13 Jun 2026

Nuclear Physics Exam Quiz

Five standard nuclear physics MCQs for physics entrance practice.

nuclear-physics gate-2024 csir-net-2023 jest-2022

These are original exam-style practice questions based on common GATE, CSIR-NET and JEST nuclear physics patterns.

Q: [GATE 2024 style] Nuclear radius is commonly parameterized as
A: $R=R_0A$
B: $R=R_0A^{1/3}$
C: $R=R_0/A$
D: $R=R_0A^2$
ANSWER: B
EXPLAIN: Approximately constant nuclear density implies $R=R_0A^{1/3}$.
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Q: [CSIR-NET 2023 style] Alpha decay changes mass number and atomic number by
A: $A\to A-4$, $Z\to Z-2$
B: $A\to A-2$, $Z\to Z-4$
C: $A\to A+4$, $Z\to Z+2$
D: $A$ unchanged, $Z\to Z-1$
ANSWER: A
EXPLAIN: An alpha particle is a helium nucleus with $A=4$ and $Z=2$.
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Q: [JEST 2022 style] The deuteron bound state has spin-parity
A: $0^+$
B: $1^+$
C: $1^-$
D: $2^+$
ANSWER: B
EXPLAIN: The deuteron ground state has total angular momentum and parity $J^P=1^+$.
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Q: [GATE 2021 style] The binding energy per nucleon is maximum near
A: hydrogen
B: helium
C: iron/nickel region
D: uranium only
ANSWER: C
EXPLAIN: Medium-mass nuclei near Fe/Ni have the largest binding energy per nucleon.
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Q: [CSIR-NET 2020 style] Beta-minus decay emits
A: positron and neutrino
B: electron and antineutrino
C: alpha particle only
D: gamma ray only
ANSWER: B
EXPLAIN: In $\beta^-$ decay, $n\to p+e^-+\bar\nu_e$.

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