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ASSIGNME
NT
RADIOACTIVITY
NUCLEUS OF AN ATOM
Nucleon number(A)
Nucleon number is defined as the total number of protons and
neutrons in a nucleus.
According to the standard model, up and down quarks are the basic
components of nucleons. Thus, nuclides can also be considered
composite particles of quarks
The notation for a nuclide with mass number A and atomic number
Z is representd by a symbol of its element E.
Notation of a nuclide
A Z
E
For example
235
U92
Stable and Unstable Nuclides
There are stable and radioactive nuclides. Stable nuclides exist for
an indefinite period of time, and they are the constituents of
ordinary material. Unstable nuclides emit subatomic particles, with
4
a, b, g, n, p being the most common. Few undergo nuclear fission.
However, unstable nuclides with long half-lives are also present in
nature.
Isotope
Atoms of the same element can have different numbers of
neutrons; the different possible versions of each element are called
isotopes. For example, the most common isotope of hydrogen has
no neutrons at all; there's also a hydrogen isotope called
deuterium, with one neutron, and another, tritium, with two
neutrons.
RADIOACTIVE DACAY
Radioactivity
Radioactive emissions
Alpha Radiation
Beta Radiation
Beta rays are more penetrating than alpha rays, move at a very
high speed, and are deflected considerably by a magnetic field in a
direction that indicates a negative charge
Gamma Radiation
Gamma rays have very great penetrating power and are not
affected at all by a magnetic field. They move at the speed of light
and have a very short wavelength (or high frequency); thus they
are a type of electromagnetic radiation
Radioactive decay
Alpha Decay
The reason alpha decay occurs is because the nucleus has too
many protons which cause excessive repulsion. In an attempt
to reduce the repulsion, a Helium nucleus is emitted. The
way it works is that the Helium nuclei are in constant
collision with the walls of the nucleus and because of its
energy and mass, there exists a nonzero probability of
transmission. That is, an alpha particle (Helium nucleus) will
tunnel out of the nucleus. Here is an example of alpha
emission with americium-241:
Gamma Decay
The only thing which can alter the half-life is direct nuclear
interaction with a particle from outside, e.g., a high energy
collision in an accelerator.
Solution;
Using N= N0
t/T
1/2
2
]= 400
92/28.1
2
= 400
23.274
Greater precision could be gained using the graph if, say, the graph was
recalibrated for after two half lives, starting at 100 MBq, then looking up a
time of (93 - 56.2 ) years. One could do this because the SHAPE of the
graph does NOT change despite starting point or calibration in half-life.
RADIOISOTOPES
Applications of radioisotopes