SOUTHERN PENINSULA COLLEGE

Gil Sanchez, Labason, Zambo. Del Norte

Midterm Examination
Physical Science

Name: __________________________ Yr. & Section: ___________________Score: _____________

I.Multiple Choice. Encircle the letter of the best answer. Strictly no erasures (1pt. each)

1. Which scientist devised the symbol notation we now use for elements?
a. Newton b. Berzelius c. Dalton d. Einstein
2. How many neutrons are there in the nucleus of the atom 179F?
a. 17 b. 9 c.8 d. 7
3. A nucleon is which of the following?
a. A proton b. a neutron c. an electron d. both a and b
4. Which radioactive decay mode does not result in a different nuclide?
a. Alpha b. beta c. gamma d. all the preceding
5. Which of the following scientist discovered radioactivity?
a. Rutherford b. Heisenberg c. Becquerel d. Pierre Curie
6. How many half-lives would it take for a sample of radio-active isotope to decrease its activity to 1/64 of
the original amount?
a. 5 b. 16 c. 6 d. 32
7. What is the appropriate procedure to decrease the heat output of a fission reactor core during a crisis?
a. Insert the control rods c. Increase the level of coolant
b. Remove fuel rods d. decrease the amount of moderator
8. The largest ocean in the world which is contaminated with radioactive waste
a. South China Sea c. Arctic Ocean
b. West Philippine Sea d. Pacific Ocean
9. Nuclear power plant is not a clean and safe source of energy because it produces _____.
a. Radioactive waste b. poison c. pollutants d. heat
10. What is the nuclear reaction that is used in nuclear power plants?
a. Fusion b. Fission c. Fussion d. fision

II. Fill in the gaps in the table (1 pt. each)

Element Symbol Ga
Protons 15
Neutrons 39 20
Electrons 17
Mass Number 31

III. Radioactivity and Half-life (5 pts each)

1. Complete the following equations for nuclear decay, and state whether each process is alpha decay, beta decay, or
gamma decay.
(a.) 4621Sc  4621Sc + _____
(b.) 23290Th  _____+ 42 He
(c.) 4721Sc  4722 Ti + _____
2. Technetium-99 (half-life = 6.0 h) is used in medical imaging. How many half-lives would go by in 36 hours?
IV. Essay. (5 pts each)
1. What “original elements” did Aristotle think composed all matter on Earth?
2. Why are some element symbols very different from their names? For example carbon is C, but silver is Ag.
3. What are the three common processes of radioactive decay, and what is emitted in each?
4. What are the criteria for a nucleus to be considered radioactive?
5. What is half-life?
6. What are the major advantages of fusion energy production over fission energy production?
7. Will a nuclear reactor explode like a nuclear bomb?
8. Differentiate nuclear fission from nuclear fusion.

“If you won’t build your dreams, someone else will hire you to help them build theirs.”
God bless!