Lesson 3.2.1.2

3.2.1.2 Stable and unstable nuclei Quiz: AQA Physics, Unit 2

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.2.1.2, Stable and unstable nuclei: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Physics (7408), Unit 2: Particles and radiation, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Approximately what range does the strong nuclear force act over?

    • about 3 nm
    • about 3 m
    • about 3 fm
    • about 3 pm

  2. What does the strong nuclear force become if two nucleons are closer than about 0.5 fm?

    • absent
    • repulsive
    • electrostatic
    • attractive and strongest

  3. What is an alpha particle?

    • A proton
    • A photon
    • An electron
    • A helium-4 nucleus

  4. In beta-minus decay, which set of particles is produced when a neutron decays?

    • Neutron, electron, neutrino
    • Proton, electron, antineutrino
    • Proton, electron, neutrino
    • Proton, positron, neutrino

  5. Which conserved quantity led Pauli to hypothesise the existence of the neutrino in beta decay?

    • Baryon number
    • Charge
    • Energy
    • Lepton number

  6. Which nuclide is produced by alpha decay of 226 88 Ra?

    • 226 86 Rn
    • 222 86 Rn
    • 222 90 Th
    • 224 86 Rn

  7. Which nuclide is produced by beta-minus decay of 14 6 C?

    • 14 5 B
    • 14 7 N
    • 13 6 C
    • 10 4 Be

  8. What process does an unstable nucleus undergo to become more stable?

    • Nuclear fusion
    • Electron excitation
    • Induced nuclear fission
    • Spontaneous radioactive decay

  9. What is the typical range of an alpha particle in air?

    • a few centimetres
    • a few micrometres
    • several kilometres
    • several metres

  10. In alpha decay of 226 88 Ra, by how much does nucleon number change?

    • decreases by 4
    • decreases by 1
    • decreases by 2
    • stays the same

  11. How does the proton number of a nucleus change during beta-minus decay?

    • Increases by 1
    • Decreases by 1
    • Increases by 2
    • Decreases by 2

  12. Which particle is emitted along with the electron in beta-minus decay?

    • a proton
    • a positron
    • an electron antineutrino
    • a photon

  13. What is the net change in proton number after one alpha decay followed by one beta-minus decay?

    • Decreases by 2
    • Decreases by 3
    • Increases by 1
    • Decreases by 1

  14. Which force overcomes electrostatic repulsion between protons to hold a nucleus together?

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

  15. What is the nuclide produced by beta-minus decay of 60 27 Co?

    • 60 27 Ni
    • 60 26 Fe
    • 60 28 Ni
    • 59 27 Co

  16. Why do beta particles released in beta-minus decay have a continuous range of energies?

    • Absorbed by nucleus
    • Emitted as photons
    • Lost to ionisation
    • Shared with antineutrino

  17. How many alpha and beta-minus decays transform 238 92 U into 206 82 Pb?

    • 8 alpha and 6 beta-minus
    • 4 alpha and 6 beta-minus
    • 8 alpha and 0 beta-minus
    • 6 alpha and 8 beta-minus

  18. What is the distance 3 fm expressed in metres?

    • 3 × 10^-9 m
    • 3 × 10^-15 m
    • 3 × 10^-12 m
    • 3 × 10^-18 m

  19. Which nuclide results from alpha decay of 212 83 Bi?

    • 212 81 Tl
    • 208 85 At
    • 208 81 Tl
    • 208 83 Bi

  20. What is the maximum range of the attractive strong nuclear force between nucleons?

    • 3 fm
    • 3 nm
    • 0.5 fm
    • Infinite

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