RADIATION SAFETY
LATWST 2026-2027
ACTUAL EXAM WITH
QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT VERIFIED
ANSWERS GRADED A+
Which of these is a characteristic of an atom? - ANSWERSA single central nucleus
z=1 proton
z=6 protons
z=26 protons
also known as atomic number (z) - ANSWERSHydrogen
Carbon
Iron
,What is the atomic mass number? - ANSWERSThe sum of protons and neutrons in an
atom
What is the atomic mass of this lithium atom? - ANSWERS6
Refer to the Periodic Table of Elements to identify an element with an atomic number of
eighty-eight (88). - ANSWERSRa
What configuration defines an isotope? - ANSWERSThe same number of protons but a
different number of neutrons
Given that protons are red and neutrons are blue, which two of the four graphics
pictured are isotopes of the same element? - ANSWERS2 and 3 are isotopes
Which isotope of hydrogen is unstable? - ANSWERSTritium | H-3
How is nuclear (radioactive) decay defined? - ANSWERSAn unstable nucleus releasing
energy
Which statement best describes a daughter product of nuclear decay? - ANSWERSIt
can be stable or unstable but will always have less energy than its parent.
A half-life is the time it takes a radioactive isotope to transform 50 percent of its atoms
by radioactive decay. - ANSWERSH-3 = Tritium has a half-life of 12.3 years.
AM-241 = Americium-241 has a half-life of 458 years.
U-238 = Uranium-238 has a half-life of 4.5 billion years.
I-131 = Iodine-131 has a half-life of 8 days.
Ni-63 = Nickel-63 has a half-life of 92 years.
What is the half-life of an unstable isotope? - ANSWERSThe time required for half of its
atoms to decay
How much of the parent isotope remains after two half-lives of decay? - ANSWERS.25
or 1/4
Why are alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays considered forms of nuclear
radiation? - ANSWERSAll three originate in the nucleus.
What charge does an alpha particle contain? - ANSWERS+2 (positive two) charge
Which statement is true about alpha particles? - ANSWERSThey have two neutrons.
, What charge does a beta particle contain? - ANSWERS-1 (negative one) charge
Which statement is true about beta particles? - ANSWERSThey have the same mass
as an electron.
What charge does a gamma ray contain? - ANSWERSNo charge at all
Which statement is true about gamma rays? - ANSWERSThey move at the speed of
light.
Which is the fastest moving? - ANSWERSGamma ray
Which atom is an ion? - ANSWERSProtium
An ion will always carry either a positive charge or a negative charge. - ANSWERSTrue
What is the process of a neutral atom acquiring either a positive or negative charge? -
ANSWERSIonization
What is ionization? - ANSWERSThe process of a neutral atom acquiring either a
positive or negative charge
What is ionization? Select and submit your response. - ANSWERSThe process of a
neutral atom acquiring either a positive or negative charge
Ions behave the same as their neutral forms. - ANSWERSTrue
How are X-rays and gamma rays alike?Select all that apply. - ANSWERSo They are
ionizing forms of radiation.
x They have the same properties of range, ionization, and penetration.
Gama Rays - ANSWERSCreated inside the nucleus
Form of nuclear radiation
X-Rays - ANSWERSCreated outside the nucleus
Form of non-nuclear radiation
Millicurie (mCI) = 37,000,000 dps
Microcuri (µCi) = 37,000 dps
Nanocurie (nCI) = 37 dps - ANSWERS10 -3
10 -6
10 -9
What is the special unit for activity called? - ANSWERSCurie
LATWST 2026-2027
ACTUAL EXAM WITH
QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT VERIFIED
ANSWERS GRADED A+
Which of these is a characteristic of an atom? - ANSWERSA single central nucleus
z=1 proton
z=6 protons
z=26 protons
also known as atomic number (z) - ANSWERSHydrogen
Carbon
Iron
,What is the atomic mass number? - ANSWERSThe sum of protons and neutrons in an
atom
What is the atomic mass of this lithium atom? - ANSWERS6
Refer to the Periodic Table of Elements to identify an element with an atomic number of
eighty-eight (88). - ANSWERSRa
What configuration defines an isotope? - ANSWERSThe same number of protons but a
different number of neutrons
Given that protons are red and neutrons are blue, which two of the four graphics
pictured are isotopes of the same element? - ANSWERS2 and 3 are isotopes
Which isotope of hydrogen is unstable? - ANSWERSTritium | H-3
How is nuclear (radioactive) decay defined? - ANSWERSAn unstable nucleus releasing
energy
Which statement best describes a daughter product of nuclear decay? - ANSWERSIt
can be stable or unstable but will always have less energy than its parent.
A half-life is the time it takes a radioactive isotope to transform 50 percent of its atoms
by radioactive decay. - ANSWERSH-3 = Tritium has a half-life of 12.3 years.
AM-241 = Americium-241 has a half-life of 458 years.
U-238 = Uranium-238 has a half-life of 4.5 billion years.
I-131 = Iodine-131 has a half-life of 8 days.
Ni-63 = Nickel-63 has a half-life of 92 years.
What is the half-life of an unstable isotope? - ANSWERSThe time required for half of its
atoms to decay
How much of the parent isotope remains after two half-lives of decay? - ANSWERS.25
or 1/4
Why are alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays considered forms of nuclear
radiation? - ANSWERSAll three originate in the nucleus.
What charge does an alpha particle contain? - ANSWERS+2 (positive two) charge
Which statement is true about alpha particles? - ANSWERSThey have two neutrons.
, What charge does a beta particle contain? - ANSWERS-1 (negative one) charge
Which statement is true about beta particles? - ANSWERSThey have the same mass
as an electron.
What charge does a gamma ray contain? - ANSWERSNo charge at all
Which statement is true about gamma rays? - ANSWERSThey move at the speed of
light.
Which is the fastest moving? - ANSWERSGamma ray
Which atom is an ion? - ANSWERSProtium
An ion will always carry either a positive charge or a negative charge. - ANSWERSTrue
What is the process of a neutral atom acquiring either a positive or negative charge? -
ANSWERSIonization
What is ionization? - ANSWERSThe process of a neutral atom acquiring either a
positive or negative charge
What is ionization? Select and submit your response. - ANSWERSThe process of a
neutral atom acquiring either a positive or negative charge
Ions behave the same as their neutral forms. - ANSWERSTrue
How are X-rays and gamma rays alike?Select all that apply. - ANSWERSo They are
ionizing forms of radiation.
x They have the same properties of range, ionization, and penetration.
Gama Rays - ANSWERSCreated inside the nucleus
Form of nuclear radiation
X-Rays - ANSWERSCreated outside the nucleus
Form of non-nuclear radiation
Millicurie (mCI) = 37,000,000 dps
Microcuri (µCi) = 37,000 dps
Nanocurie (nCI) = 37 dps - ANSWERS10 -3
10 -6
10 -9
What is the special unit for activity called? - ANSWERSCurie
