ZIET BHUBANESWAR

13. NUCLEI
CASE STUDY BASED QUESTIONS
1. Stability of Nucleus -Neutrons and protons are identical particle in the sense that their
masses are nearly the same and the force, called nuclear force. Nuclear force is the strongest
force. Stability of nucleus is determined by the neutron proton ratio or mass defect or packing
fraction. Volume of nucleus depends on the mass number. Whole mass of the atom (nearly
99%) is present at the nucleus.

(i) The correct statements about the nuclear force is/are

(a) charge independent (b) short range force
(c) non-conservative force (d) all of these.
(ii) The range of nuclear force is the order of
(a) 2 x 10-10 m (b) 1.5 x 10-20 m
(c) 1.2 x 10-4 m (d) 1.4 x 10-15 m
(iii) A force between two protons is same as the force between proton and neutron. The
nature of the force is
(a) electrical force (b) weak nuclear force
(c) gravitational force (d) strong nuclear force
(iv) two protons are kept at a separation of 40 A0. Fn is the nuclear force and Fe is the
electrostatic force between them. Then
(a) Fn <<Fe (b) Fn= Fe
(c) Fn >> Fe (d) Fn ≈ Fe
(v) All the nucleons in an atom are held by
(a) nuclear forces (b) vander waal’s forces
(c) tensor forces (d) coulomb forces

2. Nuclear Power Reactor: A reactor has five key components, Fuel rods, core, coolant,
control rods, moderator. The heat generated by the controlled chain reaction is carried
away by the coolant (water).The coolant transfers the heat to heat exchanger, where
steam is produced. High pressure steam turns a turbine that operates electrical energy
generator.

(i)When one gm of mass is converted into energy, it is equal to:

(a) 2.5 x10 kWh
7

(b)10 kWh
9

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(c) 2.5 x10 kWh
6

(d) 9 x 10 kWh
7

(ii) For a nuclear fission process, suitable nuclei are

(a) any nuclei
(b) heavy nuclei
(c) lighter nuclei
(d) nuclei lying in the middle of periodic table
(iii) In …X… water is circulated though the reactor vessel and transfers energy to steam
generator in the …Y… Here, X and Y refer to
(a) primary loop, secondary loop
(b) reactor core, turbine
(c) secondary loop, primary loop
(d) turbine, reactor core
(iv) Radioactive samples are stored in lead boxes because it is
(a) heavy
(b) strong
(c) good absorber
(d) bad conduct
(v) Boron rods in a nuclear reactor are used to
(a) absorb excess neutrons
(b) absorb alpha particle
(c) slow down the reaction
(d) speed up the reaction
Einstein was the first to establish the equivalence between mass and energy. According
to him, whenever a certain mass (Δm) disappears in some process the amount of energy
released is E = Δm c , where c is the velocity of light in vacuum =3x 10 m/s. The
2 8

reverse is also true i.e. whenever energy E disappears an equivalent mass Δm = E/ c2

appears.
i) What is the energy released when 1a.m.u mass disappears in a nuclear reaction?
a) 1.49 x10 J -10
b) 1.49 x10 J c) 1.49 x10 J d) 1.49 x10 MJ
-7 10 -10

3
ii)Which of the following process releases energy?
a)Nuclear Fission b)Nuclear Fusion c)Both (a) and (b) d)None

iii)Which process is used in today’s nuclear power plant to harness nuclear energy?
a)Nuclear Fission b)Nuclear Fusion c)Both (a) and (b) d)None

iv)Which process releases energy in Atom Bomb?

a)Nuclear Fission b)Nuclear Fusion c)Both (a) and (b) d)None

The nucleus was first discovered in 1911 by Lord Rutherford and his associates by
experiments on scattering of Alpha particles by atoms. He found that the scattering
results could be explained if atoms consist of a small, central massive and positive core
surrounded by orbiting electrons. The experimental results indicated that the size of the
4 nucleus is of the order of 10 m and is thus 10000 times smaller than the size of the
-14

atom.
i)Ratio of the mass of nucleus with mass of atom is approximately
a)1 b)10 c)1000 d)1010

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ii)Masses of the nuclei of hydrogen, deuterium and tritium are in the ratio
a)1:2:3 b)1:1:1 c)1:1:2 d)1:2:4

iii)Nuclides with the same neutron number but different atomic number are called
a)Isobars b)isotopes c)isotones d)none of these

iv)The ratio of the nuclear radii of the gold isotope 79Au197 and 47Au107 is
a)1.23 b)0.216 c)2.13 d)3.46

5. Apsara is the oldest of India's research reactors. The reactor was designed by
the Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC) and built with assistance from the
United Kingdom. A nuclear reactor, formerly known as an atomic pile, is a
device used to initiate and control a self- sustained nuclear chain reaction.
Nuclear reactors are used at nuclear power plants for electricity
generation and in nuclear marine propulsion. Heat from nuclear fission is passed
to a working fluid (water or gas), which in turn runs through steam turbines.

i. The splitting of a nucleus into smaller nuclei is

a. Fusion
b. Fission
c. Half life
d. Gamma radiations

ii. Name the moderator used in the nuclear reaction?

a. Plutonium
b. Thorium
c. Graphite
d. Beryllium
iii. Which isotope of Uranium has the capacity to sustain the chain
reaction?
(a) U-230
(b) U-235
(c) U-245
(d)U-225

iv. What is the beneficial aspect of nuclear fission?

a. The ability to absorb energy
b. The ability to produce more energy than nuclear fusion
c. The ability to release tremendous amounts of energy
d. There are no beneficial aspects of nuclear fission

v. The energy we get in nuclear reaction comes from

a. Energy we put into the reactor
b. The mass of the fuel
c. Water
d. The sun

6. The Nucleus of an atom consists of a tightly packed arrangement of protons and neutrons.
These are the two heavy particles in an atom and hence 99.9% of the mass is concentrated in
the nucleus. Of the two, the protons possess a net positive charge and hence the nucleus of

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an atom is positively charged on the whole and the negatively charged electrons revolve
around the central nucleus. Since the mass concentration at the nucleus of an atom is
immense the nuclear forces holding the protons and the neutrons together are also large.

i. The density of a nucleus is of the order of

(a) 1015 kg m-3
(b) 1018 kg m-3
(c) 1017 kg m-3
(d) 1016 kg m-3

ii. Nuclear force is:

a. strong, short range and charge independent force
b. charge independent, attractive and long range force
c. strong, charge dependent and short range attractive force
d. long range, change dependent and attractive force

iii. The mass no. of a nucleus is M and its atomic no. is Z. The number of neutrons
in the nucleus is :
a. M–Z
b. M
c. Z
d. M+Z
e.
iv. The atomic mass number is equivalent to which of the following?
a. The number of neutrons in the atom.
b. The number of proton in the atom.
c. The number of nucleons in the atom.
d. The number of alpha particles in the atom.

Read the passage given below and answer the following questions:
No.
7 Neutrons and protons are identical particle in the sense that their masses are nearly the same and the force, call
by the neutron proton ratio or mass defect or packing fraction. Shape of nucleus is calculated by quadrupole mo
number. Whole mass of the atom (nearly 99%) is centered at the nucleus.
(A) The correct statements about the nuclear force is/are
(a) charge independent
(b) short range force
(c) non-conservative force
(d) all of the above
(B) The range of nuclear force is the order of
(a) 2 x 10-10 m
(b) 1.5 x 10-20 m
(c) 1.2 x 10-4 m

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(d) 1.4 x 10-15 m.
(C) A force between two protons is same as the force between proton and neutron. The nature of the for
(a) electrical force
(b) weak nuclear force
(c) gravitational force
(d) strong nuclear force
(D) Two protons are kept at a separation of 40 A0. Fn is the nuclear force and Fe is the electrostatic force
(a) Fn <<Fe
(b) Fn= Fe
(c) Fn >> Fe
(d) Fn ≈ Fe
(E) All the nucleons in an atom are held by
(a) nuclear forces
(b) vander Waal’s forces
(c) tensor forces
(d) coulomb forces

8 The density of nuclear matter is ratio of mass of a nucleus to its volume. As volume of nucleus is directly prop
matter behaves like a liquid of constant density. Different nuclei are like drop of this liquid of different sizes bu
Let A be the mass number and R be the radius of nucleus. If m be the average mass of nucleon then, mass of nu
Volume of nucleus =43R3 = 43(R0A1/3)3 = 43(R03A)
Nuclear density =mass of nucleus / Volume of nucleus
= mA / (4/3) R03A = m /(4/3) R03
Clearly nuclear density is independent of mass number or size of nucleus. Nuclear density is of the order of 10
(A) The nuclear radius of 8O16 is 3*10-15 m. The density of nuclear matter is
(a) 2.9 x 1034 kg m-3
(b)1.2 x 1017 kg m-3
(c) 1.6 x 1027 kg m-3
(d) 2.4 x 1017 kg m-3
(B) What is the density of hydrogen nucleus in SI unit? Take R0 = 1.1fermi and mp = 1.007825 amu
(a) 2.98*1017 kg m-3
(b) 3.0*1034 kg m-3
(c) 1.99*1011 kg m-3
(d) 7.85*1017 kg m-3
(C) Density of nucleus is

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(a) More for lighter elements and less for heavier elements.
(b) Less for lighter elements and more for heavier elements.
(c) Very less compared to ordinary matter.
(d) A constant.
(D) Nuclear mass of 26Fe56 is 55.85 amu. Then its nuclear density is
(a) 5*1019 kg m-3
(b) 1.5*1019 kg m-3
(c) 2.9*1017 kg m-3
(d) 9.2*1026 kg m-3
(E) If the nucleus of 13Al27 has nuclear radius of 3.6 fm, then 52Te125 would have radius approximately
(a) 9.6 fm
(b) 12 fm
(c) 4.8 fm
(d) 6 fm

9 RECYCLING OF SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL

Used nuclear fuel of a nuclear plant is recycled to reuse uranium and plutonium to manufacture
new nuclear fuel and bringing non-reusable portion in a stable waste. The main steps of the
process are
I. Separation of reusable and non-reusable materials
II. Conducting of the waste i.e. non-reusable materials
III. Manufacturing of new fuel

Used nuclear fuel is left a few years in reactor pools before transformation to processing pools.
Uranium and plutonium are separated and converted for future uses. Metallic parts from the
fuel are taken out and transported to waste conditions. Compared with direct used fuel disposal,
the volume of conditioned waste is reduced by a factor of 5 and the radio toxicity by a factor of
10.

Using the above paragraph and concept of nucleus and nuclear reaction studied by you,
answer any four of the following questions

i)Most of the energy released in fission process is basically in the form of

a) kinetic energy b) thermal energy c) light energy d) heat energy

ii) Which of the following element is readily available from ocean water
a) protium b) thorium c) protonium d) deuterium

iii) Thermal neutrons used to cause fission of U-235 have energy of

a) > 1 eV b) < 0.025 eV c) > 200 eV d) 1.25 eV

iv) A unit that measures the effective dose of radiation in a human is

a) curie b) RBE c) rad d) rem

v) Used nuclear fuel is first kept in

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a) processing pool b) reactor pool
c) any of (a) or (b) d) neither (a) nor (b)

10 NEW ENHANCED SAFETY STANDARDS IN JAPAN

After the Fukushima nuclear accident, Japan reviewed its nuclear safety structure. In addition
to the administrative reform of Japan’s nuclear regulatory institutions, new safety standards
were introduced to prevent accidents due to significant radioactive leakage. It includes seismic
resistance, tsunami resistance, natural disasters, fire, reliability of cooling functions, reliability
of the reactor etc.
They also include 4 new measures
(i)suppression of release of radioactive materials
(ii) intentional aircraft crashes
(iii) prevention of core damage and multiple failures
(iv) prevention of containment failure
Out of 48 nuclear plants in Japan, 17 are undergoing review as per above safety standards. The
restart of nuclear power plants in Japan could significantly reduce CO2 emissions from the
power sector. The rest of the world can take advantage of this study carried out by Japan.

Using the above paragraph and concept of nuclear reaction studied by you, answer any
four of the following questions

i) Radioactive material found at power plants include

a) enriched uranium b) reactor water
c) spent fuel d) all of these

ii) Approximately one-inch-long bar of enriched uranium weighing 1 kg can generate

electricity about the same as coal of weight
a) 10 ton b) 3 ton c) 300 ton d) 6.5 ton

iii) When naturally occurring elements undergo radioactive decay, the released harmful
radioactive gases is/are
a) radon b) thoron c) faron d) both (a) and (b)

iv) What happens if energy due to splitting atom is released at once

a) it can be used as it is for generating electricity in a nuclear plant
b) nothing happens
c) a small electric charge is produced
d) a nuclear explosion occurs

v) Nuclear plants not undergoing review in Japan are

a) 48 b) 17 c) 65 d) 31

11 Neutrons and protons are identical particle in the sense that their masses are nearly the same
and the force , called nuclear force , does into distinguish them . Nuclear force is the
strongest force. Stability of nucleus is determined by the neutron proton ratio or mass defect
or packing fraction . shape of nucleus is calculated by quadrupole moment and spin of
nucleus depends on even and odd mass number. Volume of nucleus depends on the mass
number. Whole mass of the atom ( 99%) is centred at the nucleus .
i. The correct statements about the nuclear force is / are :
a. Charge dependent
b. Short range force

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c. Non – conservative force
d. All of these

ii. The range of nuclear force is the order of :

a. 2×10 m -10

b. 1.5×10 m -20

c. 1.2×10 m -4

d. 1.4×10 m -15

iii. A force between two protons is same as the force between proton and neutron. The nature
of the force is :
a. Electrical force
b. Weak nuclear force
c. Gravitational force
d. Strong nuclear force

iv. Two protons are kept at a separation of 40 A . Fn is the nuclear force and Fe is the
0

electrostatic force between them. Then :

a. Fn<<Fe
b. Fn = Fe
c. Fn>> Fe
d. Fn = Fe

v. All the nucleons in an atom are held by :

a. Nuclear forces
b. Vander waals forces
c. Tensor forces
d. Coulomb forces

12 The Nucleus of an atom consists of a tightly packed arrangement of protons and neutrons. These
are the two heavy particles in an atom and hence 99.9% of the mass is concentrated in the nucleus
. Of the two, the protons possess a net positive charge and hence the nucleus of an atom is
positively charged on the whole and the negatively charge electrons revolve around the central
nucleus . since the mass concentration at the nucleus of an atom is immense the nuclear forces
holding the protons and the neutrons together are also large.
i The nuclide 92U has all the following except:
238

a. 92
b. 146
c. 238
d. 0

ii The density of a nucleus is of the order of :

a. 10 kg m
15 -3

b. 10 kg m
18 -3

c. 10 kg m
17 -3

d. 10 kgm
16 -3

iii Nuclear force is :

a. Strong, short range and charge independent force
b. Charge independent , attractive and long range force
c. Strong , charge dependent and short range attractive force

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d. Long range , change dependent and attractive force

iv The mass no. of a nucleus is M and its atomic no. is Z . The number of neutrons in the nucleus is :
a. M-Z
b. M
c. Z
d. M+Z

v The atomic mass number is equivalent to which of the following ?

a. The number of neutrons in the atom
b. The number of protons in the atom
c. The number of nucleons in the atom
d. The number of α- particles in the atom.

13 Neutrons and protons are identical particle in the sense that their masses are nearly the same and the
force, called nuclear force, does into distinguish them. Nuclear force is the strongest force. Stability of
nucleus is determined by the neutron Proton ratio or mass defect or packing fraction. Shape of nucleus
is calculated by quadrupole moment and the spin of nucleus depends on even or odd mass number.
Volume of nucleus depends on the mass number. Whole mass of the atom (nearly 99%) is centered at
the nucleus.

i.The correct statement about the nuclear force is are

(a) Charge independent
(b) Short range force
(c) Non conservative force
(d) all of these

ii. The range of nuclear force is the order of

(a) 2 x10 m-10

(b) 1.5 x10 m -20

(c) 1.2 x10 m –4

(d) 1.4 x10 m – 15

iii. A force between two protons is same as the force between proton and neutron. The nature of the
force is
(a) electrical force
(b) strong nuclear force
(c) gravitational force
(d) weak nuclear force

iv. All the nucleons in an atom are held by

(a) Nuclear forces
(b) Vander Waal’s forces
(c) Tensor forces
(d) Coulomb forces

14. Read the passage given below and answer the following questions
SIZE OF THE NUCLEUS
It has been found that a nucleus of mass number A has a radius
R=R A 0
1/3

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where R = 1.2 × 10 m (=1.2 fm; 1 fm = 10 m). This means the volume of the nucleus, which is
0
–15 –15

proportional to R is proportional to A. Thus, the density of nucleus is a constant, independent of A,

3

for all nuclei. Different nuclei are like a drop of liquid of constant density. The density of nuclear
matter is approximately 2.3 × 10 kg m . This density is very large
17 –3

compared to ordinary matter, say water, which is 10 kg m This is understandable, as most of the
3 –3.

atom is empty.

i. Ratio of radii of the nuclei with mass numbers 1 and 8 is

(a) 1:8
(b) 8:1
(c) 2:1
(d) 1:2

ii. Two nuclei have mass number in the ratio 1: 8. The ratio of their nuclear densities is
(a) 1:8
(b) 8:1
(c) 1:1
(d) None of the above

iii.If the radius of the 27

Al nucleus is taken to be R ,then the nucleus of
13 Al
125
53 Te nucleus is nearly
(a) 3/5 R Al

(b) (13/53) R 1/3

Al

(c) (53/13) R 1/3

Al

(d) 5/3 R Al

iv. Density of a nucleus is

(a) inversely proportional to mass number A
(b) directly proportional to mass number A 2

(c) independent of mass number A

(d) None of the above
15 Read the passage given below and answer the following questions:
Neutrons and protons are identical particle in the sense that their masses are nearly the same and the
force, called nuclear force, that binds the nucleons in the nucleus together does into distinguish them.

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Nuclear force is the strongest force among the four fundamental forces in nature. Stability of a
nucleus is determined by the neutron - proton ratio or mass defect or packing fraction. Binding energy
per nucleon of a nucleus also governs stability the nucleus. For lighter and heavy nucleus, binding
energy per nucleon is law so they are unstable. Lighter nucleus combines in order to increase its mass,
so that binding energy pr nucleons can be increased and attain stability. But the heavy nucleus
undergoes division to attain stability.
i. The correct statements about the nuclear force is/are
(a) charge dependent
(b) short range force
(c) conservative force
(d) all of these.
ii With increase mass number of the nucleus, the binding energy per nucleon of the nucleus numerically
(a) increases continuously with mass number.
(b) decreases continuously with mass number.
(c) First increases and then decreases with increase of mass number.
(d) Remains constant with mass number.
iii. The binding energy per nucleon is almost constant for many nuclei. It shows that nuclear forces are
(a) Charge independent
(b) saturated in nature
(c) short range in nature
(d) attractive in nature
iv. Two protons are kept at a separation of 40 A0. Fn is the nuclear force and Fe is the electrostatic force
between them. Then
(a) Fn << Fe
(b) Fn= Fe
(c) Fn >> Fe
(d) Fn ≈ Fe
v. Nucleus ‘a’ contains 5 protons and 5 neutrons and has radius ‘R’. the radius of nucleus ‘b’, which
contains 35 protons and 45 neutrons is closest to –
(a) 2 R

(b) 8 R

(c) 1.4 R

(d) R

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16
Radioactive decay is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by radiation.
Three of the most common types of decay are alpha decay, beta decay, and gamma decay, all of
which involve emitting one or more particles or radiation. The weak force is the mechanism is
responsible for beta decay, while the other two are governed by the usual electromagnetic and strong
nuclear forces.
Radioactive decay is a random process at the level of single atoms. However, for a significant number
of identical atoms, the overall decay rate can be expressed in terms of decay constant or half – life.
The decaying nucleus is called the parent radionuclide and the process produces at least one daughter
nuclide. Except for gamma decay, the decay is a nuclear transmutation resulting in a daughter nucleus
containing a different number of protons or neutrons or both. When the number of protons changes,
an atom of a different chemical element is created.
Alpha decay occurs when the nucleus ejects an alpha particle.

Beta decay occurs in two ways;

(i) beta-minus decay - when the nucleus emits an electron and an antineutrino in a process that
changes a neutron to a proton.
(ii) beta-plus decay, when the nucleus emits a positron and a neutrino in a process that changes a
proton to a neutron.

In gamma decay a radioactive nucleus first decay by the emission of an alpha or beta particle. The
daughter nucleus that results is usually left in an excited state and it can decay to a lower energy state
by emitting a gamma ray photon.

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i. The correct statement about half-lives of radioactive atoms ie/are –
(a) The range is huge
(b) May have instantaneous value.
(c ) May have value longer than the age of universe.

(d) All of these.

ii. For the fission of heavy nucleus, neutron is more effective than the proton or a particle because
(a) Neutron is heavier than α-particle.
(b) Neutron is lighter than α-particle.
(c) Neutron moves with a small velocity.
(d) Neutron is uncharged.
iii. Followings are indicating the numbers of protons – neutrons present in a nucleus, which of the
following nuclei is most stable?
(a) even-even
(b) odd-odd
(c) odd-even
(d) even-odd
iv. The number of beta particles emitted by a radioactive substance is twice the number of alpha particles
emitted by it. The resulting daughter is an
(a) isomer of parent
(b) isotone of parent
(c) isotope of parent
(d) isobar of parent
v. For thorium A = 232 and Z = 90. At the end of some radioactive disintegrations, we obtain an isotope
of lead with A = 208 and Z = 82. Then the number of emitted α and ß particles are
(a) α = 4, ß = 6

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(b) α = 5, ß = 5
(c) α = 6, ß = 4
(d) α = 6, ß = 6

17 Questions

On April 26, 1986, the Number Four RBMK reactor at the nuclear power plant at Chernobyl, Ukraine,
went out of control during a test at low-power, leading to an explosion and fire that demolished the
reactor building and released large amounts of radiation into the atmosphere. Safety measures were
ignored, the uranium fuel in the reactor overheated and melted through the protective barriers. RBMK
reactors do not have what is known as a containment structure, a concrete and steel dome over the
reactor itself designed to keep radiation inside the plant in the event of such an accident.
Consequently, radioactive elements including plutonium, iodine, strontium and caesium were
scattered over a wide area. In addition, the graphite blocks used as a moderating material in the
RBMK caught fire at high temperature as air entered the reactor core, which contributed to emission
of radioactive materials into the environment.
(i) What radioactive elements were emitted into the environment?
(ii) Was the rest of Europe/the world affected?

17 Answer

i There were over 100 radioactive elements released into the atmosphere. Most of these were short lived
and decayed (reduced in radioactivity) very quickly. Iodine, strontium and caesium were the most
dangerous of the elements released.

ii European countries and other parts of the world were affected by the radioactive releases from
Chernobyl. Caesium and other radioactive isotopes were blown by wind northward into Sweden and
Finland and over other parts of the northern hemisphere to some extent.
18. It is known now that when an uranium isotope is bombarded with a neutron, it breaks into
two intermediate mass fragment. It was observed that, the sum of masses were less than the
mass of the original nuclei. This difference in the mass appears as the energy released in the
process called nuclear fission ( of heavy nuclei usually A > 230). Fission reaction resulting

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from absorption of neutron is known as induced fission though α particles, protons are also
used in certain cases of fission.
235
92U + 0n1 → 92U
236
→ 56Ba144 + 36Kr89 +3 0n1 + Q
Now mark the correct options.
18.(i)Fission of nuclei is possible because the binding energy per nucleon in them
a. Increases with mass number at high mass numbers
b. Decreases with mass number at high mass number
c. Increases with mass number at low mass number
d. Decreases with mass number at low mass number
18.(ii) For sustaining the nuclear fission chain reaction in a sample (of small size) of 92U235,
it is desirable to slow down the fast neutrons by
a. Friction
b. Elastic damping/scattering
c. Absorption
d. None of these
18.(iii) If a nucleus with mass number A=7.6MeV breaks down into two fragments of
A=120 and Ebn=8.5Mev, then energy released is around
a. 216MeV (b) 200MeV
b. 100 MeV (d) cannot be estimated from given data
18.(iv) In any fission process, ratio of mass of daughter nucleus to mass of parent nucleus is
a. Less than 1
b. Greater than 1
c. Equal to 1
d. Depends on the mass of parent nucleus
18.(v) Which of the following is/are fission reaction(s)
I 0n1 + 92U
235
→ 92U236 → 51Sb
133
+41Nb99 +4 0n1
1
II 0n + 92 U235 → 54Xe
140
+38Sr94 +2 0n1
III. 1H2 + 1H2→ 2He3 +0n1
(a)Both II and III (b) Both I and III
(c) Only II (d) Both I and II

19. India’s atomic energy programme : The atomic energy programme in India was
launched around the time of independence under the leadership of Homi J. Bhabha (1909-
1966). An early historic achievement was the design and construction of the first nuclear
reactor in India (named Apsara) which went critical on August 4, 1956. India indigenously

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designed and constructed plutonium plant at Trombay, which ushered in the technology of
fuel reprocessing (separating useful fissile and fertile nuclear materials from the spent fuel of
a reactor). Research reactors that have been subsequently commissioned include ZERLINA,
PURNIMA (I, II and III), DHRUVA and KAMINI. KAMINI is the country’s first large
research reactor that uses U-233 as fuel. The main objectives of the Indian Atomic Energy
programme are to provide safe and reliable electric power for the country’s social and
economic progress and to be self reliant in all aspects of nuclear technology. Exploration of
atomic minerals in India undertaken since the early fifties has indicated that India has limited
reserves of uranium, but fairly abundant reserves of thorium. Accordingly, our country has
adopted a three stage strategy of nuclear power generation. The first stage involves the use of
natural uranium as a fuel, with heavy water as moderator. The Plutonium239 obtained from
reprocessing of the discharged fuel from the reactors then serves as a fuel for the second stage
— the fast breeder reactors. They are so called because they use fast neutrons for sustaining
the chain reaction (hence no moderator is needed) and, besides generating power, also breed
more fissile species (plutonium) than they consume. The third stage, most significant in the
long term, involves using fast breeder reactors to produce fissile Uranium-233 from Thorium-
232 and to build power reactors based on them.
Q.19 (i). India’s atomic energy programme was launched by :
(a) Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar
(b) Homi J. Bhabha
(c) Meghnad Saha
(d) Daulat Singh Kothari
Q.19(ii).. First nuclear reactor of India :
(a) APSARA
(b) ZERLINA
(c) DHRUBA
(d) KAMINI
Q.19(iii). Which of the following is not a nuclear reactor ?
(a) PURNIMA
(b) DHRUVA
(c) KAMINI
(d) ARYABHATTA
Q.19(iv). The main objectives of the Indian Atomic Energy programme :
(a) Development of Nuclear weapons for success in warfare
(b) Generation of safe and reliable electric power

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(c) Efficient medical treatment
(d) To breed more fissile species
Q.19(v). India has limited reserves of ................, but fairly abundant reserves of
................. :
(a) Plutonium, Thorium
(b) Thorium, Uranium
(c) Plutonium, Uranium
(d) Uranium, Thorium
Question 20:
Read the passage given below and answer the following questions:
Everything around us which has mass and occupies space is matter. An atom is the basic unit
of matter. It cannot be broken down further using any chemical means because it is the basic
building block of an element. Every state of matter solid, liquid, gas, and plasma is composed
of either atom either it is neutral (unionized), or ionized atoms. An atom is made up of three
particles known as protons, neutrons, and electrons. And these particles are also made up
from sub-particles. Among these three particles, protons have a positive charge while
electrons carry a negative charge and the third particle neutrons have no electrical charge.
And the charge of atoms depends on the number of protons and electrons, i.e an atom is
electrically neutral if the number of protons and electrons are equal. If an atom has more or
fewer electrons than protons, then it has an overall negative or positive charge, respectively.
These atoms are extremely small or you can say their typical sizes are around 100 picometers.
So the dense region consisting of protons and neutrons at the center of an atom is known as
the atomic nucleus of an atom. Every atom is composed of such nucleus and some elections
will be surrounding it. Studying these atoms and Nuclei will help us to have a thorough
understanding of matter. Studying about the nucleus and its reactions will help us to
understand more about nuclear energy, which is a very useful renewable energy. That's why
it is very important to study about Atoms and Nuclei.
i. What is the basic unit of matter?
(a) Atom
(b) Electron
(c) Proton
(d) Neutron
ii. Which particle is responsible for the ionization of the atom?
(a) Positron
(b) Electron

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(c) Proton
(d) Neutron
iii. If number of protons in an atom is equal to (number of electrons + 2). Then the atom is
said to be
(a) Single ionized positive ion
(b) Single ionized positive atom
(c) Double ionized positive ion
(d) Double ionized positive atom
iv. Which is the most dense part of an atom?
(a) The exact central part of the atom.
(b) The region at the center of atom containing neutrons and protons.
(c) Outer edge of the atom
(d) None of the above

Question 21. Graphical representation Of Scattering of α Particles By Gold Nucleus A

typical graph of the total number of αparticles scattered at different angles, in a given interval
of time, is shown in Fig. The dots in this figure represent the data points and the solid curve is
the theoretical prediction based on the assumption that the target atom has a small, dense,
positively charged nucleus. Many of the α-particles pass through the foil. It means that they
do not suffer any collisions. Only about 0.14% of the incident α-particles scatter by more than
1º; and about 1 in 8000 deflect by more than 90º. Rutherford argued that, to deflect the α-
particle backwards, it must experience a large repulsive force. This force could be provided if
the greater part of the mass of the atom and its positive charge were concentrated tightly at its
centre. Then the incoming α- particle could get very close to the positive charge without
penetrating it, and such a close encounter would result in a large deflection. This agreement
supported the hypothesis of the nuclear atom. This is why Rutherford is credited with the
discovery of the nucleus. In Rutherford’s nuclear model of the atom, the entire positive
charge and most of the mass of the atom are concentrated in the nucleus with the electrons
some distance away. The electrons would be moving in orbits about the nucleus just as the
planets do around the sun. Rutherford’s experiments suggested the size of the nucleus to be
about 10–15 m to 10–14 m. From kinetic theory, the size of an atom was known to be 10–10
m, about 10,000 to 100,000 times larger than the size of the nucleus. Thus, the electrons
would seem to be at a distance from the nucleus of about 10,000 to 100,000 times the size of
the nucleus itself. Thus, most of an atom is empty space. With the atom being largely empty
space, it is easy to see why most α -particles go right through a thin metal foil. However,

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when α-particle happens to come near a nucleus, the intense electric field there scatters it
through a large angle. The atomic electrons, being so light, do not appreciably affect the α-
particles. The scattering data shown in Fig. can be analysed by employing Rutherford’s
nuclear model of the atom. As the gold foil is very thin, it can be assumed that α-particles
will suffer not more than one scattering during their passage through it. Therefore,
computation of the trajectory of an alpha-particle scattered by a single nucleus is enough.
Alpha particles are nuclei of helium atoms and, therefore, carry two units,2e, of positive
charge and have the mass of the helium atom. The charge of the gold nucleus is Ze, where Z
is the atomic number of the atom; for gold Z = 79. Since the nucleus of gold is about 50 times
heavier than α-particle, it is reasonable to assume that it remains stationary throughout the
scattering process. Under these assumptions, the trajectory of an alphaparticle can be
computed employing Newton’s second law of motion and the Coulomb’s law for electrostatic
force of repulsion between the alpha-particle and the positively charged nucleus.
i.. What percentage of α particle scattered at an angle more than 90º?
(a) 0.0125%
(b) 0.125%
(c) 1.25%
(d) 12.5%

ii. Why the nucleus of gold is about remains stationary throughout the scattering process?
(a) Because its mass is 100 times the mass of proton.
(b) Because its mass is 50 times the mass of proton.
(c) Because its mass is 150 times the mass of proton.
(d) Because its mass is 200 times the mass of proton.

iii. Why electrons around the gold nucleus were unable to deflect α particle?
(a) Size of α particle is much greater than that of electron.
(b) Number of electrons around gold nucleus is very small
(c) α particles is much heavier than electron.
(d) Electrons are negatively charged.
iv. What is the ratio of charge on α particle and gold nucleus?
(a) 0.025 (b) 0.25
(c) 0.2 (d) 0.5

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QUESTIONS
22. Radioactivity is an indication of the instability of nuclei. Stability requires the ratio of neutron to proton
to be around 1:1 for light nuclei. This ratio increases to about 3:2 for heavy nuclei. (More neutrons are
required to overcome the effect of repulsion among the protons.) Nuclei which are away from the stability
ratio, i.e., nuclei which have an excess of neutrons or protons are unstable. In fact, only about 10% of known
isotopes (of all elements), are stable. Half-life is an important parameter to study radioactivity.

(i)Which statement about the half-life of a source is correct? [1 mark]

It is half the time for the radioactive source to become safe
It is half the time it takes for an atom to decay
It is half the time it takes the activity of the source to decrease to zero
It is the time it takes the activity of the source to decrease by half
(ii) Which statement describes nuclear fission? [1 mark]

A Two hydrogen nuclei join to form a helium nucleus

B A helium nucleus joins with a hydrogen nucleus to form an alpha particle
C Uranium nuclei split and produce high energy neutrons causing a chain reaction
D Two helium nuclei join to form a hydrogen nucleus

iii) Isotopes of an element have a different number of

a. Proton b)Neutron c) Electron d) atom

23 . Helium is not the only element that can be synthesized in the interior of a star. As the hydrogen in the core
gets depleted and becomes helium, the core starts to cool. The star begins to collapse under its own gravity. This
increases the temperature of the core. If this temperature increases to about 108 K, fusion takes place again, this
time of helium nuclei into carbon. This kind of process can generate through fusion higher and higher mass
number elements.

i) The fusion reaction takes place under ________

a) High Temperature and Low Pressure
b) Low Temperature and High Pressure
c) High Temperature and High Pressure
d) Low Temperature and Low Pressure

ii) Which process happens inside a star?

a) Electron Excitation
b) Nuclear fusion
c) Nuclear fission
d) Diffusion
iii)The two types of cycles proposed in the stars for fusion are ________
a) p-p cycle and p-e cycle
b) p-p cycle and C-N cycle
c) p-p cycle and p-C cycle
d) p-p cycle and p-N cycle

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Answer Keys-1
1(i) 1(ii) 1(iii) 1(iv) 1(v)
d d d a a
2.i 2.ii 2.iii 2.iv 2.v
a b a c a
3 (i) 3(ii) 3(iii) 3(iv)

a c a a

4 (i) 4(ii) 4(iii) 4(iv)

a a c a

5(i) 5(ii) 5(iii) 5(iv) 5(v)

b c b c b
6.i 6.ii 6.iii 6.iv
c a a c
7 (A) 7(B) 7(C) 7(D) 7(E)

d d d a a

8 (A) 8(B) 8(C) 8(D) 8(E)

d a d c d

9(i) 9(ii) 9(iii) 9(iv) 9(v)

a d b d b

10(i) 10(ii) 10(iii) 10(iv) 10(v)

d b d d d

11(i) 11(ii) 11(iii) 11(iv) 11(v)

d d d a a

12(i) 12(ii) 12(iii) 12(iv) 12(v)

d c a a c

13(i) 13(ii) 13(iii) 13(iv)

d d b a

14(i) 14(ii) 14(iii) 14(iv)

d c b c

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Case / Resource Based Questions -
15. i (b) short range force
15. ii (c) First increases and then decreases with increase of mass number.
15. iii (b) saturated in nature
15. iv (a) Fn << Fe
15. v a. 2R

16. i (d (d) All of these.

16. ii (d) Neutron is uncharged.
16. iii (a) even-even
16. iv (c) isotope of parent
16.v (c) α = 6, ß = 4
18 (i) 18 (ii) 18 (iii) 18 (iv) 18 (v)

b b a a c

19 (i) 19 (ii) 19 (iii) 19 (iv) 19 (v)

b d d b d

20 (i) 20 (ii) 20 (iii) 20 (iv)

a b c b

21(i) 21 (ii) 21 (iii) 21 (iv)

a d c a

22 (i) 22 (ii) 22 (iii)

d c b

23(i) 23 (ii) 23 (iii)

c b b

PGTs OF BHUBANESWAR, GUWAHATI,KOLKOTA

,RANCHI,SILCHAR,TINSUKIA regions.

VETTED BY :KOLKOTA REGION

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