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Nuclear Physics Problems

This section provides 100 problems to test your understanding of nuclear physics, including calculations of binding energy, mass defect, decay constants, half-life, Q-values, and reaction rates, as well as applications like carbon dating and nuclear propulsion in spacecraft. Inspired by JEE Main, JEE Advanced, and NEET exam patterns, these problems are tailored for exam preparation, offering a mix of numerical, conceptual, and derivation-based challenges. NEET-style problems (66–100) are formatted as multiple-choice questions (MCQs) to match the exam’s objective format. Problems are organized by type to support progressive learning and build confidence in mastering nuclear physics, a key topic for JEE/NEET success.

Numerical Problems

  1. Calculate the mass defect of 24He (in u). Given: m(24He)=4.002602u, mp=1.007825u, mn=1.008665u.

    • (a) 0.03037 u
    • (b) 0.03038 u
    • (c) 0.03039 u
    • (d) 0.03040 u
  2. Calculate the binding energy per nucleon of 612C in MeV. Given: m(612C)=12.000000u, mp=1.007825u, mn=1.008665u, c2=931.494MeV/u.

    • (a) 7.67 MeV
    • (b) 7.68 MeV
    • (c) 7.69 MeV
    • (d) 7.70 MeV
  3. A radioactive sample has a half-life of 3 days. If the initial activity is 800 Bq, calculate the activity after 9 days in Bq.

    • (a) 99 Bq
    • (b) 100 Bq
    • (c) 101 Bq
    • (d) 102 Bq
  4. Calculate the Q-value of the reaction 12H+13H24He+01n in MeV. Given: m(12H)=2.0141u, m(13H)=3.0160u, m(24He)=4.0026u, m(01n)=1.0087u.

    • (a) 17.50 MeV
    • (b) 17.51 MeV
    • (c) 17.52 MeV
    • (d) 17.53 MeV
  5. A sample of 14C has an activity 1/16 of a living sample (T1/2=5730years). Calculate the age of the sample in years.

    • (a) 22918
    • (b) 22919
    • (c) 22920
    • (d) 22921
  6. A nuclear reactor produces 2 MW of power. If each fission releases 200 MeV, calculate the number of fissions per second.

    • (a) 6.24×1016
    • (b) 6.25×1016
    • (c) 6.26×1016
    • (d) 6.27×1016
  7. Calculate the binding energy of 816O in MeV. Given: m(816O)=15.994915u, mp=1.007825u, mn=1.008665u.

    • (a) 127.60 MeV
    • (b) 127.61 MeV
    • (c) 127.62 MeV
    • (d) 127.63 MeV
  8. A radioactive isotope has a decay constant λ=0.02s1 and initial number of nuclei N0=109. Calculate the activity after 50 s in Bq.

    • (a) 7.36×107
    • (b) 7.37×107
    • (c) 7.38×107
    • (d) 7.39×107
  9. Calculate the Q-value of 714N+01n614C+11H in MeV. Given: m(714N)=14.0031u, m(01n)=1.0087u, m(614C)=14.0032u, m(11H)=1.0078u.

    • (a) 0.74 MeV
    • (b) 0.75 MeV
    • (c) 0.76 MeV
    • (d) 0.77 MeV
  10. A sample has T1/2=4years, initial activity 1600 Bq. Calculate the activity after 8 years in Bq.

    • (a) 399 Bq
    • (b) 400 Bq
    • (c) 401 Bq
    • (d) 402 Bq
  11. Calculate the binding energy per nucleon of 2656Fe in MeV. Given: m(2656Fe)=55.9349u, mp=1.007825u, mn=1.008665u.

    • (a) 8.78 MeV
    • (b) 8.79 MeV
    • (c) 8.80 MeV
    • (d) 8.81 MeV
  12. A radioactive sample has λ=0.01s1, N0=1010. Calculate N after 100 s.

    • (a) 3.67×109
    • (b) 3.68×109
    • (c) 3.69×109
    • (d) 3.70×109
  13. Calculate the Q-value of 12H+12H23He+01n in MeV. Given: m(12H)=2.0141u, m(23He)=3.0160u, m(01n)=1.0087u.

    • (a) 3.26 MeV
    • (b) 3.27 MeV
    • (c) 3.28 MeV
    • (d) 3.29 MeV
  14. A sample has T1/2=5days, initial N0=1012. Calculate N after 10 days.

    • (a) 2.49×1011
    • (b) 2.50×1011
    • (c) 2.51×1011
    • (d) 2.52×1011
  15. Calculate the mass defect of 92238U in u. Given: m(92238U)=238.0508u, mp=1.007825u, mn=1.008665u.

    • (a) 1.9340 u
    • (b) 1.9341 u
    • (c) 1.9342 u
    • (d) 1.9343 u
  16. A radioactive isotope has T1/2=2hours, initial activity 500 Bq. Calculate activity after 6 hours in Bq.

    • (a) 62.4 Bq
    • (b) 62.5 Bq
    • (c) 62.6 Bq
    • (d) 62.7 Bq
  17. Calculate the binding energy of 37Li in MeV. Given: m(37Li)=7.0160u, mp=1.007825u, mn=1.008665u.

    • (a) 39.24 MeV
    • (b) 39.25 MeV
    • (c) 39.26 MeV
    • (d) 39.27 MeV
  18. A sample has λ=0.005s1, N0=108. Calculate A after 200 s in Bq.

    • (a) 1.84×105
    • (b) 1.85×105
    • (c) 1.86×105
    • (d) 1.87×105
  19. Calculate the Q-value of 94239Pu92235U+24He in MeV. Given: m(94239Pu)=239.0522u, m(92235U)=235.0439u, m(24He)=4.0026u.

    • (a) 5.24 MeV
    • (b) 5.25 MeV
    • (c) 5.26 MeV
    • (d) 5.27 MeV
  20. A sample has T1/2=10years, initial N0=1011. Calculate N after 20 years.

    • (a) 2.49×1010
    • (b) 2.50×1010
    • (c) 2.51×1010
    • (d) 2.52×1010
  21. Calculate the binding energy per nucleon of 92238U in MeV (use mass defect from Problem 15).

    • (a) 7.57 MeV
    • (b) 7.58 MeV
    • (c) 7.59 MeV
    • (d) 7.60 MeV
  22. A radioactive sample has T1/2=1day, initial activity 2000 Bq. Calculate activity after 3 days in Bq.

    • (a) 249 Bq
    • (b) 250 Bq
    • (c) 251 Bq
    • (d) 252 Bq
  23. Calculate the Q-value of 611C511B+e++νe in MeV. Given: m(611C)=11.0114u, m(511B)=11.0093u, m(e+)=0.00054858u.

    • (a) 0.96 MeV
    • (b) 0.97 MeV
    • (c) 0.98 MeV
    • (d) 0.99 MeV
  24. A sample has λ=0.003s1, N0=107. Calculate N after 300 s.

    • (a) 4.06×105
    • (b) 4.07×105
    • (c) 4.08×105
    • (d) 4.09×105
  25. Calculate the mass defect of 714N in u. Given: m(714N)=14.0031u, mp=1.007825u, mn=1.008665u.

    • (a) 0.1123 u
    • (b) 0.1124 u
    • (c) 0.1125 u
    • (d) 0.1126 u
  26. A radioactive isotope has T1/2=6hours, initial N0=1010. Calculate N after 12 hours.

    • (a) 2.49×109
    • (b) 2.50×109
    • (c) 2.51×109
    • (d) 2.52×109
  27. Calculate the binding energy of 13H in MeV. Given: m(13H)=3.0160u, mp=1.007825u, mn=1.008665u.

    • (a) 8.47 MeV
    • (b) 8.48 MeV
    • (c) 8.49 MeV
    • (d) 8.50 MeV
  28. A sample has λ=0.008s1, N0=106. Calculate A after 125 s in Bq.

    • (a) 2.68×103
    • (b) 2.69×103
    • (c) 2.70×103
    • (d) 2.71×103
  29. Calculate the Q-value of 88226Ra86222Rn+24He in MeV. Given: m(88226Ra)=226.0254u, m(86222Rn)=222.0176u, m(24He)=4.0026u.

    • (a) 4.86 MeV
    • (b) 4.87 MeV
    • (c) 4.88 MeV
    • (d) 4.89 MeV
  30. A sample has T1/2=15years, initial activity 3200 Bq. Calculate activity after 30 years in Bq.

    • (a) 799 Bq
    • (b) 800 Bq
    • (c) 801 Bq
    • (d) 802 Bq
  31. A spacecraft RTG uses 238Pu with T1/2=87.7years, activity 2 Ci. Calculate λ in s1.

    • (a) 2.49×1010
    • (b) 2.50×1010
    • (c) 2.51×1010
    • (d) 2.52×1010
  32. Calculate the binding energy per nucleon of 2040Ca in MeV. Given: m(2040Ca)=39.9626u, mp=1.007825u, mn=1.008665u.

    • (a) 8.54 MeV
    • (b) 8.55 MeV
    • (c) 8.56 MeV
    • (d) 8.57 MeV
  33. A radioactive sample has T1/2=8days, initial N0=1015. Calculate N after 16 days.

    • (a) 2.49×1014
    • (b) 2.50×1014
    • (c) 2.51×1014
    • (d) 2.52×1014
  34. Calculate the Q-value of 614C714N+e+ν¯e in MeV. Given: m(614C)=14.0032u, m(714N)=14.0031u, m(e)=0.00054858u.

    • (a) 0.15 MeV
    • (b) 0.16 MeV
    • (c) 0.17 MeV
    • (d) 0.18 MeV
  35. A sample has T1/2=20years, initial activity 6400 Bq. Calculate activity after 40 years in Bq.

    • (a) 1599 Bq
    • (b) 1600 Bq
    • (c) 1601 Bq
    • (d) 1602 Bq

Conceptual Problems

  1. What does the mass number A represent in a nucleus?

    • (a) Number of protons
    • (b) Number of neutrons
    • (c) Total number of nucleons
    • (d) Number of electrons
  2. What type of decay does 92238U90234Th+24He represent?

    • (a) Alpha decay
    • (b) Beta decay
    • (c) Gamma decay
    • (d) Fission
  3. What is the unit of activity A in SI units?

    • (a) Becquerel (Bq)
    • (b) Joule
    • (c) Hertz
    • (d) Watt
  4. What happens to the activity of a radioactive sample after one half-life?

    • (a) Doubles
    • (b) Halves
    • (c) Remains the same
    • (d) Becomes zero
  5. What type of reaction is 12H+13H24He+01n?

    • (a) Fission
    • (b) Fusion
    • (c) Alpha decay
    • (d) Beta decay
  6. What is the unit of binding energy Eb commonly used in nuclear physics?

    • (a) MeV
    • (b) Joule
    • (c) Hertz
    • (d) Watt
  7. What does a positive Q-value indicate about a nuclear reaction?

    • (a) Endothermic
    • (b) Exothermic
    • (c) No energy change
    • (d) Unstable reaction
  8. What happens to the atomic number Z in β decay?

    • (a) Decreases by 1
    • (b) Increases by 1
    • (c) Remains the same
    • (d) Becomes zero
  9. What does the binding energy per nucleon indicate about a nucleus?

    • (a) Number of protons
    • (b) Stability of the nucleus
    • (c) Decay rate
    • (d) Reaction type
  10. What is the dimension of mass defect Δm?

    • (a) [M]
    • (b) [MLT1]
    • (c) [LT2]
    • (d) [ML2T1]
  11. What does gamma decay emit?

    • (a) Alpha particles
    • (b) Beta particles
    • (c) High-energy photons
    • (d) Neutrons
  12. What is the significance of N=N0eλt?

    • (a) Binding energy
    • (b) Radioactive decay law
    • (c) Q-value
    • (d) Nuclear reaction rate
  13. What happens to the mass number A in alpha decay?

    • (a) Increases by 4
    • (b) Decreases by 4
    • (c) Remains the same
    • (d) Becomes zero
  14. What does carbon dating use to determine the age of a sample?

    • (a) 238U decay
    • (b) 14C decay
    • (c) 60Co decay
    • (d) 241Am decay
  15. How is nuclear physics applied in spacecraft power systems?

    • (a) Increases radiation
    • (b) Uses RTGs with isotopes like 238Pu for power
    • (c) Reduces stability
    • (d) Increases mass defect

Derivation Problems

  1. Derive the binding energy Eb of a nucleus using the mass defect formula Eb=Δmc2.

  2. Derive the radioactive decay law N=N0eλt.

  3. Derive the Q-value of a nuclear reaction Q=[mreactantsmproducts]c2.

  4. Derive the half-life T1/2=ln2λ for radioactive decay.

  5. Derive the binding energy per nucleon for a given nucleus.

  6. Derive the activity A=λN for a radioactive sample.

  7. Derive the mass defect Δm for a given nucleus.

  8. Derive the age of a sample using carbon dating t=ln(A0/A)λ.

  9. Derive the energy released per fission in a nuclear reactor.

  10. Derive the number of nuclei N after a given time t for a radioactive sample.

  11. Derive the Q-value for an alpha decay reaction.

  12. Derive the decay constant λ from the half-life T1/2.

  13. Derive the energy released in a fusion reaction.

  14. Derive the activity A after a given time t for a radioactive sample.

  15. Derive the number of fissions per second in a nuclear reactor given power output.


NEET-style Conceptual Problems

  1. What is the unit of the Q-value in nuclear reactions?

    • (a) MeV
    • (b) Radian
    • (c) Hertz
    • (d) Watt
  2. What does the reaction 92235U+01n56141Ba+3692Kr+301n represent?

    • (a) Fusion
    • (b) Fission
    • (c) Alpha decay
    • (d) Beta decay
  3. What is the relationship between N and t in radioactive decay?

    • (a) Nt
    • (b) N=N0eλt
    • (c) N is independent of t
    • (d) Nt2
  4. What happens to the number of nuclei N after two half-lives?

    • (a) Doubles
    • (b) Reduces to 1/4
    • (c) Remains the same
    • (d) Becomes zero
  5. What is the dimension of binding energy Eb?

    • (a) [ML2T2]
    • (b) [MLT1]
    • (c) [LT2]
    • (d) [ML2T1]
  6. What does the strong nuclear force do in a nucleus?

    • (a) Repels protons
    • (b) Binds nucleons together
    • (c) Emits radiation
    • (d) Increases mass defect
  7. What is the role of 238Pu in spacecraft power systems?

    • (a) Increases radiation
    • (b) Provides power via decay in RTGs
    • (c) Reduces stability
    • (d) Increases mass defect
  8. What happens to Z in β+ decay?

    • (a) Increases by 1
    • (b) Decreases by 1
    • (c) Remains the same
    • (d) Becomes zero
  9. Why does fusion release energy?

    • (a) Due to mass increase
    • (b) Due to increased binding energy per nucleon
    • (c) Due to nuclear force reduction
    • (d) Due to proton repulsion
  10. What is the unit of decay constant λ in SI units?

    • (a) s1
    • (b) Joule
    • (c) Hertz
    • (d) Watt
  11. What does a high binding energy per nucleon indicate?

    • (a) Low stability
    • (b) High stability
    • (c) High decay rate
    • (d) Low mass defect
  12. Which decay emits an electron and an antineutrino?

    • (a) Alpha decay
    • (b) Beta minus decay
    • (c) Gamma decay
    • (d) Beta plus decay
  13. What is the effect of alpha decay on a nucleus?

    • (a) Increases Z by 2
    • (b) Decreases Z by 2
    • (c) Increases A by 4
    • (d) No change in A
  14. What does a pseudo-force do in a non-inertial frame for nuclear calculations?

    • (a) Affects perceived decay rate
    • (b) Affects binding energy
    • (c) Creates nuclear reactions
    • (d) Reduces stability
  15. What is the dimension of λN?

    • (a) [T1]
    • (b) [MLT1]
    • (c) [LT2]
    • (d) [ML2T1]
  16. What is the role of 60Co in medical applications?

    • (a) Carbon dating
    • (b) Radiation therapy via gamma rays
    • (c) Smoke detection
    • (d) Nuclear power
  17. What happens to the energy released in fission?

    • (a) Decreases due to mass defect
    • (b) Increases due to higher binding energy per nucleon in products
    • (c) Remains the same
    • (d) Becomes zero
  18. Why are heavy nuclei used in fission reactions?

    • (a) Due to high stability
    • (b) Due to lower binding energy per nucleon
    • (c) Due to high mass defect
    • (d) Due to low decay rate
  19. What is the significance of 931.494MeV/u?

    • (a) Decay constant
    • (b) Energy equivalent of 1 u mass defect
    • (c) Q-value
    • (d) Half-life
  20. What is the unit of half-life T1/2?

    • (a) Second
    • (b) Joule
    • (c) Hertz
    • (d) Watt
  21. What does a low Q-value in a nuclear reaction indicate?

    • (a) High energy release
    • (b) Low energy release or absorption
    • (c) No energy change
    • (d) High stability
  22. What is the physical significance of Δmc2?

    • (a) Mass defect
    • (b) Energy released or absorbed in a reaction
    • (c) Decay constant
    • (d) Half-life
  23. Why is 2656Fe the most stable nucleus?

    • (a) Due to low binding energy
    • (b) Due to highest binding energy per nucleon
    • (c) Due to high decay rate
    • (d) Due to low mass defect
  24. What is the dimension of eλt?

    • (a) Dimensionless
    • (b) [MLT1]
    • (c) [LT2]
    • (d) [ML2T1]
  25. How does nuclear physics contribute to medical imaging?

    • (a) Via nuclear reactors
    • (b) Via radioactive tracers like 99mTc
    • (c) Via smoke detectors
    • (d) Via carbon dating
  26. What is the role of neutrons in fission?

    • (a) Decrease Z
    • (b) Trigger chain reactions
    • (c) Increase stability
    • (d) Emit gamma rays
  27. What does a bright line in an emission spectrum indicate?

    • (a) Electron absorption
    • (b) Electron emission
    • (c) Nuclear decay
    • (d) Continuous energy
  28. What is the physical significance of ln2λ?

    • (a) Binding energy
    • (b) Half-life of a radioactive sample
    • (c) Q-value
    • (d) Mass defect
  29. What is the dimension of c2 in E=Δmc2?

    • (a) [L2T2]
    • (b) [MLT1]
    • (c) [LT2]
    • (d) [ML2T1]
  30. Why does fission produce neutrons?

    • (a) To increase Z
    • (b) To sustain chain reactions
    • (c) To emit gamma rays
    • (d) To reduce mass defect

NEET-style Numerical Problems

  1. Calculate the binding energy per nucleon of 24He in MeV (use mass defect from Problem 1).

    • (a) 7.06 MeV
    • (b) 7.07 MeV
    • (c) 7.08 MeV
    • (d) 7.09 MeV
  2. A radioactive sample has T1/2=5years, initial activity 400 Bq. Calculate activity after 10 years in Bq.

    • (a) 99 Bq
    • (b) 100 Bq
    • (c) 101 Bq
    • (d) 102 Bq
  3. Calculate the Q-value of 13H+13H24He+201n in MeV. Given: m(13H)=3.0160u, m(24He)=4.0026u, m(01n)=1.0087u.

    • (a) 11.30 MeV
    • (b) 11.31 MeV
    • (c) 11.32 MeV
    • (d) 11.33 MeV
  4. A sample has λ=0.004s1, N0=109. Calculate N after 250 s.

    • (a) 3.67×108
    • (b) 3.68×108
    • (c) 3.69×108
    • (d) 3.70×108
  5. A nuclear reactor produces 5 MW. If each fission releases 200 MeV, calculate fissions per second.
    - (a) 1.56×1017
    - (b) 1.57×1017
    - (c) 1.58×1017
    - (d) 1.59×1017

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