Chapter 18:
Fission and Fusion
Practice Test
1.
What happens when a nucleus of uranium-235 is split?
a.
The mass of the products is less than the reactants.
b.
Energy is released.
d.
All of the above are correct.
Hint
2.
What do the elements technetium and promethium have in common?
a.
They were both manufactured artificially in particle accelerators.
b.
They both decay by fission.
c.
They are both produced by spontaneous combustion.
d.
They are both found in rocks from the moon.
Hint
3.
What kinds of elements are usually involved in fusion reactions/
a.
elements with atomic numbers greater than 83
b.
light elements
c.
heavy elements
d.
elements with an excess of neutrons
Hint
4.
What is the force that holds protons and neutrons together in the nucleus of an atom?
a.
gravity
b.
friction
c.
strong nuclear force.
d.
electric force
Hint
5.
Scientists Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassman bombarded uranium with neutrons to produce barium and krypton atoms. What name did Lise Meitner give to this process?
a.
fusion
b.
alpha transmutation
c.
spontaneous combustion
d.
fission
Hint
6.
What is the source of energy of stars?
a.
Stars are giant helium and hydrogen fission reactions.
b.
Stars are giant fusion reactions sustained by fusion reactions.
c.
Stars produce energy by a fusion chain reaction of hydrogen into helium.
d.
Stars produce energy by a fusion chain reaction of helium into hydrogen.
Hint
7.
What atoms are the most likely to emit an electron from the nucleus?
a.
atoms with too many electrons
b.
atoms with too many neutrons
c.
atoms with too few electrons
d.
atoms with too few neutrons
Hint
8.
What fraction of a radioactive material remains after it undergoes five half-lives?
a.
1/5
b.
1/64
c.
1/32
d.
1/6
Hint
9.
What is a tracer element?
a.
an element that scientists may easily follow through a biological system
b.
an artificially produced element
c.
1/32
d.
all of the above
Hint
10.
How do nuclear power plants produce energy?
a.
Nuclear fission produces heat used burn coal.
b.
Nuclear fission produces heat used to make steam to drive a generator.
c.
1/32
d.
All of the above are correct.
Hint
11.
A fission chain reaction can release a great deal of energy--the energy of an atomic bomb. How are fission chain reactions controlled in nuclear reactors?
a.
Additional neutrons are added to keep the chain reaction going.
b.
Excess heat is cooled off with lots of water.
c.
Coal is added to the nuclear coal to keep it hot enough.
d.
Excess neutrons are removed from the reactor core by control rods.
Hint
12.
What happens to an atom that decays by expelling an alpha particle?
a.
The nucleus loses two protons and two neutrons.
b.
A proton decays into a neutron.
c.
The nucleus loses two protons and four neutrons.
d.
A neutron decays into a proton.
Hint
13.
How do fusion and fission differ?
a.
Fusion occurs with light elements; fusion occurs with heavy elements.
b.
A proton decays into a neutron.
c.
The nucleus loses two protons and four neutrons.
d.
All of the above are correct.
Hint
14.
In Rutherford's experiments with alpha particles and nitrogen gas, he collided alpha particles with nitrogen atoms to form oxygen atoms and a proton. What kind of transmutation is this an example of?
a.
natural transmutation
b.
alpha emission
c.
artificial transmutation
d.
beta emission
Hint
15.
What is a possible benefit to irradiation of food?
a.
Irradiation slows the ripening process.
b.
Sulfites and nitrates are no longer necessary.
c.
artificial transmutation
d.
All of the above.
Hint
