PHY 102 EXAMINATION 2025/2026 QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS MARKED A+
✔✔11) If two protons are added to an oxygen nucleus, the result is
A) heavy oxygen.
B) neon.
C) fluorine.
D) nitrogen.
E) sodium. - ✔✔fluorine
✔✔12) The atomic mass number of an element is the same as the number of its -
✔✔neucleons
✔✔13) The function of graphite in the first atomic reactor was to - ✔✔slow fast neutrons
✔✔14) Which has the greatest number of protons in its nucleus?
A) lead B) silver C) mercury D) gold - ✔✔lead
✔✔15) Which radiation has no electric charge associated with it?
A) gamma rays B) beta rays C) alpha rays D) all of these E) none of these - ✔✔gamma
rays
✔✔16) The atomic number of an element is the same as the number of its - ✔✔protons
✔✔17) Carbon—14 is produced in the atmosphere principally by - ✔✔cosmic ray
bombardment
✔✔18) To change mercury into gold, a pair of protons must be
A) added to the mercury nucleus. B) removed from the mercury nucleus.
C) both of these. D) neither of these. - ✔✔none of these
✔✔19) Which experiences the least electrical force in an electric field? - ✔✔gamma ray
(most is alpha particle)
✔✔20) Most of the radioactivity we personally encounter comes from - ✔✔the natural
environment
✔✔21) Compared to the mass of a uranium nucleus before splitting, the pieces it splits
into have
A) the same mass. B) less mass. C) more mass. - ✔✔less mass
✔✔22) When radium (A = 88) emits an alpha particle, the resulting nucleus has atomic
number - ✔✔86
SOLUTIONS MARKED A+
✔✔11) If two protons are added to an oxygen nucleus, the result is
A) heavy oxygen.
B) neon.
C) fluorine.
D) nitrogen.
E) sodium. - ✔✔fluorine
✔✔12) The atomic mass number of an element is the same as the number of its -
✔✔neucleons
✔✔13) The function of graphite in the first atomic reactor was to - ✔✔slow fast neutrons
✔✔14) Which has the greatest number of protons in its nucleus?
A) lead B) silver C) mercury D) gold - ✔✔lead
✔✔15) Which radiation has no electric charge associated with it?
A) gamma rays B) beta rays C) alpha rays D) all of these E) none of these - ✔✔gamma
rays
✔✔16) The atomic number of an element is the same as the number of its - ✔✔protons
✔✔17) Carbon—14 is produced in the atmosphere principally by - ✔✔cosmic ray
bombardment
✔✔18) To change mercury into gold, a pair of protons must be
A) added to the mercury nucleus. B) removed from the mercury nucleus.
C) both of these. D) neither of these. - ✔✔none of these
✔✔19) Which experiences the least electrical force in an electric field? - ✔✔gamma ray
(most is alpha particle)
✔✔20) Most of the radioactivity we personally encounter comes from - ✔✔the natural
environment
✔✔21) Compared to the mass of a uranium nucleus before splitting, the pieces it splits
into have
A) the same mass. B) less mass. C) more mass. - ✔✔less mass
✔✔22) When radium (A = 88) emits an alpha particle, the resulting nucleus has atomic
number - ✔✔86
