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
Calculate the mass defect of
(in u). Given: , , . - (a) 0.03037 u
- (b) 0.03038 u
- (c) 0.03039 u
- (d) 0.03040 u
Calculate the binding energy per nucleon of
in MeV. Given: , , , . - (a) 7.67 MeV
- (b) 7.68 MeV
- (c) 7.69 MeV
- (d) 7.70 MeV
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
Calculate the Q-value of the reaction
in MeV. Given: , , , . - (a) 17.50 MeV
- (b) 17.51 MeV
- (c) 17.52 MeV
- (d) 17.53 MeV
A sample of
has an activity 1/16 of a living sample ( ). Calculate the age of the sample in years. - (a) 22918
- (b) 22919
- (c) 22920
- (d) 22921
A nuclear reactor produces 2 MW of power. If each fission releases 200 MeV, calculate the number of fissions per second.
- (a)
- (b)
- (c)
- (d)
- (a)
Calculate the binding energy of
in MeV. Given: , , . - (a) 127.60 MeV
- (b) 127.61 MeV
- (c) 127.62 MeV
- (d) 127.63 MeV
A radioactive isotope has a decay constant
and initial number of nuclei . Calculate the activity after 50 s in Bq. - (a)
- (b)
- (c)
- (d)
- (a)
Calculate the Q-value of
in MeV. Given: , , , . - (a) 0.74 MeV
- (b) 0.75 MeV
- (c) 0.76 MeV
- (d) 0.77 MeV
A sample has
, initial activity 1600 Bq. Calculate the activity after 8 years in Bq. - (a) 399 Bq
- (b) 400 Bq
- (c) 401 Bq
- (d) 402 Bq
Calculate the binding energy per nucleon of
in MeV. Given: , , . - (a) 8.78 MeV
- (b) 8.79 MeV
- (c) 8.80 MeV
- (d) 8.81 MeV
A radioactive sample has
, . Calculate after 100 s. - (a)
- (b)
- (c)
- (d)
- (a)
Calculate the Q-value of
in MeV. Given: , , . - (a) 3.26 MeV
- (b) 3.27 MeV
- (c) 3.28 MeV
- (d) 3.29 MeV
A sample has
, initial . Calculate after 10 days. - (a)
- (b)
- (c)
- (d)
- (a)
Calculate the mass defect of
in u. Given: , , . - (a) 1.9340 u
- (b) 1.9341 u
- (c) 1.9342 u
- (d) 1.9343 u
A radioactive isotope has
, 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
Calculate the binding energy of
in MeV. Given: , , . - (a) 39.24 MeV
- (b) 39.25 MeV
- (c) 39.26 MeV
- (d) 39.27 MeV
A sample has
, . Calculate after 200 s in Bq. - (a)
- (b)
- (c)
- (d)
- (a)
Calculate the Q-value of
in MeV. Given: , , . - (a) 5.24 MeV
- (b) 5.25 MeV
- (c) 5.26 MeV
- (d) 5.27 MeV
A sample has
, initial . Calculate after 20 years. - (a)
- (b)
- (c)
- (d)
- (a)
Calculate the binding energy per nucleon of
in MeV (use mass defect from Problem 15). - (a) 7.57 MeV
- (b) 7.58 MeV
- (c) 7.59 MeV
- (d) 7.60 MeV
A radioactive sample has
, initial activity 2000 Bq. Calculate activity after 3 days in Bq. - (a) 249 Bq
- (b) 250 Bq
- (c) 251 Bq
- (d) 252 Bq
Calculate the Q-value of
in MeV. Given: , , . - (a) 0.96 MeV
- (b) 0.97 MeV
- (c) 0.98 MeV
- (d) 0.99 MeV
A sample has
, . Calculate after 300 s. - (a)
- (b)
- (c)
- (d)
- (a)
Calculate the mass defect of
in u. Given: , , . - (a) 0.1123 u
- (b) 0.1124 u
- (c) 0.1125 u
- (d) 0.1126 u
A radioactive isotope has
, initial . Calculate after 12 hours. - (a)
- (b)
- (c)
- (d)
- (a)
Calculate the binding energy of
in MeV. Given: , , . - (a) 8.47 MeV
- (b) 8.48 MeV
- (c) 8.49 MeV
- (d) 8.50 MeV
A sample has
, . Calculate after 125 s in Bq. - (a)
- (b)
- (c)
- (d)
- (a)
Calculate the Q-value of
in MeV. Given: , , . - (a) 4.86 MeV
- (b) 4.87 MeV
- (c) 4.88 MeV
- (d) 4.89 MeV
A sample has
, initial activity 3200 Bq. Calculate activity after 30 years in Bq. - (a) 799 Bq
- (b) 800 Bq
- (c) 801 Bq
- (d) 802 Bq
A spacecraft RTG uses
with , activity 2 Ci. Calculate in s . - (a)
- (b)
- (c)
- (d)
- (a)
Calculate the binding energy per nucleon of
in MeV. Given: , , . - (a) 8.54 MeV
- (b) 8.55 MeV
- (c) 8.56 MeV
- (d) 8.57 MeV
A radioactive sample has
, initial . Calculate after 16 days. - (a)
- (b)
- (c)
- (d)
- (a)
Calculate the Q-value of
in MeV. Given: , , . - (a) 0.15 MeV
- (b) 0.16 MeV
- (c) 0.17 MeV
- (d) 0.18 MeV
A sample has
, 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
What does the mass number
represent in a nucleus? - (a) Number of protons
- (b) Number of neutrons
- (c) Total number of nucleons
- (d) Number of electrons
What type of decay does
represent? - (a) Alpha decay
- (b) Beta decay
- (c) Gamma decay
- (d) Fission
What is the unit of activity
in SI units? - (a) Becquerel (Bq)
- (b) Joule
- (c) Hertz
- (d) Watt
What happens to the activity of a radioactive sample after one half-life?
- (a) Doubles
- (b) Halves
- (c) Remains the same
- (d) Becomes zero
What type of reaction is
? - (a) Fission
- (b) Fusion
- (c) Alpha decay
- (d) Beta decay
What is the unit of binding energy
commonly used in nuclear physics? - (a) MeV
- (b) Joule
- (c) Hertz
- (d) Watt
What does a positive Q-value indicate about a nuclear reaction?
- (a) Endothermic
- (b) Exothermic
- (c) No energy change
- (d) Unstable reaction
What happens to the atomic number
in decay? - (a) Decreases by 1
- (b) Increases by 1
- (c) Remains the same
- (d) Becomes zero
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
What is the dimension of mass defect
? - (a)
- (b)
- (c)
- (d)
- (a)
What does gamma decay emit?
- (a) Alpha particles
- (b) Beta particles
- (c) High-energy photons
- (d) Neutrons
What is the significance of
? - (a) Binding energy
- (b) Radioactive decay law
- (c) Q-value
- (d) Nuclear reaction rate
What happens to the mass number
in alpha decay? - (a) Increases by 4
- (b) Decreases by 4
- (c) Remains the same
- (d) Becomes zero
What does carbon dating use to determine the age of a sample?
- (a)
decay - (b)
decay - (c)
decay - (d)
decay
- (a)
How is nuclear physics applied in spacecraft power systems?
- (a) Increases radiation
- (b) Uses RTGs with isotopes like
for power - (c) Reduces stability
- (d) Increases mass defect
Derivation Problems
Derive the binding energy
of a nucleus using the mass defect formula . Derive the radioactive decay law
. Derive the Q-value of a nuclear reaction
. Derive the half-life
for radioactive decay. Derive the binding energy per nucleon for a given nucleus.
Derive the activity
for a radioactive sample. Derive the mass defect
for a given nucleus. Derive the age of a sample using carbon dating
. Derive the energy released per fission in a nuclear reactor.
Derive the number of nuclei
after a given time for a radioactive sample. Derive the Q-value for an alpha decay reaction.
Derive the decay constant
from the half-life . Derive the energy released in a fusion reaction.
Derive the activity
after a given time for a radioactive sample. Derive the number of fissions per second in a nuclear reactor given power output.
NEET-style Conceptual Problems
What is the unit of the Q-value in nuclear reactions?
- (a) MeV
- (b) Radian
- (c) Hertz
- (d) Watt
What does the reaction
represent? - (a) Fusion
- (b) Fission
- (c) Alpha decay
- (d) Beta decay
What is the relationship between
and in radioactive decay? - (a)
- (b)
- (c)
is independent of - (d)
- (a)
What happens to the number of nuclei
after two half-lives? - (a) Doubles
- (b) Reduces to 1/4
- (c) Remains the same
- (d) Becomes zero
What is the dimension of binding energy
? - (a)
- (b)
- (c)
- (d)
- (a)
What does the strong nuclear force do in a nucleus?
- (a) Repels protons
- (b) Binds nucleons together
- (c) Emits radiation
- (d) Increases mass defect
What is the role of
in spacecraft power systems? - (a) Increases radiation
- (b) Provides power via decay in RTGs
- (c) Reduces stability
- (d) Increases mass defect
What happens to
in decay? - (a) Increases by 1
- (b) Decreases by 1
- (c) Remains the same
- (d) Becomes zero
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
What is the unit of decay constant
in SI units? - (a) s
- (b) Joule
- (c) Hertz
- (d) Watt
- (a) s
What does a high binding energy per nucleon indicate?
- (a) Low stability
- (b) High stability
- (c) High decay rate
- (d) Low mass defect
Which decay emits an electron and an antineutrino?
- (a) Alpha decay
- (b) Beta minus decay
- (c) Gamma decay
- (d) Beta plus decay
What is the effect of alpha decay on a nucleus?
- (a) Increases
by 2 - (b) Decreases
by 2 - (c) Increases
by 4 - (d) No change in
- (a) Increases
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
What is the dimension of
? - (a)
- (b)
- (c)
- (d)
- (a)
What is the role of
in medical applications? - (a) Carbon dating
- (b) Radiation therapy via gamma rays
- (c) Smoke detection
- (d) Nuclear power
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
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
What is the significance of
? - (a) Decay constant
- (b) Energy equivalent of 1 u mass defect
- (c) Q-value
- (d) Half-life
What is the unit of half-life
? - (a) Second
- (b) Joule
- (c) Hertz
- (d) Watt
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
What is the physical significance of
? - (a) Mass defect
- (b) Energy released or absorbed in a reaction
- (c) Decay constant
- (d) Half-life
Why is
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
What is the dimension of
? - (a) Dimensionless
- (b)
- (c)
- (d)
How does nuclear physics contribute to medical imaging?
- (a) Via nuclear reactors
- (b) Via radioactive tracers like
- (c) Via smoke detectors
- (d) Via carbon dating
What is the role of neutrons in fission?
- (a) Decrease
- (b) Trigger chain reactions
- (c) Increase stability
- (d) Emit gamma rays
- (a) Decrease
What does a bright line in an emission spectrum indicate?
- (a) Electron absorption
- (b) Electron emission
- (c) Nuclear decay
- (d) Continuous energy
What is the physical significance of
? - (a) Binding energy
- (b) Half-life of a radioactive sample
- (c) Q-value
- (d) Mass defect
What is the dimension of
in ? - (a)
- (b)
- (c)
- (d)
- (a)
Why does fission produce neutrons?
- (a) To increase
- (b) To sustain chain reactions
- (c) To emit gamma rays
- (d) To reduce mass defect
- (a) To increase
NEET-style Numerical Problems
Calculate the binding energy per nucleon of
in MeV (use mass defect from Problem 1). - (a) 7.06 MeV
- (b) 7.07 MeV
- (c) 7.08 MeV
- (d) 7.09 MeV
A radioactive sample has
, initial activity 400 Bq. Calculate activity after 10 years in Bq. - (a) 99 Bq
- (b) 100 Bq
- (c) 101 Bq
- (d) 102 Bq
Calculate the Q-value of
in MeV. Given: , , . - (a) 11.30 MeV
- (b) 11.31 MeV
- (c) 11.32 MeV
- (d) 11.33 MeV
A sample has
, . Calculate after 250 s. - (a)
- (b)
- (c)
- (d)
- (a)
A nuclear reactor produces 5 MW. If each fission releases 200 MeV, calculate fissions per second.
- (a)
- (b)
- (c)
- (d)