If a film is kept in a box, alpha particles from a radioactive source outside the box cannot expose the film, but beta particles can. Explain.

Why do heavier elements require more neutrons to maintain stability?

What would happen if the binding energy of a nucleus was zero?

Why do nearly all the naturally occurring isotopes lie above the $N=Z$ line in Figure $44.4$ ?

Suppose it could be shown that the ratio of carbon-14 to carbon-12 in living organisms was much greater thousands of years ago than it is today. How would this affect the ages we assign to ancient samples of once-living matter?

What is the charge of a baryon containing one up quark (u) and two down quarks (d)? F. −1, G. 0, H. +1, J. +2.

What factors make fusion difficult to achieve?

Which of the following choices does not correctly match a fundamental interaction with its mediating particles? A. strong: gluons, B. electromagnetic: electrons, C. weak: W and Z bosons, D. gravitational: gravitons.

Explain the main differences between alpha, beta, and gamma emissions.

Which is the weakest of the four fundamental interactions? F. electromagnetic, G. gravitational, H. strong, J. weak.

Explain why all of the wavelengths in an element’s absorption spectrum are also found in that element’s emission spectrum.

Imagine an astronaut on a trip to Sirius, which lies 8 light-years from Earth. Upon arrival at Sirius, the astronaut finds that the trip lasted 6 years. If the trip was made at a constant speed of 0.8c, how can the 8-light-year distance be reconciled with the 6-year duration?

Explain the main differences between alpha, beta, and gamma decays.

A star is 5.00 ly from the Earth. At what speed must a spacecraft travel on its journey to the star such that the Earth–star distance measured in the frame of the spacecraft is 2.00 ly?