Test: Atomic & Nuclear Physics - UPSC MCQ

Protons and Neutrons are found in the nucleus of an atom. Electrons are found in the electron cloud surrounding the nucleus.

The atomic number of an element is determined by the number of protons in its nucleus. Electrons and neutrons do not determine the atomic number.

The process of spontaneous disintegration of an unstable atomic nucleus is called radioactivity. Fission and fusion refer to processes involving the splitting or combining of atomic nuclei, respectively. Decay is a general term for the disintegration of particles.

An alpha particle consists of two protons and two neutrons, giving it a positive charge. It is emitted during certain types of radioactive decay.

The half-life of a radioactive substance is defined as the time taken for half of the substance to decay. It is not the time for complete decay or the time for the substance to emit radiation.

The unit used to measure radioactivity is the Curie. The Becquerel is the SI unit for radioactivity, but the Curie is still commonly used.

Among the given options, alpha particles have the least penetrating power. They can be stopped by a sheet of paper or a few centimeters of air.

The process of combining two light atomic nuclei to form a heavier nucleus is called fusion. Fission is the process of splitting a heavy atomic nucleus into two or more lighter nuclei.

The energy released in a nuclear fission reaction is primarily due to the conversion of mass into energy according to Einstein's mass-energy equivalence equation (E=mc²).

The device used to measure radioactivity is called a Geiger-Muller counter. It detects and measures ionizing radiation.

The process of a radioactive isotope decaying into a stable isotope is known as radioactive decay. Nuclear fusion refers to the combination of atomic nuclei, nuclear fission is the splitting of atomic nuclei, and transmutation refers to the conversion of one element into another.

The phenomenon of the emission of electrons from the surface of a metal when exposed to light is known as the photoelectric effect. It was explained by Albert Einstein and is the basis for the understanding of quantum mechanics.

The energy levels of electrons in an atom are quantized, meaning they can only take certain discrete values. This is a fundamental principle in quantum mechanics.

In a nuclear reaction, both momentum and energy are conserved. This conservation is a fundamental principle in physics.

The mass defect in a nuclear reaction is converted into kinetic energy according to Einstein's mass-energy equivalence equation (E=mc²).

The principle of the conservation of mass-energy is described by Einstein's mass-energy equivalence equation (E=mc²), which states that energy and mass are interchangeable.

Nuclear power generation involves a chain reaction of nuclear fission, where one fission event triggers subsequent fission events in a self-sustaining manner.

The process of radioactive decay follows an exponential pattern. The rate of decay is proportional to the number of radioactive atoms present at any given time.

Among the given options, gamma rays have the highest penetrating power. They require several centimeters of lead or several meters of concrete to be effectively stopped.

The process by which a nucleus splits into two or more smaller nuclei is called fission. Fusion refers to the process of combining nuclei, not splitting them apart.