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SL - Nuclear & Quantum Physics

25 MCQ from 2025 Question Bank Nuclear & Quantum Physics (all topics)

DP IB SL Physics Quiz

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1. A 1.20  sample of a radioactive isotope decaying via beta decay with a half-life of 30 minutes is observed in a closed container in a laboratory. The decay results in a daughter nucleus that is also a solid. What is the approximate total mass measured after 90 minutes?

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2. A stationary nucleus of uranium-238 undergoes alpha decay to form thorium-234. The initial speed of the alpha particle is . What is correct about the magnitude of the thorium-234 velocity and its direction?

Magnitude Direction
A. 4v/234 Same as the alpha particle
B. [234/238]v Opposite to the alpha particle
C. [234/238]v Same as the alpha particle
D. [4/234] Opposite to the alpha particle

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3. Which of the following is correct for a stable star?

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4. The luminosity of the Sun is . A main sequence star with twice the radius of the sun and twice the temperature of the sun has a luminosity of . What is the ratio of L/L⊙?

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5. A star with a mass similar to the Sun, a temperature hotter than the Sun, and a radius similar to the Earth would be found in which region of the usual Hertzsprung-Russell diagram?

PH0713B

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6. A star with a mass of twice the mass of the sun is a main sequence star. The time the sun is expected to spend in the main sequence is . Which of the following is correct for the time the star is expected to spend in the main sequence and the next stage in its evolution?

Time Stage
A. More than T Red giant
B. More than T Supergiant
C. Less than T Red giant
D. Less than T Supergiant

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7. The electron in the ground state of a hydrogen atom absorbs a certain amount of energy. The diagram shows some of the energy levels of the hydrogen atom. At which state would the electron be if it absorbs 12.09  of energy?

 

PH0341

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8. The diagram shows atomic energy levels of an element, and wavelengths are labeled corresponding to emission for electron transition between certain energy levels.

PH0299

Which of the following shows these wavelengths in decreasing order?

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9. The diagram below shows the graph of binding energy per nucleon vs. the mass (nucleon) number of some elements.

 

 

PH0332

Which is the most stable nucleus?

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10. Which statement describes a possible nuclear fusion reaction?

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11.

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12. In the core of a star, a proton-proton chain reaction takes place.

After the initial stage of the reaction, two positrons annihilate with electrons present in the surroundings. Which of the following correctly shows the nature of the chain reaction and the energy released due to annihilation?

Nature of the chain reaction Energy released
A. Fusion (2)(0.511)MeV
B. Fusion (4)(0.511)MeV
C. Fission (2)(0.511)MeV
D. Fission (4)(0.511)MeV

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13.

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14. A student uses the arrangement shown below to ascertain the type of radiation emitted by a given sample of radioactive material.

PH0339

When the sheet of paper is in the position shown, a count rate of 720  is recorded. When she lowers the thick sheet of paper so as to obstruct the direct path between the source and the detector, the count rate drops to 18 . Which of the following is the most likely explanation for the data collected?

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15. A main sequence star has a mass greater than 4 times the mass of the Sun. Which of the following is correct about the possible the fate of the star?

I. White dwarf
II. Neutron star
III. Black hole

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16. In a nuclear fission reaction, a nucleus of element  absorbs a neutron and decays into a nucleus of element  and a nucleus of element .

X+n→Y+Z+2n

Which of the following statements are true about the binding energies are likely true:

  • I. Binding energy per nucleon of Y is greater than the binding energy per nucleon of .
  • II. Total binding energy of  and Z is less than the total binding energy of .
  • III. Total binding energy of  and  is greater than the total binding energy of .
  • IV. Binding energy per nucleon of  is less than the binding energy per nucleon of .

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17. A student investigates the scattering of alpha particles. Initially, she uses a gold foil (Z = 79) and next she repeats the experiment using an aluminum (Z = 13) foil of the same thickness. The scattered alpha particles are observed on a detector that fluoresces.
Which of the following will be true as she switches from the gold foil to the aluminum foil?
I. The alpha particles deflect more from the gold nucleus than the aluminum.
II. The alpha particles approach the gold nucleus closer than the aluminum nucleus.
III. There is no change in the observed scattering pattern.

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18. The activity of a 100% pure radioactive sample is 10^6 Bq. The activity of the sample after 20% of nuclei have decayed is:

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19. Which of the following is the most suitable method for managing nuclear waste?

 

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20. For fusion reactions to occur in a cloud of stellar dust, a combination of high temperature and high density among hydrogen nuclei is essential. Which of the following correctly shows why high temperature and high pressure are needed?

High temperature High density
A. To get hydrogen nuclei sufficiently close To get a high rate of collision
B. To get a high rate of collision To get hydrogen nuclei sufficiently close
C. To get hydrogen nuclei sufficiently far away To get a low rate of collision
D. To get a low rate of collision To get hydrogen nuclei sufficiently far away

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21. Which of the following radioactive decays can cause the production of a daughter nucleus to be a different element than the parent nucleus?

I. α decay
II. β decay
III. γ decay

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22. A source of radiation is near a magnetic field that is directed into the page. A sheet of paper is placed in the path of the radiation before it enters the magnetic field.

PH0357

The gamma radiation is not deflected when entering the magnetic field. Which of the following is correct about the other type of radiation that penetrates the paper sheet and the direction of its deflected path in the magnetic field?

Type of radiation Direction of deflected path
A. α Upwards
B. α Downwards
C. β^− Upwards
D. β^ Downwards

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23. A nuclear reactor converts nuclear energy into electrical energy. Which of the following reactions best describes the primary nuclear reaction in a nuclear reactor?

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24. The parallax angles of Star A and Star B are 0.250 arcseconds and 0.500 arcseconds respectively. What is the shortest possible distance, in parsec, between Star A and Star B?

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25. Consider the following statements about nuclear binding energy:

The nuclear binding energy is:

  • I. proportional to the mass defect from nucleus formation.
  • II. the energy released when a nucleus is formed from its nucleons.
  • III. the energy required to remove a proton from the nucleus.

Which of the statements are correct?

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