SCMH 1010 ADAMS EXAM 3 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2026
There is energy associated with electron shells. This energy is exploited in chemical reactions-
some reactions release energy, some store it. There is energy associated with the arrangement
of protons and neutrons. - ANS Atomic energy
"c" is very large, therefore a little bit of mass can become an enormous amount of energy.
Energies associated with nucleus is stronger than those associated with electrons. Shows mass
can be converted to energy. Describes why nuclear reactions produce so much energy. -
ANS E=mc^2
Protons - ANS All positively charged. They do not want to be near eachother.
It indicates that some force that is stronger than the Coulomb force acts in the nucleus -
ANS What does protons being bound together indicate?
Stronger than the Coulomb force in the nucleus. It must act over very small distances. Acts
between protons and neutrons so it can't be electrical in nature. It is associated with some form
of energy. Alpha decay occurs when Coulomb repulsion overcomes the strong force attraction. -
ANS The strong force
Stable - ANS Applies to most elements on the periodic table. If left alone, they will stay in
their current form (won't turn into anything else).
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
1
, Exhibit radioactivity. Larger atoms have less of an effect from the strong force and have more
protons than neutrons. More neutrons to help overcome the Coulomb repulsion. Larger atoms
are less stable. - ANS Unstable
Radioactivity - ANS Property of some elements that indicates that they will decay into other
elements. Decay process proceeds in several ways. Results in emission of light when
transitioning, but we often cannot see it.
Alpha decay, Beta decay, Gamma radiation - ANS What are the types of radioactive decay?
Alpha decay (α-decay) - ANS An alpha particle is a particle consisting of 2 protons and 2
neutrons. Referred to as a helium nucleus. Results in an element losing 2 protons. That is, it
turns into another element. Nucleus undergoing decay ejects an He nucleus.
Beta decay (β-decay) - ANS Occurs when a neutron in the nucleus turns into a proton by
emitting an electron and another particle called a neutrino. Results in an element gaining 1
proton (atomic number increases by 1). It turns into a different element.
Gamma radiation (γ-radiation) - ANS Different from other types of decay in that it's not a
particle, but a photon (a particle of light). A proton or neutron in an excited state falls back
down to its ground state. Does NOT produce a new element. Produces high-energy radiation
(ex. gamma rays).
Half-life - ANS The amount of time, on average, it takes half of a sample of some radioactive
elements to decay into other elements. Leads to radiometric dating.
Radiometric dating - ANS Knowledge of an element's half-life together with an educated
assumption about how much of that element originally resided in an object leads to the ability
to determine how old that object is.
Nuclear energy - ANS The process of radioactive decay releases energy that originally was
used to bind particles in the nucleus. Two types: fusion and fission. Both of these produce
energy that can produce electricity.
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
2
AND ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2026
There is energy associated with electron shells. This energy is exploited in chemical reactions-
some reactions release energy, some store it. There is energy associated with the arrangement
of protons and neutrons. - ANS Atomic energy
"c" is very large, therefore a little bit of mass can become an enormous amount of energy.
Energies associated with nucleus is stronger than those associated with electrons. Shows mass
can be converted to energy. Describes why nuclear reactions produce so much energy. -
ANS E=mc^2
Protons - ANS All positively charged. They do not want to be near eachother.
It indicates that some force that is stronger than the Coulomb force acts in the nucleus -
ANS What does protons being bound together indicate?
Stronger than the Coulomb force in the nucleus. It must act over very small distances. Acts
between protons and neutrons so it can't be electrical in nature. It is associated with some form
of energy. Alpha decay occurs when Coulomb repulsion overcomes the strong force attraction. -
ANS The strong force
Stable - ANS Applies to most elements on the periodic table. If left alone, they will stay in
their current form (won't turn into anything else).
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
1
, Exhibit radioactivity. Larger atoms have less of an effect from the strong force and have more
protons than neutrons. More neutrons to help overcome the Coulomb repulsion. Larger atoms
are less stable. - ANS Unstable
Radioactivity - ANS Property of some elements that indicates that they will decay into other
elements. Decay process proceeds in several ways. Results in emission of light when
transitioning, but we often cannot see it.
Alpha decay, Beta decay, Gamma radiation - ANS What are the types of radioactive decay?
Alpha decay (α-decay) - ANS An alpha particle is a particle consisting of 2 protons and 2
neutrons. Referred to as a helium nucleus. Results in an element losing 2 protons. That is, it
turns into another element. Nucleus undergoing decay ejects an He nucleus.
Beta decay (β-decay) - ANS Occurs when a neutron in the nucleus turns into a proton by
emitting an electron and another particle called a neutrino. Results in an element gaining 1
proton (atomic number increases by 1). It turns into a different element.
Gamma radiation (γ-radiation) - ANS Different from other types of decay in that it's not a
particle, but a photon (a particle of light). A proton or neutron in an excited state falls back
down to its ground state. Does NOT produce a new element. Produces high-energy radiation
(ex. gamma rays).
Half-life - ANS The amount of time, on average, it takes half of a sample of some radioactive
elements to decay into other elements. Leads to radiometric dating.
Radiometric dating - ANS Knowledge of an element's half-life together with an educated
assumption about how much of that element originally resided in an object leads to the ability
to determine how old that object is.
Nuclear energy - ANS The process of radioactive decay releases energy that originally was
used to bind particles in the nucleus. Two types: fusion and fission. Both of these produce
energy that can produce electricity.
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
2
