons is constant.
11. If f PP , f Pn , and f nn are the net forces acting between proton−proton, proton−neutron, neutron−neutron respectively,
then
(A) f PP = f Pn = f nn (B) f PP  f Pn = f nn (C) f PP  f Pn  f nn (D) f PP  f Pn  f nn
Ans (B)
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The net force between two nucleons is equal to the algebraic sum of the nuclear and electrostatic forces acting between
them. Between proton−neutron and neutron−neutron, only the nuclear force of attraction act. But between
proton−proton, apart from the nuclear force, electrostatic force of repulsion also acts. This tends to reduce the net force
between the two protons. (Contribution of gravitational force of attraction is negligible).
12. Choose the wrong statement.
(A) A nucleus is more stable if the nucleus contains more neutrons compared to the number of protons.
(B) A nucleus becomes less stable if the nucleus contains too many protons compared to the neutrons
(C) The nuclear stability is higher if the nucleus contains a large number of nucleons
(D) Nuclei with atomic number greater than 82 show a tendency to disintegrate.
Ans (C)
With large increase in the number of nucleons, the binding energy per nucleon decreases; this, in turn, leads to the
instability of the nucleus.
13. According to Yukawa, the nuclear force arises as a result of exchange of certain particles between the nucleons. These
particles are
(A) positrons (B) neutrinos (C) mesons (D) leptons
Ans (C)
The first theory to explain the nature of the nuclear force was proposed in 1935 by Japanese physicist Hideki Yukawa
(Nobel Laureaute in Physics: 1949). Yukawa proposed the existence of a new particle, known as meson, whose
exchange between the nucleons in the nucleus results in the nuclear force. Subsequent studies showed that Yukawa’s
meson, now called as pi-mesion (-meson) or pion comes in three charge states  + , − and 0. The + and − particles
(− is the antiparticle of +) each have a mass of 139.6 MeV/c2 and the mass of 0 is 135.0 MeV/c2.
14. Choose the wrong statement.

(A) Nuclear force is the strongest force in nature (B) Nuclear force is spin dependent
(C) Nuclear force is charge dependent (D) Nuclear force is a saturated force
Ans (C)
The nuclear force is independent of the charge on the nucleons. The same nuclear force exists between proton−proton,
proton−neutron and neutron−neutron.
15. The binding energy per nucleon of a hydrogen atom is

(A) 13.6 eV (B) zero (C) infinity (D) 8.5 MeV.
Ans (B)
The hydrogen nucleus consists of only one proton (Z = 1, A = 1). Therefore, its binding energy per nucleon is zero.
16. Removing a neutron from 20Ca42 leaves 20Ca41. Removing a proton from 20Ca42 leaves 19K41. If (BE)n and (BE)p represent
the binding energies of the missing neutron and the missing proton respectively, then
(A) (BE)n > (BE)p (B) (BE)n < (BE)p (C) (BE)n << (BE)p (D) (BE)n  (BE)p
Ans (A)
• A neutron is acted upon only by attractive nuclear forces, whereas a proton is acted upon in addition by repulsive
electric forces that decreases its binding energy. Hence, removing a proton is easier.
• (BE)n = 11.48 MeV; (BE)p = 10.27 MeV
17. Assume the graph of specific binding energy versus mass number is as shown in the figure. Using this graph, select the
correct choice from the following:
(A) Fusion of two nuclei of mass number lying in the range of 1 < A < 50 will release energy.
(B) Fission of the nucleus of mass number lying in the range of 100 < A < 200 will release energy when broken
into two fragments.
12
(C) Fusion of two nuclei of mass number lying in the range of 100 < A < 200 will release energy.
(D) Fusion of two nuclei of mass number lying in the range of 51 < A < 100 will release energy.
Ans (D)
Specific B.E of the products is greater than the reactants.
18. During a fission reaction, a mass difference per fission is 0.11 u. If 1015 fissions occur per second, the power generated
is (1 u = 1.66 10−27 kg )
(A) 1.5 kW (B) 15 kW (C) 150 kW (D) 1.5 MW
Ans (B)
E = mc2
m = (mass in u)  1.66 10−27 = 0.10 1.66 10−27 kg
E = 0.10 1.66  10−27  3 108  2
joule per fission
−27
Power = 0.10 1.66 10  9 10 1015
16
joule per second (for 1015 fissions per second)

Power = 1.5 104 Js−1 = 15 103 Js−1 = 15 kW
A hint for quick calculation:
1 u 1.66 10−27  (3 108 )2  15 10−10 J
Energy
Power = = m (1 u)  fission energy released (J) per 1 u  No. of fissions / second
second
= 0.1  15  10–10  1015 = 15 kW
19. A large electric power generating station uses a nuclear reactor. The thermal power produced in the reactor core is 4000
MW and 1200 MW of electricity is generated by the station. The fuel is 9  104 kg of uranium oxide, distributed among
6  104 fuel rods. The uranium is enriched to 3% of U235. The efficiency of the generating station and the rate of thermal
energy that will be discharged to the environment are respectively.
(A) 30 %, 2800 MW (B) 15%, 2800 MW (C) 30%, 3880 MW (D) 15 %, 3880 MW
Ans (A)
useful output 1200
Efficiency,  = = = 0.3
energy input 4000
For all power plants, the efficiency attainable is decided by the second law of thermodynamics. To run this plant, energy
at the rate of 4000 MW − 1200 MW = 2800 MW must be discharged as thermal energy to the environment.
7 4
20. The binding energy per nucleon of 3 Li is 5.6 MeV and that of 2 He is 7.06 MeV. The energy released during the
reaction 3 Li + 1H → 22 He + Energy , is
7 1 4
(A) 1.726 MeV (B) 17.26 MeV (C) 0.1726 MeV (D) 172.6 MeV
Ans (B)
3 Li +1 H = 2 2 He
7 1 4
Energy, E = (2 E He ~ E Li )
E Li = 7  5.6 MeV = 39.2 MeV
E He = 4  7.06 MeV = 28.24 MeV
E = (2  28.24 − 39.2) MeV = 17.26 MeV
21. When two light nuclei fuse to form a relatively heavier nucleus, the specific binding energy of the product nucleus is
(A) lower than that of the reacting nuclei
(B) equal to that of the reacting nuclei
(C) greater than that of the reacting nuclei
(D) equal to exactly half of either of the reacting nuclei
13
Ans (C)
Greater than that of the reacting nuclei.
235 238
22. A sample of uranium containing both the isotopes U and U is bombarded with a slow neutron. Then the isotope
that undergoes fission readily is
(A) U235 (B) U238 (C) both U235 and U238 (D) neither U235 nor U238
Ans (A)
U238 undergoes fission only when bombarded with a fast neutron.
23. Two deutrons combine to form a stable helium nucleus. During this process, energy is released because
(A) the mass of the helium nucleus is greater than that of two deuterons
(B) the mass of the helium nucleus is less than that of two deuterons
(C) the mass of the helium nucleus is equal to that of two deuterons
(D) the total binding energy of the helium nucleus is less than that of the combination of deuterons.
Ans (B)
The difference between the masses of two deuterons and the helium nucleus is called the mass defect. The mass defect
is responsible for the energy released during the fusion reaction.
24. The minimum energy required to disintegrate a deuteron into its constituent nucleons is (mass of deuteron nucleus =
2.0140 amu, mass of the proton = 1.0073 amu and mass of the
neutron = 1.0087 amu)
(A) 1.862 MeV (B) 18.62 MeV (C) 0.931 MeV (D) 1.1 MeV
Ans (A)
The energy E required to split the nucleus = total binding energy (BE) of the nucleus
Mass defect,
m = [Zmp + (A − Z)m N ] − M
= [1  1.0073 + 1  1.0087] − 2.0140 = 0.002 amu
Energy required,
E = BE = m  931 MeV = 1.862 MeV
25. The density of the nucleus is of the order of
(A) 1017 kg m−3 (B) 1014 kg cm−3 (C) 1018 kg m−3 (D) 106 kg cm−3
Ans (A)
A A  1.66  10−27
Density,  = =
4 3 4
R  (R 0  A1/3 )3
3 3
1.66  10−27  3
=  1.8 1017 kg m−3
4  (1.3  10−15 )3
14
Radioactivity
H.A. Becquerel, a French Physicist while investigating the fluorescence caused by X-rays, accidentally discovered
that uranyl potassium sulfate emits highly penetrating radiations which affect photographic plates. A Polish
scientist, Marie Curie with her husband Pierre Curie discovered two more radioactive elements namely polonium
and radium. Pioneering work by Rutherford and others showed that the emission of these radiations is
spontaneous and is unaffected by external factors like temperature, pressure, electric field, magnetic field
etc. Also it was revealed that heavy elements whose atomic numbers are greater than 82, by nature, emit such
radiations. These radiations are called radioactive rays (Becquerel rays) and this phenomenon exhibited by heavy
elements is called natural radioactivity. Thus, natural radioactivity is defined as the phenomenon in which heavy
nuclei (Z > 82) undergo spontaneous disintegration with the emission of certain radiations.
Types of Radioactive Rays
In general radioactive substances disintegrate in three ways,
(i) by emitting -particles (-rays)
(ii) by emitting -particles (-rays)
(iii) by emitting -radiation (-rays)
• -rays are streams of positively charged particles identical with helium nuclei ( 42 He ).
• -rays are streams of negatively charged particles emitted from the nucleus of radioactive substance, identical with
electrons (−1e).
• -rays are high frequency electromagnetic radiations.
A radioactive nucleus emits either  or  particle but not both. This may be accompanied by a -ray.
Characteristics of , , and  rays
Property   
Nature helium nuclei Electrons Electromagnetic
(2p + 2n) radiation
Charge +2e −1e no charge

Mass (in terms of mass of a proton, mp) ~ 4 mp (1/1840) m no inertial mass
Velocity (in terms of speed of light, c) around (1/20) c 0.3 c to 0.9 c c

Relative penetrating power 1 102 104
Relative ionising power 104 102 1
Suitable absorber ~ 0.1 mm thick Al foil 5 mm thick Al sheet a thick block of Pb
Laws of radioactivity
Soddy’s group displacement laws
When a radioactive element emits an  or a  particle, the parent atom decays into another atom called the daughter
atom. During the change there is conservation of charge and energy. The process continues till a stable (non-radioactive)
element is reached. The laws are stated as follows:
 − decay A−4
Z X ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯→ Z−2 Y + 2
A 4
1. He
 − decay
2. A
Z X ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯→ A
(Z+1) Y + 0−1 e
15
• The emission of a  particle from a nucleus is explained as due to the conversion of neutron into a
proton and an electron (0n1 → 1p1 + −1e + ~v , where ~v = (antinewutrino).
 • A gamma ray photon is emitted when the nucleus transists from an excited energy state to a lower
energy state. The photon carries away the energy difference. Since no change of mass or charge is
involved, no group displacement takes place.
Law of radioactive disintegration (Decay law)

At a given instant, the rate of radioactive disintegration is directly proportional to the number of radioactive
atoms present in a sample at that instant of time.
N (t )
Let a radioactive sample contain N atoms at an instant of time t. If dN
N0
 dN 
number of atoms disintegrate in a time dt, then   is the rate of
 dt  N = N 0e−  t
disintegration. The quantity dN represents the decrease in the number
of atoms and hence it is taken with a negative sign.
N0/2
According to disintegration law,
dN dN
 N i.e., = −N N 0/4
dt dt
N 0/8
where  is a constant for the given radioactive element called the N0/16 t
T 2T 3T 4T
decay constant or disintegration constant.
Fig. 24.1 Radioactive decay
Radioactive curve
decay curve
 dN 
The negative sign indicates that as time increases,   decreases.
 dt 
It can be shown that N = Noe−t and hence the decay is exponential.
N → 0, only when t →  . Thus, for all atoms in a radioactive sample

to completely disintegrate, it takes an infinitely long time.
Decay constant
Decay constant of a radioactive element is equal to the reciprocal of the time required for the number of
1
atoms in a radioactive sample to reduce to   times the initial number.
e
1
We know that e = 2.718 and   = 0.37
e
The decay constant of an element is equal to the reciprocal of the time required for the number of atoms in
a sample to reduce to 0.37 times (i.e., 37 %) the initial number.
Activity of a radioactive sample
The rate of decay of a radioactive substance is called the activity (A) of the substance.
Mathematically, we can write
dN
activity, A = = N
dt
Since,  N = N o e −t , we have A = A o e − t

Here, A o = N o is the activity of the sample at t = 0.
16
1. If two radioactive samples of activities A1 and A2 are mixed together, the activity of the sample is
 A = A1 + A2 or A = 1N1 + 2N2.
2.  depends on the nature of the radioactive element. But activity depends on  and mass of the radioactive
substance.
Units of activity
The SI unit of activity is becquerel (abbreviated as Bq).
One becquerel is 1 disintegration per second. The activity of a radioactive sample is said to be
1 becquerel if the rate of disintegration is 1 disintegration per second.
Other units are
1. Curie (Ci) is 3.7  1010 disintegrations per second. Therefore, 1 Ci = 3.7  1010 Bq. The activity of a radioactive
sample is said to be curie if 3.7  1010 disintegration take place in one second.
2. Rutherford (Rd) is 106 disintegrations per second. 1 Rd = 106 Bq.
Half-life of a radioactive element
Half-life (T) of a radioactive element is defined as the time taken for half of the number of atoms in a radioactive
0.693
sample to disintegrate. It can be shown that T =

• If the time interval during which the decay takes place is equal to n number of half-lives
 i.e., t = nT, then the number of atoms remaining at the end of an interval t = nT is given by
N
N =  n0

 where No = number of atoms initially present.
2 
Mean life
Radioactive disintegration is a statistical phenomenon. In a given radioactive sample, which atom disintegrates
first and which disintegrates later is purely a matter of chance. The atom disintegrating first will have a life time
equal to zero and the one disintegrating in the last will have an infinitely large life time.
The mean life or the average life of a radioactive sample is equal to the sum of the life times of all the
radioactive atoms in a sample divided by their total number.
It is also defined as the average time for which the atoms of a radioactive element exist.
1
Mean life Tm = , where  is the decay constant.

Relation between half-life and mean life
0.693
Half life of a radioactive element is given by T =

1
The mean life of the same element is Tm =

T = 0.693 Tm
Artificial radioactivity (Induced radioactivity)

Natural radioactivity is a phenomenon confined to a small group of heavy elements. Even a lighter element can be
rendered radioactive, when bombarded by high energy particles.
17
The phenomenon in which lighter elements are made radioactive by bombarding them with high energy
particles is known as artificial transmutation or induced radioactivity.
Example:
• Radioactive nitrogen disintegrates into a stable carbon isotope by emitting a -ray. Its half life is
10.1 minute. The corresponding nuclear reactions can be written as
5 B + 2 H e → 7 N + 0 n + energy
10 4 13 1
13
7 N → 6 C + +1
13 0
e
• By bombarding aluminium with -particles radioactive phosphorus can be produced.

13 Al + 2 He → 15 P + 0 n + energy
27 4 30 1
30
15 P → 14
30
Si +10 e (T = 2.5 minute)
Isotopes of an element, which are radioactive are called radioactive isotopes or radioisotopes. Radio isotopes of a
large number of elements are available.
Uses of radio isotopes
Radio isotopes are extensively used in various fields in two ways, viz., (1) as tracers (2) as a source of radiation.
By adding small quantities of a radio isotope to a nonradioactive sample, it is possible to trace the course of the
element in a system that receives it. This is called the tracer technique. Radio isotopes are used in industry,
agriculture, chemistry, medicine, geology etc.
Carbon dating
Plants use atmospheric carbon dioxide for their growth. Atmospheric CO2 also contains 6 C14 which is radioactive isotope
of carbon. Thus plants and the animals that eat the plants – are slightly radioactive throughout their lives. As soon as a
tree is cut or falls down, all its metabolic processes stop and C 14 is not absorbed. The amount of radioactive carbon in the
wood decreases as time goes on
C – 14 is a -emitter  6 C14 → 7 N14 + 
Since the half-life of C14 is 5700 years, the decay will last for many millennia. Thus, by measuring the amount of C 14 in
old samples of wood, we can estimate the estimate of age of wood using the relation,
2.303(log a 0 − log a) 0.7
t= where
 5700 years
a0 = activity (w.r.t. C14) in the corresponding live sample
 a = present activity in the old decay

 = decay constant of C14 =
0.693
.
T
Uranium – lead dating
The decay of radioactive elements and its complete independence of physical and chemical conditions gives us a valuable
method for estimating the age of old geological formations.
Age of the earth is  4.5 billion years.
Tritium dating
Tritium ( 1 H 3 − radioisotope of hydrogen) is produced in the terrestrial atmosphere by the action of cosmic radiation and
is carried to the earth’s surface by rains. The half-life of tritium is only 12.5 years. ( 1 H3 → 2 He3 + ) . Thus all age
measurements involving this isotope can be carried out only for comparatively recent dates. By taking samples of water
from different locations and from different depths, we can estimate by their tritium content how long ago this water came
down in the form of rain.
18
Important expressions
RADIOACTIVE DECAY LAW
In terms of number of atoms in a sample dN − t
= −t N = N0e
dt
In terms of mass of a sample dM − t
= − t M = Moe
dt
In terms of activity of a sample dA − t
= −t A = Aoe
dt
Relation between T and  T=
0.693

Relation between Tm and  Tm =
1

Relation between T and Tm T = 0.693 Tm
t No
Number of atoms present after n half lives n = , t = given time, T N= n
T 2
= Half life
Mass of the active sample after n half lives Mo
M= n
2
Activity of the sample after n half lives Ao
A= n
2
Illustrations
1. A radioactive isotope may emit
(A) α, β, and γ – rays simultaneously (B) both α and β rays simultaneously
(C) α, γ or β, γ (D) protons, α – rays and γ – rays
Ans (C)
Each radioactive element disintegrates either by emitting an α-particle or a β-particle along with a
γ-photon. But a radioactive nucleus cannot emit α and β-particles, simultaneously.
2. Choose the wrong statement out of the following.
(A) γ – rays are the electromagnetic radiations of shorter wavelength
(B) β – rays consist of electrons
(C) α – particle consists of two protons and two neutrons
(D) β – particles emitted are the electrons that revolve round the nucleus.
Ans (D) : Nucleus does not contain electrons. The β-particles (electrons) are emitted as a result of conversion of
neutron into proton.
n → p +−1 e0 (− ) +  (antineutrino).
A positron is emitted when a proton is converted into a neutron p → n + +1e0 (β+) + ν (neutrino)
3. In a radioactive series a nucleus X disintegrates into nucleus Y by emitting two alpha and two beta particles. If m and
n are the mass number and atomic number of the nucleus X, then the mass number and atomic number of the nucleus
Y respectively are
(A) (m – 4), n (B) (m – 8), (n – 2) (C) (m – 8), n (D) (m – 4), (n – 2)
Ans (B)
2 − particles
nX ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ → n −4 (X/ )m−8 ⎯⎯⎯⎯→
m 2− particles m−8
n −2 Y
 
(Hint: Z XA ⎯⎯ →Z−2 YA−4 Z XA ⎯⎯ →Z+1 YA )
4. In a radioactive series, 92 U238 disintegrates such that a stable nucleus of 82 Pb206 is formed. During this process the
19
number of alpha and beta particles emitted are
(A) 6, 8 (B) 8, 6 (C) 8, 4 (D) 4, 8
Ans (B)
Let n and n′ be the number of α and β-particles emitted respectively. Emission of β-particle does not alter the mass
number but it increases the atomic number by 1 unit.
238 − 4n = 206 ⇒ n = 8
92 − 2n + n = 82 ⇒ 2n − n = 10 or 2  8 − n = 10
 n = 6 .
5. A magnetic field is applied perpendicular to the plane of the paper and directed into it in the region PQRS in space as
shown in figure.
If α, β and γ – rays are projected perpendicular to the field as shown in figure, then
(A) α – particles deflect towards RS and β – particles towards PQ.
(B) α – particles deflect towards PQ and β – particles towards RS.
(C) both α and β particles deflect towards PQ.
(D) all the rays deflect towards PQ.
Ans (B) : α-particles deflect towards PQ and β-particles towards RS
Use Fleming’s left hand rule to determine the direction.
6. The correct graph of log e N v/s t (Number of radioactive atoms v/s time) among the following is
(A) (B) (C) (D)
Ans (B)
N = N0e−t log e N = log e N 0 + (−)t
This is of the form y = c + mx. Therefore, the graph of loge N against t is a straight line with negative slope (slope m =
−λ)
7. The decay constant of a radioactive sample is λ. The value of half life and average life of a radioactive sample are
respectively given by
1 loge 2 loge 2 1 1
(A)  loge 2, (B) ,λ (C) , (D) log e 2,
    
Ans (C)
8. The ratio of the initial mass of the radioactive sample to that of the mass of the sample left after n half lives is
1 2 −1 2 +1
(A) n (B) 2n (C) (D)
2 2 2
Ans (B)
n
1
The mass of a radioactive sample after n half-lives is given by m = m 0   where m 0 is the initial mass of the sample.
2
m 1 m
∴ = n . Hence, 0 = 2n
m0 2 m
9. The half life of a radioactive sample is T. The fraction of the initial mass of the sample that decays in an interval T/2 is
20
1 2 −1 2 +1
(A) (B) 2 (C) (D)
2 2 2
Ans (A)
N 1 t
The fraction of the sample after n half−lives is given by = n . But n =
N0 2 T
n=
(T / 2) =
1
. Therefore,
N 1
= 1/ 2
T 2 N 0 2
10. The activity of a radioactive sample is A1 at time t1 and A 2 at time t 2 . If Tav is the average life time of the radioactive
sample, then the number of atoms that decay during interval (t 2 − t1 ) is
A1 − A2 A1 − A2
(A) A1t1 − A 2 t 2 (B) (A1 − A 2 )Tav (C) (D)
Tav (t1 − t 2 )
Ans (B)
1 N
Activity, A = λN ⇒ A1 = N1 = N1 ; A2 = 2  (N1 − N2 ) = (A1 − A 2 )Tav
Tav Tav
11. The half life of a radioactive sample is 20 days. This means that
(A) the substance completely disintegrates in 40 days
(B) the substance completely disintegrates in 80 days
(C) 1/8 part of the substance disintegrates in 60 days
(D) 7/8 part of the substance disintegrates in 60 days
Ans (D)
t 60
Number of half-lives, n =
= = 3;
T 20
N 1 1 1
= 3 = . Fraction remaining =
N0 2 8 8
1 7
Fraction that disintegrates in 60 days = 1 − =
8 8
12. The half life of a radioactive sample for α and β emission are T and T respectively. If the substance emits α and
β particles simultaneously, the effective half life of the material is
T T T + T
(A) T + T (B) (C) T − T (D)
T + T T − T
Ans (B)
The decay constant,  =   + 
0.693 0.693 0.693 1 1 1
= + ⇒ = +
 T T T T T T
T T
<T>= = effective half life
T + T
13. The daughter nucleus formed in a radioactive decay process is also radioactive. Let  P and  d be the decay constants
for parent and daughter nuclei and N P and N d be the number of atoms of parent and daughter nuclei at an instant of
time t. The condition under which the number of daughter nuclei becomes constant is
(A)  p / N p =  d / N d (B)  p /  d = Nd / N p
(C)  p +  d = N p + Nd (D) the number of daughter nuclei cannot become constant
Ans (B)
When the rate of disintegration of daughter nuclei is equal to the rate of its formation, the number of daughter nuclei,
21
present in the samples remains constant.
Rate of disintegration of parent nuclei = Rate of formation of daughter nuclei
 dN   dN 
  =  ⇒ P NP = d Nd
 dt  parent  dt daughter
p Nd
 =
d Np
14. The half-life of a radioactive material is 8 hours. If 20% of the sample remains active after time t, its 10% will remain
active after
(A) (t + 2) hour (B) (t + 4) hour (C) (t + 6) hour (D) (t + 8) hour
Ans (D)
 N  1 1
  = 20% = = n1 and
 N 0 1 5 2
 N  1 1 ( N / N0 )1 2n 2
  =10%= = n2 ; = 2 = n1
 N 0 2 10 2 ( N / N 0 )2 2
⇒ 2 = 2 2 = 2
n2 n1 1 n1 +1
⇒ n 2 = n1 + 1
/
t t
= + 1  t / = t + T = (t + 8) hours
T T
Aliter
For the sample to disintegrate from 20% of its initial value to 10 %, one more half-life is needed. For the sample to
reduce to 20 % of the initial value, time required is t hour. For the sample to reduce to half of the value at t time taken
t = (t + T) hour or (t + 8) hour.
15. The half-life of a radioactive substance X is 2 years. This element decays into another stable element Y. The ratio of
the atoms of X and Y was found to be 1: 4 after the time t. The value of t in years is between
(A) 2 and 4 (B) 3 and 6 (C) 6 and 8 (D) 4 and 6
Ans (D)
Nx 1
= , where N x and N y are the number of atoms of X and Y left after time t. The number of atoms of Y present
Ny 4
in the mixture is equal to number of atoms of X disintegrated.
N0 − N x = N y ; N0 = Nx + N y = N x + 4N x = 5N x
Nx 1 Nx 1 1
= ; = = n ⇒ 2n = 5.
N0 5 N 0 5 2
This indicates that the value of n is between 2 and 3. Therefore, the value of t lies in between
4 year (n1T = 2  2) and 6 year (n 2 T = 3  2) .
16. A radioactive sample S1 having an activity of 5 µCi has twice the number of nuclei as another sample S2 which has an
activity of l0 µCi. The half lives of S1 and S2 can be
(A) 20 yr and 5 yr, respectively (B) 20 yr and 10 yr, respectively
(C) 10 yr each (D) 5 yr each
Ans (A)
1
Activity of S1 = (activity of S2)
2
1 1 N T 2N1
or 1 N1 = (  2 N2 ) or = 2 or 1 =
2  2 2N1 T2 N2
 log 2 
 T = half-life = 
  
22
T1
Given: N1 = 2N2  =4
T2
17. The ratio of average life to half life of a radioactive substance is

(A) 1 (B) 1.44 (C) 0.693 (D) 1/e
Ans (B)
1
Tav = and half life,

0.693 Tav 1
T= ; = = 1.44.
 T 0.693
18. The half life of radon is 4 days. 10 gram of radon after 16 days will reduce to
(A) 2.5 gram (B) 0.625 gram (C) 1.625 gram (D) 0.25 gram
Ans (B)
Number of half lives,
t 16 1
n= = = 4 ; m = m0 n .
T 4 2
1 10
m = 10 g × 4 = ⇒ m = 0.625 g.
2 16
19. The half lives of two radioactive samples X and Y is 20 minutes and 40 minutes respectively. Initially both the samples
have equal number of atoms. After 80 minutes, the ratio of the atoms remaining in A and B is
(A) 1 : 4 (B) 4 : 1 (C) 16 : 1 (D) 1 : 16
Ans (A)
Let Nx and Ny be the number of atoms left after 80 minutes.
1 1 N N
Nx = N0 t /T1 = N0 × 80/20 = 40 or Nx = 0
2 2 2 16
1 1 N0
Similarly, Ny = N0 × t /T2 = N0 × 80/40 = 2 or
2 2 2
N N x 4 1
Ny = 0 ; = =
4 N y 16 4
20. The fraction of the initial number of radioactive nuclei which remain undecayed after half of a half-life of the radioactive
sample is
1 1 1 1
(A) (B) (C) (D)
2 2 4 2 2
Ans (B)
23
NCERT LINE BY LINE QUESTIONS

1. The atomic masses of various elements expressed in atomic mass unit (u) are close to being
integral multiples of mass of [NCERT Pg. 439]
(1) A hydrogen atom (2) A proton
(3) A neutron (4) Both (2) and (3)
2. The density of nuclear matter [NCERT Pg. 441]
(1) Increases with mass number (2) Decreases with mass number
(3) Is independent of mass number (4) Increases up to mass number 56 then decreases
3. For thermonuclear fusion reaction, the estimated temperature of the system should be about
[NCERT Pg. 456]
(1) 3 103 K (2) 3 109 K (3) 1105 K (4) 3 106 K
4. Nuclear force is [NCERT Pg. 445]
(1) Attractive for distance, r = 0.5 fm (2) Repulsive for distance, r < 0.8 fm
(3) Attractive for distance, r < 0.8 fm (4) Repulsive for distance, r > 0.8 fm
5. The SI unit of activity is [NCERT Pg. 447]
(1) Becquerel (2) Curie (3) Rutherford (4) Both (1) and (2)
6. The mass of iron nucleus is 55.85u and A = 56. The nuclear density of iron is [NCERT Pg. 441]
(1) 2.5 1015 kg / m3 (2) 2.3 1016 kg / m3 (3) 2.3 1017 kg / m3 (4) 3.5 1016 kg / m3
7. 1 curie is equal to [NCERT Pg. 448]
(1) 3.7 10 Bq
7
(2) 3.7 10 Bq
10
(3) 3.7 10 Bq
8
(4) 3.7 106 Bq
8. The half life of 92U238 undergoing -decay is 4.5 x 109 years. The activity of 4 g sample of
92
U239 is [NCERT Pg. 448]
(1) 1.23 x 10 Bq
4
(2) 1.23 x 10 Bq
5
(3) 4.9 x 10 Bq
4
(4) 4.9 x 105 Bq
9. 1 mg radium has 2.68 x 1018 atoms. Its half life is 1620 years. How many radium atoms
will disintegrate from 1 mg of pure radium in 3240 years. [NCERT Pg. 448]
(1) 2.01109 (2) 2.01 1018 (3) 0.67 1018 (4) 1.04  109
10. In a sample of radioactive material, what fraction of the initial number of active nuclei will
remain undisintegrated after half of the half life of the sample? [NCERT Pg. 448]
1 1 1
(1) (2) (3) (4) 2 − 1
4 2 2 2
11. The natural boron of atomic mass 10.81 u is found to have two isotopes 10B and 11B. The ratio of
abundance of isotopes of natural boron should be nearly [NCERT Pg. 439]
(1) 11 : 10 (2) 81 : 19 (3) 10: 11 (4) 19:81
12. The energy liberated in a single uranium fission is about [NCERT Pg. 457]
(1) 200 MeV (2) 235 MeV (3) 20 MeV (4) 100 MeV
13. Pick out the incorrect statement from the following. [NCERT Pg. 450]
−
(1)  emission from the nucleus is always accompanied with a neutrino
(2) The energy of the  -particle emitted from a given nucleus is constant
(3)  -ray emission makes the nucleus more stable
(4) Nuclear force is charge-independent
24
14. The radius of a spherical nucleus as measured by electron scattering is 3.6 fm. What is the mass
number of the nucleus most likely to be? [NCERT Pg.441]
(1) 27 (2) 40 (3) 56 (4) 120
−
15. The number of  —particles emitted by a radioactive substance is twice the number of
 -particles emitted by it. The resulting daughter is an [NCERT Pg. 450]
(1) Isomer of parent (2) Isotone of parent
(3) Isobar of parent (4) Isotope of parent
16. In nuclear reactors, the controlling rods are made of [NCERT Pg. 454]
(1) Cadmium (2) Graphite (3) Krypton (4) Plutonium
17. A nucleus with mass number 220 initially at rest emits an  -particle. If the Q-value of
reaction is 5.5 MeV, the kinetic energy of a-particle is [NCERT Pg. 449]
(1) 4.4 MeV (2) 5.4 MeV (3) 5.0 MeV (4) 4.8 MeV
18. Choose the incorrect nuclear fusion reactions among the following [NCERT Pg. 455]
+
1) 1 H +1 H → 1 H + e + v + 0.42 MeV
1 1 2
2) 1 H +1 H → 2 H + n + 3.27 MeV
2 2 3
3) 12 H +12 H → 13H + 11H + 4.03MeV 4) e+ + e− → 

19. Fission of nuclei is possible because the binding energy per nucleon in them [NCERT Pg. 444]
(1) Decreases with mass number at low mass numbers
(2) Increases with mass number at low mass numbers
(3) Increases with mass number and high mass numbers
(4) Decreases with mass number at high mass numbers
20. Consider ,  -particles and  -rays. The increasing order of penetration power is
[NCERT Pg. 451]
1) , ,  2)  , ,  3) , ,  4) ,  , 
NCERT BASED PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1. Pick out the incorrect statement from the following:
(1)  − emission from the nucleus is always accompanied by a neutrino.
(2) The energy of  particle emitted from a given nucleus is characteristic in nature
(3)  ray emission makes the nucleus more stable
(4) Nuclear force is charge independent
2. Pick out the incorrect statement from the following:
(1) Neutron is the most effective projectile in nuclear reactions.
1 h
(2) Photon has zero spin, while a neutrino has spin
2 2
(3) Tritium nuclei do not occur naturally and are prepared artificially in laboratories.
(4) A proton can never convert into a neutron as it is lighter than neutron
3. Pick out the incorrect statement from the following
(1) Lighter elements are better moderators for nuclear reactors than heavier moderators.
(2) In a natural uranium reactor, heavy water is a preferred moderator to ordinary water
(3) Mass energy inter-conversion takes place only in nuclear reactions and never in
chemical reactions.
(4) Cadmium rods are provided in reactors.
25
4. Pick out the incorrect statement from the following
(1) Accurate measurement of atomic masses is carried out by mass spectrometer
(2) Energy available from bombardment of beryllium nuclei with a particles is
equivalent to that of photons.
(3) Isotopes have identical chemical behavior
(4) Even we round off mass of neutron and proton to 1 amu, atomic mass of an element
may not be an integral multiple of amu
5.5 With regard to Geiger and Marsden experiment, pick out the incorrect statement from the
following:
(1) If electrons are used, instead of  particle, size of nuclei can be accurately measured.
(2) If  particles with energy much higher than 5.5 MeV are used, significant deviations is
calculations may be observed
(3)  -particles suffer inelastic scattering against gold nuclei
(4) Trajectory of a  -particle depends upon the impact parameter
6. Nuclear forces acting between two nucleons inside nucleus:
(1) Has saturation property
(2) Is short ranged which explains the constancy is BE/A in the range 30 < A < 170.
(3) Has zero associated potential energy associated when distance between nucleons is 0.8 fm.
(4) Is the strongest force inside nucleus
7. For radioactivity, pick the incorrect statement:
(1) Radioactivity was discovered by Marie Curie
(2) In a spontaneous radioactive decay, mass of products is less than mass of initial nucleus
(3) One can never predict which nucleus will undergo decay first
(4) 92U238 is non fissionable but radioactive while 92U235 is fissionable but nonradioactive
8. With regard to neutrinos, pick the incorrect statement:
(1) They are generated during b-decays
(2) They have strong interactions with other particles
(3) They are neutral particles
(4) They are hard to detect
9. In a thermonuclear fusion, which statement is incorrect:
(1) Energy is provided by raising the temperature
(2) Energy must be provided to overcome columbic repulsion between approaching
positively charged nuclei.
(3) Is responsible for the formation of red giant star
(4) Required temperature is of the order of 108 K.
10. Which of the following statement is incorrect for a nuclear reaction
(1) If nuclei with less total binding energy transform to nuclei with greater binding
energy, there will be a net energy release.
(2) Nuclear reactions are not balanced in the same way as chemical reactions
(3) Both the number of protons and number of neutrons are conserved, but the total mass is not
conserved.
(4) In  − decay a neutrino is generated, while is  + decay an anti-neutrino is generated
26
11. Pick the incorrect statement:
(1) Fission of 1kg of Uranium generates equal energy as burning of 1kg of coal.
(2) During fission of 92U235, different pairs of intermediate mass fragments can be
obtained
(3) The peaks at nuclides like 2He4, 8O16 is an evidence of shell like structure inside nuclei.
(4) Decay of unstable 6C14 isotope into stable 6C12 isotope is the principle of carbon dating.
12. Considering the efficient functioning of a nuclear reactor, which of the following
statement is incorrect?
(1) Moderators slow down fast neutrons released in a fission reaction via elastic scattering
(2) The core of a nuclear reactor is surrounded with reflectors to prevent leakage
(3) Heavy water is used as moderators in fast breed reactors that use Plutonium - 239 as
fuel
(4) Averagely 2 1 2 neutrons are released per fission of a 92U235 nucleus
13. For the central portion of an atom, called nuclei, pick the incorrect statement
(1) Nuclei also have discrete energy levels
(2) For stability of nuclei, number of neutron: number of proton ratio has to be around
1 : 1 for lighter nuclei and 3 : 2 for heavier nuclei
(3) Density of nuclear matter is independent of size of nucleus
(4) As mass of proton is smaller than mass of neutron, a proton can never convert into a
neutron.
14. Which of the following statement is incorrect for nuclear decays
(1)  decay takes place when nucleus in excited state spontaneously decays into ground state
(2) After  decay and  decay,  decay can take place
(3) When an electron and positron come together, they can annihilate each other giving energy
in the form of  rays
(4) If  + emission is energetically allowed, electron capture is necessarily allowed and
vice versa.
15. Corresponding to nuclear decays, which of the following statements is incorrect?
(1) In  decay, more than 95% of Q-value is realized as kinetic energy of a particle
(2) Energy spectrum of ,  and  particles are discrete line spectrums.
(3) In b decay, daughter nucleus is an isobar of parent nuclei.
(4)  rays are electromagnetic radiations of wavelengths shorter than X-rays
16. When a nucleus in an atom undergoes a radioactive decay, the electronic energy levels
of the atom
(1) do not change for any type of radioactivity.
(2) change for a and b radioactivity but not for g radioactivity.
(3) change for a radioactivity but not for others.
(4) change for b radioactivity but not for others.
17. Heavy stable nucleus has more neutrons than protons. This is because of the fact that
(1) neutrons are heavier than protons.
(2) electrostatic force between protons are repulsive.
(3) neutrons decay into protons through beta decay.
(4) nuclear forces between neutrons are weaker than that between protons.
27
18. Suppose we consider a large number of containers each containing initially 50,000
atoms of a radioactive material with a half-life of 1 year. After 1 year,
(1) all the containers will have 25,000 atoms of the material.
(2) all the containers will contain the same number of atoms of the material but that
number will only be approximately 25,000.
(3) the containers will in general have different numbers of the atoms of the material but
their average will be close to 25,000.
(4) none of the containers can have more than 25,000 atoms.
19. In a nuclear reactor, moderators slow down the neutrons which come out in a fission process.
The moderator used has light nuclei. Heavy nuclei will not serve the purpose because
(1) they will break up.
(2) elastic collision of neutrons with heavy nuclei will not slow them down.
(3) the net weight of the reactor would be unbearably high.
(4) substances with heavy nuclei do not occur in liquid or gaseous state at room
temperature.
20. Assertion : Neutrons penetrate matter more readily as compared to protons.
Reason : Neutrons are slightly more massive than protons.
(1) If both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion.
(2) If both Assertion and Reason are correct, but Reason is not the correct explanation of
Assertion.
(3) If Assertion is correct but Reason is incorrect.
(4) If both the Assertion and Reason are incorrect.
21. Assertion : It is not possible to use 35Cl as the fuel for fusion energy.
Reason : The binding energy of 35Cl is to small.
Assertion.
22. Assertion : The binding energy per nucleon, for nuclei with atomic mass number A > 100,
decrease with A.
Reason : The forces are weak for heavier nuclei.
Assertion.
23. Assertion : Radioactivity of 108 undecayed radioactive nuclei of half life of 50 days is equal to
that of 1.2 × 108 number of undecayed nuclei of some other material with half life of 60 days.
Reason : Radioactivity is proportional to half-life.
Assertion.
24. Assertion : A free neutron decays to a proton but a free proton does not decay to a neutron.
This is because neutron is an uncharged particle and proton is a charged particle.
28
Reason : Neutron has larger rest mass than the proton.
Assertion.
TOPIC WISE PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Topic 1: Composition and Size of the Nucleus
1. The constituents of nucleus are
(a) electrons and protons (b) protons and neutrons
(c) neutrons and electrons (d) electrons, protons and neutrons
2. The radius of a nucleus is
(a) directly proportional to its mass number
(b) inversely proportional to its atomic weight
(c) directly proportional to the cube root of its mass number
(d) None of these
3. The radius of nucleus is of the order of
(a) 10–10 m (b) 10–6 m (c) 10–15 m (d) 10–13 m
4. The mass number of He is 4 and that for sulphur is 32. The radius of sulphur nuclei is larger than that of
helium by
(a) 8 (b) 4 (c) 2 (d) 8

5. A nucleus splits into two nuclear parts which have their velocity ratio equal to 5 : 1. What will be the ratio
of their nuclear radius?
(a) 51/3 : 1 (b) 1 : 51/3 (c) 31/2 : 1 (d) 1 : 31/2
6. The volume of a nucleus is directly proportional to
(a) A (b) A3 (c) A (d) A1/3
7. The set which represents the isotope, isobar and isotone respectively is
(a) (1H2, 1H3 ), (79Au197, 80Hg198) and (2He3, 1H2)
(b) (2He3, 1H1), (79Au197, 80Hg198) and (1H1, 1H3)
(c) (2He3, 1H3), (1H2, 1H3) and (79Au197, 80Hg198)
(d) (1H2, 1H3), (2He3, 1H3) and (79Au197, 80Hg198)
8. Outside a nucleus
(a) neutron is stable (b) proton and neutron both are stable
29
(c) neutron is unstable (d) neither neutron nor proton is stable
9. The mass of neutron is the same as that of
(a) a proton (b) a meson (c) an epsilon (d) an electron
10. The nuclei of which one of the following pairs of nuclei are isotones?
(a) 34Se74, 31Ga71 (b) 38Sr84, 38Sr86 (c) 42Mo92, 40Zr92 (d) 20Ca40, 16S32
11. If the radius of a nucleus 256X is 8 fermi, then the radius of 4He nucleus will be
(a) 16 fermi (b) 2 fermi (c) 32 fermi (d) 4 fermi
12. The ratio of volumes of nuclei (assumed to be in spherical shape) with respective mass numbers 8 and 64
is
(a) 0.5 (b) 2 (c) 0.125 (d) 0.25
13. Atomic weight of boron is 10.81 and it has two isotopes 5B10 and 5B11. Then ratio of 5B10 : 5B11 in nature
would be
(a) 19 : 81 (b) 10 : 11 (c) 15 : 16 (d) 81 : 19
14. Nucleus of an atom whose atomic mass is 24 consists of
(a) 11 electrons, 11 protons and 13 neutrons
(b) 11 electrons, 13 protons and 11 neutrons
(c) 11 protons and 13 neutrons
(d) 11 protons and 13 electrons
Topic 2: Mass Energy and Nuclear Reaction
2 4
15. The binding energy per nucleon for 1 H and 2 He respectively are 1.1 MeV and 7.1 MeV. The energy
2 4
released in MeV when two 1 H nuclei fuse to form 2 He is
(a) 4.4 (b) 8.2 (c) 24 (d) 28.4

16. In the nuclear fusion reaction
2
1 H +13 H →42 He + n
given that the repulsive potential energy between the two nuclei is ~ 7.7  10-14 J , the temperature at which
the gases must be heated to initiate the reaction is nearly [Boltzmann’s Constant k = 1.38  10-23 J/K]
(a) 107 K (b) 105K (c) 103K (d) 109K
17. Two nucleons are at a separation of 1 fermi. The net force between them is F 1 if both are neutrons, F2 if
both are protons and F3 if one is proton and the other is a neutron. Then
(a) F1 > F2 > F3 (b) F1 = F3 > F2 (c) F2 > F1 > F3 (d) F1 = F2 > F3
18. Nuclear forces are
(a) spin dependent and have no non-central part
(b) spin dependent and have a non-central part
(c) spin independent and have no non-central part
30
(d) spin independent and have a non-central part
19. From the following equations, pick out the possible nuclear reactions.
(a) 6C13 + 1H1 → 6C14 + 4.3 MeV
(b) 6C12 + 1H1 → 9N14 + 2 MeV
(c) 7N14 + 1H1 → 8O15 + 7.3 MeV
(d) 92U235 + 0n1 → 54X140 + 38Si94 + 20n1 +  + 200 MeV
20. Which of the following statements is true?
(a) 78Pt192 has 78 neutrons (b) 84Po214 → 82Pb210 +  −

(c) 92U238 → 90Th234 + 2He4 (d) 90Th234 → 91Pa234 + 2He4
21. The mass of an atomic nucleus is less than the sum of the masses of its constituents. This mass defect is
converted into
(a) heat energy (b) light energy
(c) electrical energy (d) energy which binds nucleons together
22. When Uranium is bombarded with neutrons, it undergoes fission. The fission reaction can be written as :
92 U 235 + 0 n1 →56 Ba141 +36 Kr 92 + 3x +Q(energy) where three particles named x are produced and energy Q
is released. What is the name of the particle x ?
(a) electron (b) a-particle (c) neutron (d) neutrino
23. In a fission reaction
236
92 U →117 X +117 Y + n + n , the binding energy per nucleon of X and Y is 8.5 MeV whereas of 236U is 7.6
MeV. The total energy liberated will be about
(a) 2000 MeV (b) 200 MeV (c) 2 MeV (d) 200 keV
24. Complete the equation for the following fission process :
92 U 235 + 0 n1 →38 Sr 90 + ....

(a) 54X143 + 3 0n1 (b) 54X145 + 3 0n1 (c) 57X142 + 3 0n1 (d) 54X142 + 0n1
25. Which of the following statements is true for nuclear forces?
(a) they obey the inverse square law of distance
(b) they obey the inverse third power law of distance
(c) they are short range forces
(d) they are equal in strength to electromagnetic forces.
26. On an average, the number of neutrons and the energy of a neutron released per fission of a uranium atom
are respectively
(a) 2.5 and 2 keV (b) 3 and l keV (c) 2.5 and 2 MeV (d) 2 and 2 keV
27. Boron rods in a nuclear reactor are used to
(a) absorb excess neutrons (b) absorb alpha particle
31
(c) slow down the reaction (d) speed up the reaction
28. The rest energy of an electron is
(a) 510 KeV (b) 931 KeV (c) 510 MeV (d) 931 MeV
29. If MO is the mass of an oxygen isotope 8O17, MP and MN are the masses of a proton and a neutron
respectively, the nuclear binding energy of the isotope is
(a) (MO –17MN)c2 (b) (MO – 8MP)c2 (c) (MO– 8MP –9MN)c2 (d) MOc2
235 235
30. Energy released in the fission of a single 92 U nucleus is 200 MeV. The fission rate of a 92 U filled reactor
operating at a power level of 5 W is

(a) 1.56 × 10–10 s–1 (b) 1.56 × 1011 s–1 (c) 1.56 × 10–16 s–1 (d) 1.56 × 10–17 s–1
4
31. The binding energy of deuteron is 2.2 MeV and that of 2 He is 28 MeV. If two deuterons are fused to form
4
one 2 He , then the energy released is
(a) 23.6 MeV (b) 19.2 MeV (c) 30.2 MeV (d) 25.8 MeV
A
32. If M (A; Z), Mp and Mn denote the masses of the nucleus Z X , proton and neutron respectively in units of
u ( 1u =931.5 MeV/c2) and BE represents its bonding energy in MeV, then

(a) M (A, Z) = ZMp + (A – Z) Mn –BE/c2
(b) M (A, Z) = ZMp+ ( A–Z) Mn + BE
(c) M (A, Z) = ZMp + (A – Z) Mn – BE
(d) M (A, Z) = ZMp + (A – Z)Mn + BE/c2
33. The power obtained in a reactor using U235 disintegration is 1000 kW. The mass decay of U235 per hour is
(a) 10 microgram (b) 20 microgram (c) 40 microgram (d) 1 microgram
34. A reaction between a proton and 8O18 that produces 9F18 must also liberate
(a) 0n1 (b) 1e0 (c) 1n0 (d) 0e1
35. The energy released in a typical nuclear fusion reaction is approximately
(a) 25 MeV (b) 200 MeV (c) 800 MeV (d) 1050 MeV
36. Imagine that a reactor converts all given mass into energy and that it operates at a power level of 109 watt.
The mass of the fuel consumed per hour in the reactor will be: (velocity of light, c is 3 × 108 m/s)
(a) 0.96 gm (b) 0.8 gm (c) 4 × 10–2 gm (d) 6.6 × 10–5 gm
37. When the number of nucleons in nuclei increases, the binding energy per nucleon
(a) increases continuously with mass number
(b) de creases continuously with mass number
(c) remains constant with mass number
(d) first increases and then decreases with increase of mass number
38. The curve of binding energy per nucleon as a function of atomic mass number has a sharp peak for helium
nucleus. This implies that helium
32
(a) can easily be broken up (b) is very stable
(c) can be used as fissionable material (d) is radioactive
39. The mass defect per nucleon is called
(a) binding energy (b) packing fraction (c) ionisation energy (d) excitation energy
12
40. A proton and a neutron are both shot at 100 ms–1 towards a 6 C nucleus. Which particle, if either, is more
likely to be absorbed by the nucleus?

(a) The proton
(b) The neutron
(c) Both particles are about equally likely to be absorbed
(d) Neither particle will be absorbed
41. Calculate the binding energy of a deuteron atom, which consist of a proton and a neutron, given that the
atomic mass of the deutron is 2.014102 u.
(a) 0.002388 MeV (b) 2.014102 MeV (c) 2.16490 MeV (d) 2.224 MeV
Topic 3: Radioactivity
42. Half life of radioactive element depends upon
(a) amount of element present (b) temperature
(c) pressure (d) nature of element
43. Beta rays emitted by a radioactive material are
(a) electromagnetic radiations
(b) the electrons orbiting around the nucleus
(c) charged particles emitted by nucleus
(d) neutral particles
44. A radioactive substance has a half-life of four months. Three fourth of the substance will decay in
(a) three months (b) four months (c) eight months (d) twelve months
45. Neutron decay in free space is given as follows
0 n1 →1 H1 +−1 e0 +  
Then the parenthesis [ ] represents a
(a) neutrino (b) photon (c) antineutrino (d) graviton
46. A radioactive element X converts into another stable element Y. Half-life of X is 2 hrs. Initially only X is
present. After time t, the ratio of atoms of X and Y is found to be 1 : 4, then t in hours is
(a) 2 (b) 4 (c) between 4 and 6 (d) 6
47. A radioactive sample contains 10–3 kg each of two nuclear species A and B with half-life 4 days and 8 days
respectively. The ratio of the amounts of A and B after a period of 16 days is
(a) 1 : 2 (b) 4 : 1 (c) 1 : 4 (d) 2 : 1
33
48. Two radioactive materials X1 and X2 have decay constants 10  and  respectively. If initially they have the
same number of nuclei, then the ratio of the number of nuclei of X1 to that of X2 will be 1/e after a time
(a) 1/10  (b) 1/11  (c) 11/10  (d) 1/9 
49. If N0 is the original mass of the substance of half-life period t1/2 = 5 years, then the amount of substance
left after 15 years is
(a) N0/8 (b) N0/16 (c) N0/2 (d) N0/4
50. A radioactive sample at any instant has its disintegration rate 5000 disintegrations per minute. After 5
minutes, the rate is 1250 disintegrations per minute. Then, the decay constant (per minute) is
(a) 0.4 ln 2 (b) 0.2 ln 2 (c) 0.1 ln 2 (d) 0.8 ln 2
51. The energy spectrum of  -particles [number N(E) as a function of  -energy E] emitted from a radioactive
source is
(a) (b)
(c) (d)
A nuclear transformation is denoted by X (n,  ) 3 Li .Which of the following is the nucleus of element X?
7
52.
10 12 11 9
(a) 5 B (b) C 6 (c) 4 Be (d) 5 B
53. The counting rate observed from a radioactive source at t = 0 was 1600 counts s–1, and t = 8 s, it was 100
counts s–1. The counting rate observed as counts s–1 at t = 6 s will be
(a) 250 (b) 400 (c) 300 (d) 200
54. In a sample of rock, the ratio of 206 Pb to 238U nuclei is found to be 0.5. The age of the rock is (given half
– life of U238 is 4.5 × 109 years)
(a) 2.25 × 109 year (b) 4.5× 109 ln 3 year
3
ln  
2 3
(c) 4.5 10 (d) 2.25 10 ln   year
9 9
year
ln 2 2
55. A radioactive sample with a half-life of 1 month has the label: ‘Activity = 2 micro curies on 1–8–1991.
What would be its activity two months earlier?
(a) 1.0 micro curie (b) 0.5 micro curie (c) 4 micro curie (d) 8 micro curie
34
56. The count rate of a Geiger Muller counter for the radiation of a radioactive material of half-life 30 minutes
decreases to 5 sec–1 after 2 hours. The initial count rate was
(a) 20 sec–1 (b) 25 sec–1 (c) 80 sec–1 (d) 625 sec–1
57. The half - life of At is 100 μs. The time taken for the radioactivity of a sample of At to decay to 1/16th of
its initial value is
(a) 400 μs (b) 6.3 μs (c) 40 μs (d) 300 μs
58. There are n number of radioactive nuclei in a sample that undergoes beta decay. If from the sample, n'
number of  -particles are emitted every 2 s, then half - life of nuclei is
(a) n'/2 (b) 0.693 × (2n/n') (c) 0.693 1n (2n/n') (d) 0.693 × n/n'
59. The half life of a radio isotope is 5 years. The fraction which will decay in 15 years, will be
(a) 1/16 (b) 3/4 (c) 7/8 (d) 5/8
60. In a given reaction
z A A →z +1 Y A →z −1 K A −4 →z −1 K A −4
Radioactive radiations are emitted in the sequence of
(a) , ,  (b)  , ,  (c) , ,  (d)  , , 
61. In gamma ray emission from a nucleus
(a) only the proton number changes
(b) both the neutron number and the proton number change
(c) there is no change in the proton number and the neutron number
(d) only the neutron number changes
TA 
62. The ratio of half-life times of two elements A and B is . The ratio of respective decay constant A is
TB B
TA + TB TA − TB
(a) TB / TA (b) TA / TB (c) (d)
TA TA
63. Consider a radioactive material of half-life 1.0 minute. If one of the nuclei decays now, the next one will
decay
1
(a) after 1 minute (b) after minute
log e 2
1
(c) after minute, where N is the number of nuclei present at that moment
N
(d) after any time
64. One curie is equal to

(a) 3.7 × 1010 disintegration/sec (b) 3.2 × 108 disintegration/sec
(c) 2.8 × 1010 disintegration/sec (d) None of these
35
65. The half-life of the radioactive substance is 40 days. The substance will disintegrate completely in
(a) 40 days (b) 400 days (c) 4000 days (d) infinite time
NEET PREVIOUS YEARS QUESTIONS

1. For a radioactive material, half-life is 10 minutes. If initially there are 600 number of nuclei, the time taken
(in minutes) for the disintegration of 450 nuclei is [2018]
(a) 20 (b) 10 (c) 15 (d) 30
2. Radioactive material 'A' has decay constant '8  ' and material 'B' has decay constant '  '. Initially they
have same number of nuclei. After what time, the ratio of number of nuclei of material 'B' to that 'A' will
1
be ? [2017]
e
1 1 1 1
(a) (b) (c) (d)
7 8 9 
27 125
3. If radius of the 12 Al nucleus is taken to be R Al , then the radius of 53 Te nucleus is nearly: [2015]
1/3 1/3
5 3  13   53 
(a) R Al (b) R Al (c)   R Al (d)   R Al
3 5  53   13 
4. A nucleus of uranium decays at rest into nuclei of thorium and helium. Then : [2015]
(a) the helium nucleus has less momentum than the thorium nucleus.
(b) the helium nucleus has more momentum than the thorium nucleus.
(c) the helium nucleus has less kinetic energy than the thorium nucleus.
(d) the helium nucleus has more kinetic energy than the thorium nucleus.
7 4
5. The Binding energy per nucleon of 3 Li and 2 He nuclei are 5.60 MeV and 7.06 MeV, respectively.
In the nuclear reaction 3 Li +1 H →2 He + Q , the value of energy Q released is :

7 1 4
[2014]
(a) 19.6 MeV (b) – 2.4 MeV (c) 8.4 MeV (d) 17.3 MeV
6.  − particle consists of : [NEET – 2019]
(1) 2 protons and 2 neutrons only (2) 2 electrons, 2 protons and 2 neutrons
(3) 2 electrons and 4 protons only (4) 2 protons only
7. The rate of radioactive disintegration at an instant for a radioactive sample of half life 2.2 × 10 9 s is 1010
s–1. The number of radioactive atoms in that sample at that instant is, [NEET – 2019 (ODISSA)]
(1) 3.17 × 1020 (2) 3.17 × 1017 (3) 3.17 × 1018 (4) 3.17 × 1019
8. What happens to the mass number and atomic number of an element when it emits  -radiation?
[NEET – 2020 (Covid-19)]
(1) Mass number decreases by four and atomic number decreases by two.
36
(2) Mass number and atomic number remain unchanged.
(3) Mass number remains unchanged while atomic number decreases by one.
(4) Mass number increases by four and atomic number increases by two.
9. The half life of radioactive sample undergoing  -decay is 1.4 × 1017s. If the number of nuclei in the sample
is 2.0 × 1021, the activity of the sample is nearly : [NEET – 2020 (Covid-19)]
(1) 104 Bq (2) 105 Bq (3) 106 Bq (4) 103 Bq
235 89
10. When a uranium isotope 92 U is bombarded with a neutron it generates 36 Kr , three neutrons and
[NEET – 2020]
103 144 91 101
1) 36 Kr 2) 56 Ba 3) 40 Zr 4) 36 Kr
11. The energy equivalent of 0.5 g of a substance is [NEET – 2020]
1) 0.5  1013 J 2) 4.5  1016 J 3) 4.5  1013 J 4) 1.5  1013 J
12. A nucleus with mass number 240 breaks into two fragments each of mass number 120, the binding energy
per nucleon of unfragmented nuclei is 7.6 MeV while that of fragments is 8.5 MeV. The total gain in the
Binding Energy in the process is [NEET-2021]
1) 9.4MeV 2) 804 MeV 3) 216MeV 4) 0.9MeV
A
13. A 9. Radioactive nucleus Z
X undergoes spontaneous decay in the sequence
A
Z
X →Z−1 B →Z−3 C →Z−2 D , where Z is the atomic number of element X. The possible decay particles in
the sequence are: [NEET-2021]
+ − + − − + − +
1) ,  ,  2)  , ,  3)  , ,  4) ,  , 
14. The half-life of a radioactive nuclide is 100 hours. The fraction of original activity that will remain after
150 hours would be [NEET-2021]
1 2 2
1) 2) 3) 4) 1/ 2
2 2 3 3 2
15. In the given nuclear reaction, the element X is: [NEET-2022]
+
11 Na → X + e + v
22
22 22
1) 11 Na 2) 1023 Ne 3) 1022 Ne 4) 12 Mg
16. A nucleus of mass number 189 splits into two nuclei having mass number 125 and 64. The ratio of radius
of two daughter nuclei respectively is : [NEET-2022]
1) 1 : 1 2) 4 : 5 3) 5 : 4 4) 25 : 16
37
NCERT LINE BY LINE QUESTIONS – ANSWERS
1) a 2) c 3) b 4) b 5) a 6) c 7) b 8) c 9) c 10) c
11) d 12) a 13) a 14) a 15) d 16) a 17) b 18) d 19) d 20) a
NCERT BASED PRACTICE QUESTIONS - ANSWERS

1) 1 2) 4 3) 3 4) 2 5) 3 6) 3 7) 1 8) 2 9) 3 10) 4
11) 1 12) 3 13) 4 14) 4 15) 2 16) 2 17) 2 18) 3 19) 2 20) 2
21) 3 22) 3 23) 3 24) 4
TOPIC WISE PRACTICE QUESTIONS - ANSWERS

1) 2 2) 3 3) 3 4) 3 5) 2 6) 1 7) 4 8) 3 9) 1 10) 1
11) 2 12) 3 13) 1 14) 3 15) 3 16) 4 17) 2 18) 2 19) 3 20) 3
21) 4 22) 3 23) 2 24) 1 25) 3 26) 3 27) 1 28) 1 29) 3 30) 2
31) 1 32) 1 33) 3 34) 1 35) 1 36) 3 37) 4 38) 2 39) 2 40) 2
41) 4 42) 4 43) 3 44) 3 45) 3 46) 4 47) 3 48) 4 49) 1 50) 1
51) 3 52) 1 53) 4 54) 3 55) 4 56) 3 57) 1 58) 2 59) 3 60) 3
61) 3 62) 1 63) 4 64) 1 65) 4
NEET PREVIOUS YEARS QUESTIONS-ANSWERS

1) 1 2) 1 3) 1 4) 4 5) 4 6) 1 7) 4 8) 2 9) 1
10) 2 11) 3 12) 3 13) 2 14) 1 15) 3 16) 3
TOPIC WISE PRACTICE QUESTIONS - SOLUTIONS

1. (b) Protons and neutrons are the constituents of nucleus.
2. (c) Radius of nucleus R = R0 A1/3 where A is the mass number of nucleus.
4 3 4 3
 Volume of nucleus = R =  R 0  A
3 3 
 Volume is proportional to A.
3. (c) Nuclear radius = 10–15 m.
1/3
R s  As 
1/3
 32 
4. (c) =  =  =2
R He  A He   4
5. (b) As momentum is conserved, therefore,
m1 A1 v 2 1
= = =
m 2 A 2 v1 5
1/3
R A 
1/3
1
 1 =  1  =   = 1: 51/3
R 2  A2  5
6. (a) Radius of nucleus R = R0 A1/3 where A is the mass number of nucleus.
38
4 3 4 3
 Volume of nucleus = R =  R 0  A
3 3 
 Volume is proportional to A.
7. (d) 1H and 1H3 are isotopes
2
3 3
2He and 1H are isobars
197
79Au and 80Hg198 are isotones.
8. (c) Outside the nucleus, neutron is unstable (life  932 s).
9. (a) a proton
10. (a) Isotones means equal number of neutrons i.e.,
(A–Z) = 74 –34 = 71 – 31 = 40.
(b) R = R 0 ( A )
1/3
11.
1/3
R A 
1/3
 256  R1
 1 = 1  =  = 4  R2 = = 2 fermi
R 2  A2   4  4
12. (c) As we know R = R0 A1/3
 R  A1/3
V1 8 1
As V  R 3 or V  A  = = = 0.125
V2 64 8
13. (a) Let the percentage of B10 atoms be x, then average atomic weight
10x + 11(100 − x )
= = 10.81  x = 19  NB = 19
10
100 NB 81
11
14. (c) Nucleus does not contain electron.

(c) The chemical reaction of process is 21 H →2 He
2 4
15.
Energy released = 4  (7.1) - 4(1.1) = 24 eV
3
16. (d) The average kinetic energy per molecule = kT
2
This kinetic energy should be able to provide the repulsive potential energy
3
.  kT = 7.7  10 −14
2
2  7.7 10−14
T= −23
= 3.7 109
3 1.38 10
17. (b) In case of Proton-Proton Electrostatic repulsive force is also present which reduces the net force.
18. (b) spin dependent and have a non-central part
19. (c) Only those nuclear reactions are possible in which the sum of mass number of all the reactants is equal to sum
of mass number of all the products formed as well as sum of atomic number of all the reactants is equal to sum of
atomic number of all the products formed.
Hence reactions shown in options B and C satisfy both the above conditions simultaneously, thus these are the
possible nuclear reactions.
In option A, the condition for atomic number is not satisfied whereas option D does not satisfied the mass number
condition.
20. (c) 92U238 → 90Th234 + 2He4
21. (d) energy which binds nucleons together
22. (c) Nuclear fission equation
39
92 U 235 + 0 n1 ⎯⎯
→56 Ba141 +36 Kr 92 + 30 n1 + Q (energy)
Hence particle x is neutron.
23. (b) Binding energy
= 117 × 8.5 + 117 × 8.5 – 236 × 7.6
= 234 × 8.5 – 236 × 7.6
= 1989 – 1793.6 = 200 MeV
Thus, in per fission of Uranium nearly 200 MeV energy is liberated
24. (a) 92 U 235 + 0 n1 ⎯⎯
→38 Sr 90 +54 Xe143 + 30 n1 + energy
25. (c) Nuclear forces are short range attractive forces which balance the repulsive forces between the protons
inside the nucleus.
26. (c) On an average 2.5 neutrons are released per fission of the uranium atom.
And the energy of the neutron released per fission of the uranium atom is 2 MeV.
27. (a) When a neutron collides with the uranium atom, then energy is released along with three more neutrons
which further collide with another uranium atom an so the chain reaction continues. Thus boron rods in
nuclear reactor are used to absorb excess neutrons so that the reaction rate remains under control.
28. (a) Rest energy of an electron = mec2
Here me = 9.1 × 10–31 kg and C = velocity of light
–31
 Rest energy = 9.1 × 10 × (3 × 108)2 joule
9.110−31  ( 3 108 )
2
= eV  510KeV
1.6 10−19
29. (c) Binding energy
= [ZMP + (A – Z)MN – M]c2
= [8MP + (17 – 8)MN – M]c2
= [8MP + 9MN – M]c2
= [8MP + 9MN – Mo]c2
30. (b) Fission rate
total power 5
= = −13
= 1.56  1011 s −1
energy 200 1.6 10
fission
(a) 1 D ⎯⎯
→2 He
2 4
31.
Energy released = 28 – 2 × 2.2 = 23.6 MeV
(Binding energy is energy released on formation of Nucleus)
32. (a) Mass defect = ZMp + (A –Z)Mn–M(A,Z)
B.E
or, = ZMp + (A–Z) Mn–M(A,Z)
c2
B.E
 M (A, Z) = ZMp + (A–Z)Mn −
c2
E
33. (c) E = mc2 m= 2
c
So, mass decay per second
dm 1 dE 1
= 2 = (Power in watt)
dt c dt c 2
1
= 1000 103
( 3 10 ) 8 2
40
dm
and mass decay per hour =  60  60
dt
1
= 106  3600 = 4 × 10–8 kg = 40 microgram
( 3 10 )8 2
(a) .9 O +.1 H →.9 F +.0 n

18 1 18 1
34.
35. (a) 25 MeV
E mc 2
36. (c) Power level of reactor, P = =
t t
mass of the fuel consumed per hour in the reactor,
m P 109
= 2= = 4 10−2 gm
t c ( 3 10 )
8 2
37. (d) Average BE/nucleon increases first, and then decreases, as is clear from BE curve.
38. (b) The elements high on the B.E. versus mass number plot are very tightly bound and hence, are stable. And the
elements those are lower on this plot, are less tightly bound, are unstable.
Since the helium nucleus shows a peak on this plot so, it is very stable.
39. (b) Binding Energy = mass defect x c2
The mass defect of a nucleus represents the mass that corresponds to the energy of binding of the nucleus and is the
difference between the mass of a nucleus and the sum of the masses of the nucleons of which it is composed. Energy
equivalent to mass defect is called binding energy.
The packing fraction is the mass defect per nucleon.
40. (b) Once the neutron gets sufficiently close to the nucleus, the strong nuclear force sucks it in. Same
happens with proton except it is electrostatically repelled by the six protons already inside the carbon
nucleus. The repulsion prevents a a100 ms–1 proton from getting close enough to the nucleus. Therefore,
the answer is (b).
41. (d) Atomic mass M(H) of hydrogen and nuclear mass (Mn) are
M (H) = 1.007825 u and Mn = 1.008665 u
Mass defect,
Dm = [M (H) + Mn – M (D)]
M (D) = mass of deuteron = 2.016490 u – 2.014102 u
= 0.002388 u
As 1 u corresponds to 931.494 MeV energy, therefore, mass defect corresponds to energy,
Eb = 0.002388 × 931.5 = 2.224 MeV
42. (d) Half life of a substance doesn’t depends upon amount, temperature and pressure. It depends upon the
nature of the substance.
43. (c) b-rays are charged particles emitted by nucleus.
3 1
44. (c) Substance left undecayed, N 0 − N 0 = N0
4 4
n
N 1 1
= = 
N0 4  2 
∴ Number of atoms left undecided, n=2 i.e, in two half lives
∴ t=nT=2×4=8 months
41
45. (c) Antineutrinos are the antiparticles of neutrinos, which are neutral particles produced in nuclear beta decay. These
are emitted during beta particle emissions, in which a neutron decays into a proton, electron, and antineutrino. They
have a spin of , and are part of the lepton family of particles.
n 0 → p+ + e+ e
46. (d) Radioactivity at T1 , R1 =  N1 Radioactivity at T2, R2 =  N2
 Number of atoms decayed in time
(T1 – T2) = (N1 –N2)
( R1 − R 2 ) = ( R1 − R 2 ) T 
= ( R1 − R 2 ) T
 0.693
47. (c) Ratio of number of half life taken is given as:
After 16 days
16 16
TA1/2 = =4 TB1/2 = =2
4 8
n
1 NA 1 1
= 4 : 2 = 22 : 24
N = N0  
2 NB 2 2
= 4 :16 = 1: 4
−10 t
48. (d) N1 = N 0 e , N1 = N 0e −t
N1 1
= e−9 t = e−1 ;9t = 1  t =
N2 9
49. (a) After every half-life, the mass of the substance reduces to half its initial value.
N 0 5 years N 0 / 2
N 0 ⎯⎯⎯
5 years
→ ⎯⎯⎯ →
2 2
= N 0 5 years N 0 / 4 N 0
⎯⎯⎯ → =
4 2 8
1 A0 1 5000
50. (a)  = log e = log e
t A 5 1250
2
= log e 2 = 0.4 log e 2
5
51. (c) The range of energy of  − particles is from zero to some maximum value.
(a) Z X + 0 n →3 Li + 2 He
A 1 7 4
52.
On comparison,
A = 7 + 4 – 1 = 10, z = 3 + 2 – 0 = 5
It is boron 5B10
t
 1  T1/2
53. (d) A = A 0  
2
t
 1  T1/2
100 = 1600  
2
T1/2 = 2sec , again at t = 6sec
6
 1 2
A = 1600   = 200 counts/sec
2
42
54. (c) Suppose an initial radionuclide I decays to a final product F w ith a half – life T1/2.
At any time, NI = N0 e − t
Number of product nuclei = NF = N0 – NI
N F N0 − N I  N0 
= = − I
NI NI  NI 
N0  N 
= 1 + F  = 1 + 0.5 = 1.5
N1  NI 
3
ln  
T ln (1.5 )
= 4.5 109   years
2
 1/2
ln 2 ln 2
55. (d) In two half-lives, the activity becomes one fourth.
Activity on 1–8–91 was 2 micro–curie
 Activity before two months,
4 × 2 micro-curie = 8 micro curie
56. (c) Half-life = 30 minutes; Rate of decrease (N) = 5 per second and total time = 2 hours = 120 minutes.
Relation for initial and final count rate
time/half −life 120/30 4
57. (a) N =  1  1
= 
1
=  =
1
N0  2  2  2  16
Therefore, N0= 16 × N = 16 × 5 = 80 s–1.
0.639
58. (b) t1/ 2 =

59. (c) T1/2 = 5 years ; 15 years = 3T1/2
N 0 N 0 Fraction decayed = N 0 − N = 7
N= = .
2n 8 N0 8
60. (c) As it can be mapped using the figure.
1. It is a Beta decay as a proton gets added to the element.
2. it is a Alpha decay as a helium atom is lost.
3. It is a gamma decay as Z and A values remain the same.
61. (c) In gamma decay, a nucleus changes from a higher energy state to a lower energy state through the emission of
electromagnetic radiation(photons). The number of protons (and neutrons) in the nucleus does not change in this
process, so the parent and daughter atoms are the same chemical element. In the gamma decay of a nucleus, the
emitted photon and recoiling nucleus each have a well-defined energy after the decay. The characteristic energy is
divided between only two particles.
ln 2 ln 2
62. (a) T1/2 = ;  =
 T1/2
ln 2 ln 2  A TB
 A = , B =  =
TA TB  B TA
63. (d) Because radioactivity is a spontaneous phenomenon.
64. (a) By definition, one curie is defined as 3.7×1010 atoms decay in one second. Curie is a non SI unit of radioactivity.
∴1Ci=3.7×1010 dps
N0 N
65. (d) Time taken to disintegrate completely by a substance is infinity as log = t  log 0 = t
N 0
log  = t hence when N → 0, t → 
43
NEET PREVIOUS YEARS QUESTIONS-EXPLANATIONS

1. (a) Number of nuclei remaining, N = 600 – 450 = 150 after time ‘t’
N 150 1
= =
N 0 600 4
N0
N = N 0 e −t  n = t
N
1 N
t= n 0
 N
2.303  T1
N0
t= 2
log10
0.693 N
2.303 10
= log10 4 = 20
0.693
2. (a) Given,  A = 8,  B = 
NA
NB =
e
− B t e−A t
 N0e = N0
e
e −t = e −8 t e −1
e −t = e −8 t −1
Comparing both side powers
−t = −8t −1
1
−1 = 7t  t = −
7
1
The best possible answer is t =
7
3. (a) As we know, R = R0(A)1/3
where A = mass number
RAI = R0 (27)1/3 = 3R0
5
RTe = R0 (125)1/3 = 5R0 = R AI
3
4. (d) In an explosion a body breaks up into two pieces of unequal masses both part will have numerically
equal momentum and lighter part will have more velocity.
U → Th + He
P P2
KE Th = , KE He =
2mTh 2m He
since mHe is less so KEHe will be more.
5. (d) BE of 2He4 = 4 × 7.06 = 28.24 MeV
7
BE of 3 Li = 7 × 5.60 = 39.20 MeV
7
3 Li +11 H →2 He4 + 2 He4 + Q
39.20 28.24  2 ( = 56.48MeV )
44
Therefore, Q = 56.48 – 39.20 = 17.28 MeV.
6.
2 protons and 2 neutrons
7. t1/2 = 2.2 109 s
R = 1010 s −1 ; R = N
R R
N= =  t1/ 2
 0.693
1010  2.2 109
=
0.693
= 3.17 1019 atoms
− decay
8. Z X A ⎯⎯⎯→ ZZ
A
Due to gamma emission, there is no change in massnumber ana atomic number

0.693
9. R = N = N
T
0.693
R=  2  1021 = 10 4
1.4  1017
10. 92 U 235 + 0 n1 →Z X A + 36 Kr 89 + 30 n1
Equating mass numbers 236 = A + 92  A = 144
Equating atomic numbers 92 = Z + 36  Z = 56 (Ba)
The other product is 56Ba144
11. E = mc2= 0.5  10 – 3  9  1016 = 4.5  1013J
12. E = B.EP − B.ER = 240 (8.5 – 7.6) = 216 MeV
−
1  
13. Z X A ⎯⎯ →Z −1 B ⎯⎯ →Z −3 C ⎯⎯ →Z −2 D
150 3
No of half life = =
14. 100 2
n 3
N 1 1 2
1
=  =  =
N0  2  2 2 2
+
15. 22
11 Na → X + e + v 0
0
22
11 N a →10
22
Ne + e + + 00 v
16. R  A1/3
1 1
R1  A1  3  125  3 5
=  =  =
R2  A2   64  4
45

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13.

Physics Smart Booklet

➢ Isotones: Nuclides with same neutron number n are called isotones.

Particle Mass (in u) Mass in (kg)

• It is seen that specific binding energy is about

• In the case of small mass numbers (approximately from 4 to 20) the

Other possible reactions are:

3. Fission can be controlled Fusion cannot be controlled.

Disposal of nuclear waste

1 H +1 H → 12 H +10 e + 0.4 MeV

2 He + 2 He → 42 He + 2 ( 11H ) + 12.9 MeV

4. The rest mass of a nucleus is

6. An atomic nucleus possesses

14. Choose the wrong statement.

15. The binding energy per nucleon of a hydrogen atom is

joule per second (for 1015 fissions per second)

Charge +2e −1e no charge

Velocity (in terms of speed of light, c) around (1/20) c 0.3 c to 0.9 c c

Law of radioactive disintegration (Decay law)

N → 0, only when t →  . Thus, for all atoms in a radioactive sample

Since,  N = N o e −t , we have A = A o e − t

Artificial radioactivity (Induced radioactivity)

• By bombarding aluminium with -particles radioactive phosphorus can be produced.

 a = present activity in the old decay

(A) (B) (C) (D)

17. The ratio of average life to half life of a radioactive substance is

NCERT LINE BY LINE QUESTIONS

3) 12 H +12 H → 13H + 11H + 4.03MeV 4) e+ + e− → 

TOPIC WISE PRACTICE QUESTIONS

(a) 8 (b) 4 (c) 2 (d) 8

(a) 4.4 (b) 8.2 (c) 24 (d) 28.4

(a) 78Pt192 has 78 neutrons (b) 84Po214 → 82Pb210 +  −

92 U 235 + 0 n1 →38 Sr 90 + ....

operating at a power level of 5 W is

u ( 1u =931.5 MeV/c2) and BE represents its bonding energy in MeV, then

likely to be absorbed by the nucleus?

64. One curie is equal to

NEET PREVIOUS YEARS QUESTIONS

In the nuclear reaction 3 Li +1 H →2 He + Q , the value of energy Q released is :

NCERT BASED PRACTICE QUESTIONS - ANSWERS

TOPIC WISE PRACTICE QUESTIONS - ANSWERS

NEET PREVIOUS YEARS QUESTIONS-ANSWERS

TOPIC WISE PRACTICE QUESTIONS - SOLUTIONS

14. (c) Nucleus does not contain electron.

(a) .9 O +.1 H →.9 F +.0 n

NEET PREVIOUS YEARS QUESTIONS-EXPLANATIONS

Due to gamma emission, there is no change in massnumber ana atomic number

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