General Science Questions

Modern Physics – Mesons are predominantly found in which natural/high-energy source?

Nuclear Engineering – Which of the following is used as a moderator in a nuclear reactor?

Nuclear Physics – Nuclear fission in fissile materials is caused by the impact of which particle?

Atomic Structure – Atoms of one element differ from atoms of all other elements primarily in which characteristics?

Environmental Health – Which radioactive pollutant has recently drawn public attention due to its occurrence in building materials?

Radioactivity – Which of the following is a positively charged particle (radiation) emitted by a radioactive element?

Physics – Electromagnetic Spectrum (X-rays) What is the typical order of magnitude of the wavelength of X-rays used in physics and medical imaging? Choose the closest standard value.

Atomic Structure – Quantum Numbers Identify the principle stated by the rule: ‘‘No two electrons in an atom can have the same set of four quantum numbers.’’

Particle Physics – Relative Mass Scales Which ordering lists the rest masses of the three elementary particle families in decreasing order (heaviest to lightest)?

Chemistry – Avogadro’s Hypothesis (Terminology) According to Avogadro’s hypothesis, the smallest particle of an element or a compound that can exist independently is called _____.

Physics – Visible Light Range What is the approximate wavelength range of the visible spectrum perceived by the human eye (express your choice in angstrom units)?

Nuclear Physics – Binding in the Nucleus Inside an atomic nucleus, protons and neutrons are held together predominantly by which interaction?

Nuclear Energy – Fissionable Uranium Which isotope of uranium is capable of sustaining a nuclear chain reaction with thermal (slow) neutrons?

Astrophysics – Solar Spectrum (Fraunhofer Lines) The dark lines observed in the solar spectrum are primarily due to which phenomenon?

Atomic Structure – Composition of Atoms Which statement best describes the basic composition of atoms in modern atomic theory?

History of Atomic Models – Nuclear Atom Who proposed, based on scattering experiments, that most of an atom’s mass is concentrated in a small, dense nucleus?

General Science — Nuclear Radiation and Materials Which of the following has the least penetrating power?

Geochronology — Dating the Earth’s Oldest Rocks The age of the most ancient geological formations is estimated by which method?

Atomic Energy — Source of Energy in Nuclear Explosions In an atomic explosion, the enormous energy released is mainly due to:

Light and Optics — Visible Spectrum How many distinct colours are traditionally recognized in the sunlight (visible) spectrum?