1.

INTRODUCTION
238      + 24
234
92U 90Th
(1) The phenomenon of radioactivity was (Parent) (Daughter)
discovered by Henry Becquerel in uranium
salts. (1896) 90Th
234  91Pa234 + -1
0 + 
(Parent) (Daughter) (Antinentrino)
(2) After the discovery of radioactivity in uranium,
Piere curie & Madame curie discovered a (11) In this phenomenon,  particles and -rays
new radioactive element called ‘radium’. It is are emitted. For a given nuclei at a particular
106 times more radioactive than uranium. time emission of either  or  takes place,
Radium was extracted from pitch blende never both at time.
(a kind of coal tar) for which curies were
honoured by nobel prize in 1903. (12) rays are emitted in when an excited nuclei
makes transition to any lower or ground
(3) Definition : -The self, spontaneous, energy state the form of photon.
disintegration (i.e. decay) of unstable 238      * Th234 + 24
92U 90
radioactive nuclei’s is known as radioactivity
& the nucleils exhibiting this phenomenon
are known as radioactive nuclelis.

(4) Some example of radio active substance

(or elements) are :
Uranium, Radium, Thorium, Polonium,
Neptumium etc.

(5) All elements having atomic number greater

than 83 are radio active element.

(6) Lead (Z = 82) is the most stable element in *90Th234     90Th

234 + -ray
high atomic number elements that’s why all (higher (lower energy nuclei)
radio active elements emits radio active
energy nuclei)
radiation till they are converted into Lead.
(lower stability) (higher stability)
(7) Radioactivity is a nuclear event & not atomic. excited nuclei and normal nuclei are known
Hence electronic configuration of atom don’t as radioactive isomers.
have any relationship with radio activity.
(13) Due to emission of  during radioactive
(8) Decay processes are random. Here one decay, mass of parent nuclei goes on
simply knows that in a radioactive element, decreasing.
radioactivity is taking place or it is definite
that a certain no. of atoms will decay in a (14) Deflection of radioactive radiations was
given time interval but one never knows that measured by rutherford in electric field & it is
which particular radioactive nuclei will decay as below.
when. It is just a matter of chance i.e.
probability which is explained by quantum
mechanics. It is statistical in nature. (-)ve -ray
plate
(9) This process is spontaneous i.e. it can neither  (+)ve plate
be started, stopped, accelerated nor retarded

by any physical (i.e. by changing temperature or
pressure, force) or chemical change.
(10) In this phenomenon parent-daughter chain
continues. Original radio active element are
called parent element or nucleus but new Radioactive Source
element is called Daughter element or
disintegrated nucleus.
56
 (15) Defiection in magnetic field.
Ν
then e  t N = N0 e  t ....... (1)
N0 =
(4) eq. (1) is known as Ruther ford & soddy’s
exponential equation of radioactivity.
(5) If t =  then N = 0
Therefore, for a complete decay of a
radioactive nuclei, it takes infinite time.
(6) Half life (T 1/2) 
Half life of a radioactive element is the time
or time interval is which 50% of radioactive
nuclei will disiintegrates.
N0
(16) Remember : Proton is not emitted during or when t = T 1/2 then N =
2
radioactive decay.
From N = N0 e  t
2. LAWS OF RADIOACTIVE DISINTEGRATION
N0
(1) If N = No. of active nuclei at time t = N0 e  T1/ 2
2
N – dN = No. of active nuclei after time
interval of dt. n 2
T1/2 =
dN 
 Rate of decay = 
dt
0 . 693
(2) According to the Rutherford and Soddy law =
for radio active decay, "At any instant the 
rate of decay of radioactive atom is (7) Physical sighificance of Half life.
proportional to the number of atoms present If half life of a radio active nuclei is more then
at that instant " Rate of decay  N in a given time interval probability of its
dN availability is also more. Half life of a element
  N
dt does not depend on physical & chemical
circumstances.
dN
or  =  N
dt N 1
 is called decay constant. N0 =
( 2) t / T
.
(3) If Ni = No of active nuclei at time t i.
(8) Graph between no. of active nuclei left & time
Nf = No of active nuclei left at time t f. of decay
Nf tf

 dt
dN N0

Ni
N = – ti N

n n NNi
f
–  t  t if
t N0/2
N0/4
Nf
n N = –  [tf – ti]
i

Nf (9) Average life or mean life () 

  t f  t i 
Ni = e (i) The time, for which a radioactive material
remains active, is defined as mean life of
If tf = t & Nf = N that material.
& ti = 0 Ni = N 0

57
  N
Sum of lives of all nuclei' s
(ii)  = Total no. of nuclei present =
0 t dN (vii) Fraction of active nuclei left = N
0

N0 (probability of survival)
(viii) Fraction of decayed nuclei
(iii) The average time taken in decaying by the
nuclei of an element is defined as its mean N N0  N
life . = 1 – N = N
0 0

1 (Probability of decay)
(iv)  =

(ix) When decay process is too slow
N then N = N0 [e–t]
(v) n N = –  t
0 N = N0 [1– t]
N = [– N0] t + N0
On comparingy = m x + c

N
The magnitude of inverse of slope of n N & t
0

curve is known as mean life.

(vi) In N = N0 e  t

1
If t =

(x) Half life, mean life & decay constant for a
then N = N0 e–1
particular nuclei always remains constant.
N0 N0 (xi) Decay constant () :
= = 2 . 718 = 0.3676 N0  0.37 N0
e
(  )  dN 
 
1 N0 (i)  =  dt 
Therefore if = t = then N =  0.37 N0
 e N
Mean life of a radio active nuclei is equal to that Rate of decay at a given instant
1 = No. of active nuclei at that instant
time is which no of nuclei left becomes either
e
times the original nuclei or approximately 37% of
  dN 
the original nuclei.
(ii)  =  N 
or, Number of decayed nuclei in mean life dt
N0 = Probability of decay in unit time.
= N0 – N = N 0 –
e N0
(iii) If  = t–1 then N = = 0.3676
e
 1
= N0 1    0.63 N0 N0  0.37 N0
 e
Decay constant is equal to inverage of that
Mean life is equal to that time in which no. of time in which no. of active nuclei left becomes
 e  1 1
decayed nuclei becomes either   times either
e
times or approx 37% original
 e 
nuclei.
original nuclei or apporoximately 63% of original
(iv) N = N0–t
nuclei.
can be written in the form of mass as below
m = m 0e–t
58
 When m = mass of radio active nuclei at 4. PAIR PRODUCTION & PAIR-ANNIHILATION
time t & m 0 = mass of radioactive nuclei at
time t = 0 Collision of -ray photon by a nucleus &
production of electron positron pair is known as
m 1
pair production.
m0 = 2t / T
(v) Decay constant is equal to inverse of the
time in which 63% of initial atoms (N 0) is
being decayed.
(vi) Unit :- (second)–1 or (minute)–1 or (year)–1

3. ACTIVITY (A or R)
The rest mass of each of the electron & the
(1) Activity of any element shows instability of
positron is 9.1 x 10–31 kg. so, the rest mass
the element at any time (t).
energy of each of them is
(2) Activity is defined as rate of decay at given
E0 = m 0c2= (9.1 × 10–31) (3 × 108)2
instant.
= 8.2 × 10 –14 Joule
dN = 0.51 MeV
A = – = N
dt Hence for pair-production, it is essential that the
energy of -photon must be at least 2 × 0.51
= 1.02 MeV.
 A N

(3) Original activity

A0 = N0

A N 1
 = = e  t =
A0 N0 ( 2) t / T

5. FUNDAMENTAL PARTICLES & THEIR

ANTIPARTICLES
The particles which are not constituted by any
other particles i.e., which have no structure, are
called ‘fundamental particles’
(4) Units of Activity (1) Electron :It is the first fundamental particle which
(a) 1 disintegration / sec = 1 becquerd (Bq) was discovered by Thomson in 1897. It revolves
around the nucleus of an atom indifferent orbits.
(b) 1 curie = 3.7 × 1010 dps
Electron plays an important role in explaining the
(c) 1 Ruther ford = 106 dps physical and chemical properties of substances.
Its charge is – 1.6 × 10–19 coulomb and mass
(5) 1 mille curie = 37 Rutherford is 9.1 × 10–31 kg. Its symbol is e¯ (or –1 0).
(2) Proton :It was discovered by Rutherford in 1919
(6) Specific Activity  Activity per gram of a in artificial nuclear disintegration. It has a positive
substance is known as specific activity. The charge (+ 1.6 x 10–19 coulomb) equal to the
specific activity for 1 gm of radium 226 is electronic charge and its mass is (1.673 × 10–27kg)
1 curie. 1836 times the electronic mass. In free state,
the proton is a stable particle. Its symbol is p +.
It is also written as 1H1 .

59
(3) Neutron :It was discovered by Chadwick in 1932. (iii) Neutral pi-meson : This particle has no
It carries no charge. Its mass is 1839 times the charge. Its mass is nearly 264 times the
electronic mass (1.675 x 10–27 kg). In free state electronic mass. Its mean life is of the order of
the neutron is unable (its mean life is about 10–15 second. Its symbol is 0. On disintegration,
17 minutes), but it constitutes a stable nucleus it forms two -photons:0    .
along with proton. Its symbol is n or 0n1.
(9) Photon :These are the bundles of
(4) Positron :It was also discovered in 1932 by electromagnetic energy and travel with the speed
Anderson. Its charge and mass are same as of light. If the frequency of waves be , then the
those of electron, the only difference being that energy of a photon is h and momentum is h/ c.
is positively-charged whereas the electron is Its symbol is .
negatively-charged. Its symbol is e+ (or +1 0).
Mass
Name of (in comparision Average life
(5) Antiproton :It was discovered in 1955. Its particle
Symbol Antiparticle
to mass of (in second)
charged and mass are same as those of proton, electron)
the only difference being that it is negatively
Photon  ( ) 0 Stable
charged. Its symbol is p¯.
Electron e-1 e+1 1 Stable
Proton p+ p– 1836 Stable
(6) Antineutron : It was discovered in 1956. It has
Neutron n n– 1839 1010
no charge and its mass is equal to the mass of Neutrino
neutron. The only difference between neutron and Charged v v– 0 Stable
antineutron is that if they spin in the same pi-meson
direction, their magnetic moment will be in Uncharged + – 274 2.6 × 10–8
opposite directions. The symbol for antineutron pi-meson 0 ( 0) 264 0.9 × 10–16
is n¯.
6. CHARACTERISTICS OF RADIOACTIVE
(7) Neutrino and Anti-neutrino : The existence of RADIATIONS
these particles was predicted in 1930 by Pauli
6.1 Characteristics of  - decay
while explaining the emission of -particles from
radio-active nuclei, but they were observed (1) - particle are two times ionised Helium
experimentally in 1956. Their rest-mass and atoms.
charge are both zero but they have energy and (2) - particle carry 2- proton and 2 neutrons.
2He (Nucleus) = -particle
momentum. Both neutrino and anti-neutrino are (3) 4
stable particles. The only difference between them (4) In general  - decay is given by
is that their spins are in opposite directions.
Their symbols are v and v respectively.. ZX
A

 decay
 Z-2Y
A-4 + 2He4 + (Energy),
(-particle)
(8) Pi-mesons :The existence of these particles was
atomic number decreases by 2 & mass no.
predicted by Yukawa in 1935 as originator of
decreases by 4.
exchange-forces between the nucleons, but they
were actually discovered in 1947 in cosmic rays. (5) Mass of - particle = (2p + 2n)
Pi-mesons are of three types. = 6.68 × 10 -27 kg
(i) Positive pi-meson : It is a positively charged Charge of - particle = + 2e
particle whose charge is equal to the electronic = 2 × 1.6 × 10-19 coulomb, (+) Ve.
charge and whose mass is 274 times the (6) In - particle emission an element goes two
electronic mass. It is an unstable particle. Its column backward in periodic table.
mean life is of the order of 10 –8 second. Its (7) Energy in - particle emission
symbol is +.
= (Mx– My – M 2 He 4 ) C2
(ii) Negative pi-meson : It is a negatively
charged particle whose charge is equal to the Energy in - particle emission varies from
electronic charge and whose mass is 274 time 4.5 MeV to 11 MeV. Through calculation
the electronic mass. It mean life is also of the - Particle has to crop potential barrier of
order of 10–8 second. Its symbol is ¯. 21 MeV for their emission. Hence -particle
emission can not be explained on the basis
of classical theory.
60
 (8) Emission of -particle can be explained on
the basis of quantum mechanics (Tunnel
effect).
(9) Energy spectrum of - particle is line
spectrum.
(10) Energy spectrum of -particle also has micro
details
(11) Energy spectrum of -particle shows that a
nucleus also has energy levels like atoms
have.
(12) Energy of -particle emitted from a single
nucleus are not same. These emit in various
energy groups.
(13) Range of - particle  (velocity)3
R  v3
(8) To explain energy conservation, linear
momentum conservation and angular
momentum conservation, a hypothetical
neutrino was considered
(9) Neutrino was first given Pauli.
(10) According to neutrino hypothesis, some
particle also emits with -emission, which is
called neutrino.
(11) Rest mass and charge of neutrino are both
zero and angular or spin momentum of
neutrino is ± ½ (h /2). It travel with speed
of light and it's spin value is ± ½.
(12) So by neutrino hypothesis , emission of 
particle reaction
0n  1p1 + -1e0 +  (Anti-Neutrino)
1

(14) W hen -particle emission takes place,

1p  0n + 1e +  (Neutrino)
1 1 0
-rays are also emitted. Hence reaction ZXA  Z-1YA + +1e0 + + Q
(15) R  E3/2 or R = 0.318 E3/2
ZX  Z+1YA + -1e0 +   + Q
A
E : Energy of  - particle
(16) (Geiger's and Nuttal law)  (13) Existance of nutrino is practically explained
by Rein's Collin.
Relation between decay constant of a element
and range of -particle as follows:- (14) Energy spectrum of  -emission is
continuous.
log  = A + B log R
A and B are constant. B has equal value
(No. of -particle)

while A have different values for radioactive

series. n0
6.2 Characteristics of - decay n
(1) -particle are high energy electron or positron.
1.17 MeV
(a) - or -1eº (electron) (End point energy)
0.15 MeV E
(b)  + or +1e º (Positron)
(2) Resultant charge on -particle
= ± 1.6 × 10-19 coulomb 6.3 Characteristic of  spectrum
(3) Rest mass of -particle are equal to mass (1) Energy range of emitted - particle has all
of electron. possible energy's -particle.
(4) -particle emission can be represented by (2) Maximum value of energy of -particle is
following reactions:- called end point energy.
Zx
A    particle Z+1Y
A + -1e0 + Q
   (3) During -emission the decreases in energy
   particle
Zx   
A A 0
Z-1Y + +1e + Q of parent nucleus is equal to end point energy
where Q = Energy of -particle, latter it is shared by -particle
(5) In   - particle , atomic no. increase by one and neutrino.
and in +emission, atomic no. decreases by 6.4 Characteristics of - rays:-
one. (1) - rays are electromagnetic waves of short
(6) Mass number does not changes in wavelength (10-12m)
-emission.
(7) Emission of  particle can be explained by (2) They emit from nucleus.
conversion of nuetron in proton & vice versea
in the nucleus. (3) They travel with speed of light
(3 × 108 m/sec)
1p  0n + 1e ( )
1 1 0 +

or 0n1  1p1 + -1e0 ( -) (4) These are high energy rays (of photons)
61
(5) When  or particle emission takes place, (3) Uranium series (4n + 2 series ) :-
nucleus come in excited state and during
92U
238 Irregular
 82Pb
206 (stable)
coming back to normal state  radiation  , decay
emission takes place
(4) Actinium series (4n+3 series) :-
27Co
60  28Ni
60(exicited state) + -1e0
235 Irregular
 207
60 60 92U  , decay 82Pb
28Ni (exicited state) 28N (ground state)
+ Q (gama rays) Last element of radio active series is stable
and decay constant of that element has value
(6) In -decay atomic no. and mass no does not equal to zero.
changes.
8. RADIOACTIVE EQUILIBRIUM
(7) Energy spectrum of -rays is line spectrum.
NA  A = NB B = ...........
(8) This spectrum verifies that same energy levels
NA NB
are found in nucleus as that of in atom or =
outside the nucelus. TA TB = ..............

9. USES OF RADIOACTIVE ISOTOPES

(9) It affects photographic plate.
(a) In Medicine -
(10) It has ionising power.
(i) For testing blood-Chromium - 51
(11) It also has penetration power. (ii) For testing blood circulation - Sodium - 24
(iii) For detecting brain tumor-Radio mercury-203
(12) It is not affected by electric & magnetic field.
(iv) For detecting fault in thyroid gland-Radio
iodine-131
(13) Intensity of -rays after travelling x- distance
is I = I0 e  x [same as x-rays] (v) For cancer - cobalt - 60
(vi) For blood-Gold-189
I0-Initial intensity,  - Absorption coefficient.
(vii) For skin diseases-Phospohorous-31
I-Intensity of -rays after x- distance
(b) In Archaeology -
(14) -rays also shows diffraction by crystal grating (i) For determining age of archaeological sample
like x- rays. (Carbon dating) C14
(ii) For determining age of meteorities-K40
(15) -rays radiations after entering into substance
(iii) For determining age of earth-Lead isotopes
are absorbed in three process depending
(c) In Agriculture -
upon energy
(i) For protecting potato crop from earthworm -
(A) Photoelectric effect (B) Compton effect CO60
(C) Pair production. (ii) For artificial rains-Ag
(iii) As fertilizers-P32
7. RADIOACTIVE SERIES
(d) As tracers - (Tracer) -
There are mainly four radio active series. Three Very small quantity of radioisotopes present
are natural and one is artificial. in a mixture is known as Tracer
(1) Thorium series (4n series) (i) Tracer technique is used for studying
232 208 biochemical reaction in tracer and animals.
Irregular
90Th   82Pb (stable element)
(e) In industries -
 ,  decay
(i) For detecting leakage in oil or water pipe
(2) Neptunium series (4n + 1 series) lines.
(ii) For determining the age of planets
This is artificial series

93Np
237
Irregular
 83Bi209 (stable)
 , decay
62
10. POINTS OF REMEMBER (14) Size of nucleus decreases by -emission.
(15) Cloud chamber is used for detecting
(1) Radioactive decay is a nuclear process. radioactive radiations and for determining their
(2) The decay constant of the end product of a paths, range and energy.
radioactive series is zero. (16) Geiger-Muller counter is used for detecting
(3) Radioactivity is not an atomic process. -and -particles and measuring half life.
(4) - rays are never emitted directly by the (17) Coefficient of absorption depends on the
nuclei. wavelength of -rays and the nature of
(5) The time taken by any radioactive material to absorbing material.
decay completely is infinity irrespective of its (18) The mass number and the charge number
mass and decay constant. remain unchanged by -decay
(6) Radioactivity is not associated with the (19) When a -particle is emitted by a nucleus
electron configuration in atom. then its mass number remains unchanged
(7) The spectrum of -rays is a discrete line where as the charge number increases or
spectrum. decreases.
(8) The charge on neutrino is zero. (20) When an -particle is emitted by a nucleus
(9) Activity depends on the quantity & nature of then its atomic number decreases by 2 and
that material. mass number decreases by 4.
(10) Radioactivity remains unaffected due to the (21) There are five types of radioactive
physical and chemical changes of the disintegration.
material. (22) Radiation dose is measured in sieverts (Sv).
(11) 1 curie = 3.7 x 1010 disintegration/sec. (23) The interaction responsible for beta decay is
(12) 1 Rutherford = 106 disintegrations/sec. called weak interaction.
(13)  decay is explained on the basis of tunnel
effect.

63
 SOLVED EXAMPLES
Ex.1 The half life of polonium is 140 days. In what n n
time will 15 gm of polonium be disintegrated N0  1 1  1
 = N0   , =  
out of its initial mass of 16 gm ? 4  
2 4 2
(A) 500 days (B) 480 days n 2
(C) 560 days (D) 280 days  1  1
  =    n = 2
Sol. Suppose the initial mass of a radio active 2 2
element is N0. The mass of the element left time of disintegration = half life x number of
n
 1 half lives = 1600 × 2 = 32 00 years
after n half-lives is given by N = N 0  
2 Ex.4 Find the half-life period of a radio-active
n
material if its activity drops to 1/16 th of its
N  1 initial value in 30 years.
 N =  
0 2 (A) 15 yr. (B) 7.5 yr.
N0 = 16 gm. The mass of the disintegrated (C) 22.5 yr. (D) 120 yr.
element is 15 gm So, the mass of the Sol. If the initial mass of some radio-active
element left is N = 16 – 15 = 1 gm. Thus element be N0, then the mass of the element
remaining after n half-lives is given by
n
1  1
 =    n = 4  1
n
16 2 N = N0  
2
The half life of polonium is 140 days. Hence,
n n
the time taken in the disintegration of N  1 1  1
150 gm polonium = half-life × no. of half lives  N =    =  
0 2 16  2 
= 140 × 4 = 560 days
Ex. 2 The half life of radium is 1600 years. In how n 4
 1  1
15    =    n = 4
much time will its fraction disintegrate ? 2 2
16
(A) 6400 years (B) 3200 years Half life of the substance
(C) 1600 years (D) 8000 years
time of disintegra tion 30
= = = 7.5 years.
T log(N0 / N) number of half lives 4
Sol. Ist time of Decay t = log 2 Ex.5 If a radio active material contains 0.1 mg of
Th234, how much of it will remain unchanged
 16  after 120 days ? Its half life is 24 days.
1600 log  4  1600 log 2
 t =  1 = , (A) 0.0312 gm (B) 0.0312 mg
log 2 log 2 (C) .00312 mg (D) .00312 gm
Sol. T = 24 days, t = 120 days
t = 6400 years
Ex. 3 The half-life of radium is 1600 years. After M0 t N0
= = 2120/24 = 25 = 32, N = ,
how many years 25% of radium block m 2T 32
remains undecayed?
Original mass 0 .1
(A) 3200 years (B) 4800 years Mass left = =
32 32
(C) 7200 years (D) 9600 years
Sol. Suppose the initial quantity of radium is N 0. = .003125 mg
Then the quantity left after n half-lives will be Ex.6 The half life of a radioactive material is 12.7 hr.
n What fraction of the original active material
 1
N = N0   would become inactive in 63.5 hr ?
2 (A) 1/32 (B) 1/23
N0 (C) 31/32 (D) 23/32
Here, N = 25 % of N0 = Sol. t = 63.5 Hr, T = 12.7 Hr.
4

64
 N 1 1 1 T log2 4 log 2
N0 = 2 t / T = 2( 63.5 / 12.7) = 25  8 =  8 = 4T log 2
log 2

N 1  T = 2sec
 N =
0 32 N0 1600
N = =  N = 200 counts/s
 Inactive fraction 2 t/T
26 / 2
N 1 31 Ex.10 1 milligram radium has 2.68 × 1018 atoms.
= 1 – N = 1 – = Its half-life is 1620 years. How many radium
0 32 32
atoms will disintegrate from 1 milligram of
Ex.7 The activity of a radioactive sample drops of pure radium in 3240 years ?
1/32 of its initial value in 7.5 h. Find the half (A) 2.01 × 1018
life ? (B) 0.75 × 1018
(A) 7.5 Hr. (B) 5 Hr. (C) cannot be predicted
(C) 1.5 Hr. (D) None (D) None
R 1 Sol. If the initial quantity of a radio-active element
Sol. Given, R = , t = 7.5 h be N0, then the quantity left after n half-lives
0 32
n
 1
R  1
t/T is given by N = N0  
  2
R0 =  2 
The half life of radium is 1620 years. The
7 .5 / T 5 7 .5 / T number of half-lives in 3240 years is
1  1  1  1
=      =   , 3240
32 2 2 2 n = = 2
1620
7 .5
5 = 7.5/T  T = = 1.5 hours  1
2
5
N = 1 ×  
Ex.8 A radio active sample contains 10 6 2
radioactive nucleus. It's half life is 20 sec. ( N0 = 1mg), N = 1/4 = 0.25 m
Number of remaining nucleus after  mass of disintegrated radium
10 seconds.
= 1– 0.25 = 0.75 m
(A) 7.09 (B) 7.09 × 105
Number of atoms in it = 0.75 × (2.86 × 10 18)
(C) 79 (D) 709
= 2.01 × 1018
 1
t/T Ex.11 The mean lives of a radioactive material for 
Sol. N = 106   and  radiations are 1620 and 520 years
2
respectively. The material decays
10 / 20
simultaneously for  and  radiations. The
 1 time after which one fourth of the material
N = 106   N = 106/ 2 = 106/1.41
2 remains undecayed is-
 N = 7.9 × 105 (A) 540 years (B) 324 years
Ex.9 The count rate of a radio active source at (C) 720 years (D) 840 years
t = 0 was 1600 count/s and at t = 8 sec, it
was 100 counts/s. The count rate (in counts)   1620  520
Sol.  =
at t = 6 sec will be-      = 1620  520 = 394 years
(A) 150 (B) 200
(C) 300 (D) 400 N0
Time of decay t =  2.303 log10
N
N0 1600  t = 394 × 2.303 log104
T log T log T log16
Sol. t = N  8 = 100 =  t = 394 × 2.303 × 0.602
log 2 log 2 log 2
 t = 546 years
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Ex.12 When 90Th228 gets converted into 83Bi212, Ex.15 In 420 days, the activity of a sample of
then the number of -and -particles emitted polonium, Po fell to one lights of its initial
will respectively be- value. Nuclear reaction is following
(A) 4 , 7  (B) 4 , 1  a
Po  dc   206
Pb  ef  Half life of
(C) 8 , 7  (D) 4 , 4  b 82

228 = 212 + x ( He4) + y(-1e0) polonium & value of a,b, c, d, e, f will be-
Sol. 90 Th 83 Bi 2
(A) 140, 210, 84, 4, 2, 0, 0
According to law of conservation of charge
(B) 420, 208, 83, 2, 1, 0,0
90 = 83 + 2x – y
(C) 420, 210, 84, 2, 4, 0, 0
2x – y = 7
(D) 140, 210, 84, 2, 4, 0, 0
According to law of conservation of mass
number 228 = 212 + 4x N0
Sol. = 2t/T, 8 = 2t/T  23 = 2t/T
4x = 16, x = 4, 2 × 4 – y = 7, y = 1 N
Hence 4 and 1 will be emitted.  3 = t/T  T = t/3 = 420/3 = 140 days
Ex.13 A radioactive Nucleus decays as follows: Reaction will be,

A 
  A2 
 A1  
  A4
 A3  210
84 Po  42   206
82 Pb  00 
If the mass number and charge number of A Ex.16 A freshly prepared radioactive sample, with
are 180 and 72 respectively, then for A4 these half-life 2 hours, emits radiations whose
values will respectively be- intensity is 64 times higher than its safe
(A) 172, 69 (B) 108, 252 level. The minimum time after which it will be
(C) 108, 72 (D) None safe to work with the sample will be-
Sol. 180 4 176 (A) 42 hr (B) 6 hr
72A = 2He + 70A1
A 176 = e0 + 176 (C) 128 hr (D) 12 hr
70 1 -1 71A2
t/T t/2
71A2
176 = 2He4 + 69A3172 , 69 A 172 N  1 1 1  1
3
Sol.    =  
N0 =  2  =
64 64 2
=  + 69 A 172
4
6 t/T
Ex.14 If the activity of radioactive sample drops to  1  1
1/32 of its initial value in 7.5 Hr. Half life will    =  
2 2
be-
(A) 3 Hr (B) 4.5 Hr t = 6T = 12 hr.
(C) 7.5 Hr (D) 1.5 Hr.
Sol. A = A0/32, t = 7.5 Hr, T = ?

A0
 = 2t/T
A
 32 = 2t/T  25 = 2t/T  5 = t/T
 T = t/5  T = 7.5/5 = 1.5 Hr.

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