Chapter 1

Question 1

What are the main components of an atom?

Answer 1

A nucleus (protons & neutrons) and an electron cloud.

Question 2

What is the approximate atomic radius?

Answer 2

~10⁻¹⁰ m

Question 3

What is the approximate nuclear radius?

Answer 3

~10⁻¹⁵ m

Question 4

What particles are found in the nucleus of an atom?

Answer 4

Protons (positive charge) and neutrons (neutral).

Question 5

Define isotopes, isobars, isomers, and isotones.

Answer 5

Isotopes: same atomic number, different mass; Isobars: same mass number, different elements; Isotones: same number of neutrons, different protons; Isomers: same mass number, different energy states.

Question 6

What characterizes stable nuclei?

Answer 6

Balanced neutron-to-proton ratios.

Question 7

What is an atomic mass unit (u)?

Answer 7

1/12 the mass of a ¹²C atom.

Question 8

What is the electron rest energy?

Answer 8

0.511 MeV.

Question 9

What is the maximum number of electrons per shell?

Answer 9

2n² (where n is the shell level).

Question 10

What determines the chemical properties of an atom?

Answer 10

Outer shell electrons (valence).

Question 11

What do energy level diagrams represent?

Answer 11

Electron transitions.

Question 12

What is binding energy?

Answer 12

Energy required to remove an electron from an atom.

Question 13

What occurs during X-ray emission?

Answer 13

An electron falls into a lower energy state.

Question 14

What are the four fundamental forces in nature?

Answer 14

• Strong nuclear force
• Electromagnetic force
• Weak nuclear force
• Gravitational force

Question 15

What force holds protons and neutrons together?

Answer 15

Strong nuclear force.

Question 16

What is nuclear excitation and decay?

Answer 16

A nucleus in an excited state emits gamma rays.

Question 17

What is a key example of nuclear energy transitions?

Answer 17

Cobalt-60 decay.

Question 18

What are fermions?

Answer 18

Matter particles such as quarks and leptons.

Question 19

What are bosons?

Answer 19

Force carriers such as photons, W/Z bosons, and gluons.

Question 20

What is the role of the Higgs boson?

Answer 20

Gives mass to particles.

Question 21

What does De Broglie’s hypothesis state?

Answer 21

Particles exhibit wave properties.

Question 22

What is the wave model of electromagnetic radiation?

Answer 22

Electromagnetic waves consist of oscillating electric and magnetic fields.

Question 23

What is the quantum model of electromagnetic radiation?

Answer 23

Energy is quantized (E = hν).

Question 24

What is the photon energy equation?

Answer 24

E = hc/λ (in eV for λ in meters).

Question 25

Fill in the blank: _______ relates mass and energy.

Answer 25

Mass-Energy equivalence

Question 26

Fill in the blank: The _______ is used to calculate photon energy.

Answer 26

Photon energy relation

Question 27

Fill in the blank: The _______ relates wavelength and frequency.

Answer 27

Wave relation

Question 28

True or False: Stability of nuclei is based solely on the number of protons.

Answer 28

False

Question 29

What are some practical applications of nuclear interactions?

Answer 29

* Characteristic X-ray emission * Nuclear transitions in medical imaging & therapy