Class 12 Physics · Chapter 7 · Test 2
Radioactive Decay and Half-Life
40 MCQs
38 questions · 35 min · 38 marks
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Sample questions
The first 5 of 38. Try each one, then tap to see the answer.
Question 1
Radioactive decay is a process that is:
- APredictable for each atom
- BRandom and spontaneous
- CDependent on temperature only
- DControlled by pressure
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Answer: B
Radioactive decay is both spontaneous and random.
Question 2
Fluctuations in the count rate of a decaying source provide evidence that decay is:
- ARegular
- BControlled
- CRandom
- DContinuous
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Answer: C
Fluctuation in decay curves is evidence of the random nature of decay.
Question 3
For a single radioactive atom we:
- ACan predict exactly when it will decay
- BCannot predict when it will decay
- CKnow it decays after one half-life
- DKnow it never decays
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Answer: B
A single atom may decay immediately or remain unchanged for thousands of years.
Question 4
When an alpha or beta particle is emitted from a radioactive element it is transformed into:
- AThe same element
- BA different element
- CA stable gas always
- DA photon
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Answer: B
Emission of alpha or beta changes the nucleus into another element.
Question 5
The activity of a radioactive substance is the:
- ANumber of particles it emits per second
- BMass of the substance
- CTotal energy released
- DNumber of atoms present
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Answer: A
Activity is the number of decays per second.
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