Core 3.31
FINAL EXAM
Prof. Michael Sobel

Write all answers on the opscan sheets. Use a number two pencil.

THE NUCLEAR AND ELEMENT TABLES ARE ATTACHED AT THE BACK OF THE EXAM.

In Part A answer all questions.

In Part B you should answer a minimum of 15 questions, but you may answer as many as you wish. There is no penalty for incorrect answers.

A total of 50 correct answers will give you a grade of 100%. More than 50 will give you a grade higher than 100%.

Part A:

1. A rough value for the size of a nucleus is
     a) 10-15 m,   b) 10-10 m,   c) 10-6 m,   d) 10-4 m.

2. The nucleus constitutes about
     a) 0.1%   b) 0.7%   c) 50%   d) 99.9%
         of the mass of an atom.

3. The mass number of a nucleus is equal to the
   a) number of protons
   b) number of neutrons
   c) sum of the number of protons and the number of neutrons
   d) sum of the number of protons and the number of electrons

4. The chemical properties of an element are determined primarily by the
     a) atomic number of the nucleus,
     b) atomic weight of the nucleus,
     c) mass number of the nucleus,
     d) number of neutrons in the nucleus.

5. Suppose there are 8 million kilograms of plutonium-240 in storage in the world today, and nothing is done to dispose of them. How much will there be 13,200 years from now?
   a) 4 million kg    b) 2 million kg    c) 1 million kg    d) none

6. Suppose a normal human skull contains 12 micrograms of 14C. If I find a fossil skull that contains 1.5 micrograms of 14C (assume the half-life is 6000 years), that implies that the human lived
   a) 18,000 years ago,    b) 12,000 years ago,    c) 3,000 years ago,    d) 2,000 years ago.

7. Electromagnetic separation of uranium isotopes is based on the fact that the two isotopes have different
   a) atomic numbers,    b) electric charges,    c) masses,    d) numbers of electrons.

8. Plutonium is
     a) found in ores that contain large amounts of lead
     b) found in ores that contain large amounts of uranium
     c) produced in fusion reactors by the action of hydrogen isotopes
     d) produced in reactors by the action of neutrons

Part A continues with a total of 35 questions from the "Required Sites".

Part B:

36. The Kyoto Protocol
     a) calls for a moratorium on production of fissile material
     b) has reduced the level of ozone in the atmosphere
     c) has been endorsed by President Bush but not ratified by the U.S. Senate
     d) has not been endorsed by President Bush

37. Production of carbon dioxide during the last few decades has
     a) increased in the industrialized world but remained the same in the developing world,
     b) decreased in the industrialized world but remained the same in the developing world,
     c) increased in the industrialized world and decreased in the developing world,
     d) remained the same in the industrialized world but increased in the developing world.

38. Which of the following is true?
     a) A correlation between atmospheric CO2 and mean temperature for the past more than 100,000 years has been reliably documented.
     b) No correlation between atmospheric CO2 and mean temperature in the past has been reliably documented.
     c) A correlation between atmospheric CO2 and sea level for the past 100,000 years has been reliably documented.
     d) No correlation between atmospheric CO2 and sea level in the past has been reliably documented.

39. Some people question the linear hypothesis (on the effect of radioactivity) because they believe
     a) medical effects will be proportional to the square of the radioactive dose,
     b) medical effects will be independent of the radioactive dose,
     c) medical effects will be inversely proportional to dose,
     d) there will be no medical effects at doses below a few rem.

40. Exposure to radiation can damage bone marrow, which leads to
     a) an increased risk of cancer
     b) fewer white blood cells, and so an increased risk of infection
     c) elevated blood pressure and consequent increased risk of stroke
     d) all of the above

41. A radiation dose around 100 rem is likely to cause
     a) death in most cases,
     b) death in about 50% of the cases,
     c) no harmful effect,
     d) mild effects such as fatigue and vomiting.

Part B continues with a total of 39 questions, 3 from each of the "Sites for Choice".