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The study of
matter
Chapter 5:
Radioactivity

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Physics: Chapter
5
Objectives:
(what you will learn)

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1)

understanding nucleus of atom

2)

radioactive decay

3)

uses of radioisotopes

4)

nuclear energy

5)

management of radioactive
substances

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Nucleus of atom
An atom consists of a central nucleus where
most of the mass of the atom is concentrated.
Orbiting around nucleus are electrons.

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A helium
atom
4 He
2
proton
+

+
n

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neutro
n
electro
n

The nucleus is composed of protons that

are positively charged, and neutrons that
are neutral.

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Nucleus of atom
proton number (Z) = the number of protons in nucleus
nucleon number (A) = the number of nucleons (protons &
neutrons)
in nucleus
nuclide = a nucleus species with a certain proton number &
certain
nucleon number
AX
represents nucleus with proton number Z &
nucleon A
Z
4 He
2

represents nuclide with 2 protons & 4 nucleons

The number of neutrons is 4 2 = 2

Isotopes = nuclides with same proton number, different

nucleon numbers

Isotopes of an element have the same chemical properties

but different physical properties, such as mass.
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Example
(hydrogen
isotopes: 1H
)

2H (deuteriu
m)

3H (tritiu
m)

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Nucleus of atom
Rutherfords alpha-particle (-particle) scattering
experiment

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Rutherford bombarded gold foil with -particles.

Most -particles go through gold foil undeflected as the
nucleus is very tiny (occupies a small fraction of the volume
of atom).
Some -particles are slightly deflected, others are deflected
through
vacuularge angles. The positive -particles are repelled
by a m
massive, positively charged nucleus.
Gold
foil
Fluorescent
particle
screen
source

particle
deflecte
d

Telescope

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Radioactive decay
Radioactivity = spontaneous disintegration of
unstable nuclei accompanied by emission of energetic
particles or radiations (photons).
Spontaneous disintegration = emissions of the
particles or photons are not planned in advance

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Radioactive decay is random because it is not possible to

predict
which nuclei
the number of nuclei that would decay at a particular
instant
Radioactive decay is not affected by
physical conditions such as temperature and pressure,
chemical composition
The particles emitted in radioactive decays are -particles
and -particles, and the radiation emitted is gamma-ray (ray).
Apparatus used to detect radioactive emissions include

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Radioactive decay
The tracks of radioactive emissions can be
observed in a cloud chamber.
-particles tracks:

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thick because of their high ionizing power

straight because of the comparative large mass
all of same length because they are emitted with the
same speed

-particles tracks:

thin because of their weak ionizing power

wavy because of the comparative small mass
long because of its relative long range in air

-rays tracks:
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identical to -particles tracks but are short

the tracks are those of electrons produced from ionisation

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Radioactive decay
Geiger-Muller tube
When connected to a counter, it will count the
number of -particles or -ray photons that enters
it.

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doctronics

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When connected to a ratemeter, it will give the

number of particles per seconds that enter the
GM-tube.
The GM-tube is unable to detect -particles which
cannot penetrate the window of the tube.

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Radioactive decay
Changes to structure of nucleus during radioactive
decay.
Alpha-decay

(particle)
Proton number decreases by 2.
Nucleon number decreases by 4.
AX
Z

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A-4 Y + 4 He
Z-2
2

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Betadecay

(particle)
Proton number increases by 1.
Nucleon number unchanged.
AX
Z

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AY + 0e
Z+1
-1

Gamma
ray
No changes in the proton number and nucleon number.

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Radioactive decay
The half-life, T of a radioisotope is the time taken
for half of the number of nuclei in a sample to
decay.

N0

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N0

N0

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It is also the time taken for the rate of decay of a

sample to become half.

A0

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A0

A0

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Radioactive decay
Radioisotope = an isotope that is
Uses in medicine
radioactive

(a) -rays from cobalt-60:

- radiotherapy to destroy cancerous cells
- sterilization to destroy bacteria or germs
(b)
Radioactive tracers:
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- iodine-131 to evaluate function of thyroid gland
- sodium-24 to estimate volume of blood in
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patient
Uses
in agriculture
(a) Radioactive tracers used in plant nutrient
(b) research.
-rays used to sterilize insects, destroy
pests/bacteria in food/fruits.
Uses in archaeology
(a) Carbon-14 dating: Proportion of C-14 to C-12
in living organism is the same as that of the
atmosphere. When an organism dies, its
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proportion decreases. Its age is estimated by

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Radioactive decay

Uses in industry
(a) Gauge control
GM-tube connected to ratemeter measures
thickness of paper by its constant count rate.
(b) Leak tracer
Sodium-24 used as tracer to locate damaged
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underground pipes. GM-tube is used to detect
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high count rate from leaks in the pipe.
(c) Quality control
-rays (Cobalt-60) used to detect flaws in joints
between pipes carrying natural gas.
(d) Smoke detector
Americium-241 emits -particles which ionizes
air particles, allowing current to flow between
charged plates. Smoke particles which reduces
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current flow by deflecting -particles can then
be detected.

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Nuclear Energy

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The unit of mass used for measuring the mass of

atoms,
1
Atomic
mass unit (a.m.u.),

u = 12

(mass of an atom of carbon-12)

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1 u = 1.66 x 10-27 kg
Einsteins energy-mass relation
The energy equivalent E of mass m is given by
Energy, E = mc2
where c = 3.0 x 108 m s-1
Nuclear fission = splitting of a nucleus into two nuclei

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Slow neutrons are used to split the nucleus.

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Management

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2 negative effects of radioactive materials

- Somatic damage: near-term death of cells of
sensitive organs such as eyes.
- Genetic damage: long-term effect; mutation of
cells in subsequent generations
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-particles:
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Quite harmless outside body due to short range and weak

penetration power. Inside body, they are the most
damaging due to their strong ionizing power.
-particles:
Harmful both outside and inside body due to stronger
penetration power, but moderate ionizing power.

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-rays:
Harmful outside body due to strong penetration power.

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Summary

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What you have learned:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

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understanding nucleus of
atom
radioactive decay
uses of radioisotopes
nuclear energy
management of radioactive
substances
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