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CHAPTER 28
is defined as the spontaneous
disintegration of certain atomic
nuclei accompanied by the
emission of alpha particles,
beta particles or gamma
radiation.
PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
Learning Outcome:
28.1
Radioactive decay
dN
N
dt
N N 0 e t OR
A A0 e t
T1/ 2
ln 2
PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
A 4
4
Z 2Y 2 He
(Parent) (Daughter) ( particle)
Examples of decay :
A
ZX
218
214
4
Po
Pb
84
82
2 He Q
230
226
4
Th
Ra
90
88
2 He Q
226
222
4
Ra
Rn
88
86
2 He Q
238
234
4
U
Th
92
90
2 He Q
PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
OR
Beta-plus
(positron) :
0
OR
1e
A
0
1 e
Z 1Y
(Parent) (Daughter) ( particle)
A
ZX
Q
5
PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
Examples of
minus decay:
234
234
0
Th
Pa
90
91
1 e Q
234
234
0
Pa
91
92
1 e Q
214
214
0
Bi
Po
83
84
1 e Q
(Parent)
A
0
Y
1e
Z 1
(Daughter) (Positron)
plus decay is
1
1
0
p
1
0
1e v Q
For example of
Neutrino is uncharged
particle with negligible
mass.
6
PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
relativistic energy
before reaction
relativistic energy
after reaction
linear momentum
before reaction
linear momentum
after reaction
PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
218
214
4
Po
Pb
84
82
2 He
234
234
0
Pa
91
92
1 e
208
208
Ti
81
81Ti
Gamma ray
PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
Charge
+2e
Deflection by
electric and
magnetic fields
Yes
Yes
No
Strong
Moderate
Weak
Penetration power
Weak
Moderate
Strong
Ability to affect a
photographic plate
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Ionization power
Ability to produce
Table 28.1 fluorescence
PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
Figure 28.1
Radioactive
source
Figure 28.2
10
PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
dt
N
dt
dN
N
dt
(28.1)
Decay constant
dN
dt
N
decay rate
PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
dN
(28.2)
dt
N
At time t=0, N=N0 (initial number of radioactive nuclei in the
sample) and after a time t, the number of remaining nuclei is
N. Integration of the eq. (28.2) from t=0 to time t :
N dN
t
dt
N0 N
0
ln N NN
t 0
t
N
ln
t
N0
N N 0e
PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
Simulation 28.1
N0
Note:
N N 0e
N0
2
N0
8
N0
4
N0
16
time , t
13
PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
t T1/ 2 ; N N 0 , thus
2
1
N0
T1 / 2
T1 / 2
e
N 0e
2
2
T1 / 2
when
Half-life
2e
ln 2 ln eT1 / 2
ln 2 0.693
T1/ 2
(28.4)
PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
The units of the half-life are second (s), minute (min), hour
(hr), day (d) and year (y). Its unit depend on the unit of decay
constant.
Table 28.2 shows the value of half-life for several isotopes.
Isotope
Half-life
238
92 U
226
88 Ra
210
884 Po
234
90Th
222
86 Rn
138 days
214
83 Bi
20 minutes
24 days
3.8 days
Table 28.2
15
PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
dN
of a radioactive sample.
dt
dN
From the law of radioactive decay :
N
dN dt
and definition of activity : A
dt
16
PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
Thus
A N
and
N N 0e
A N 0e t
N 0 e t and A0 N 0
A A0 e
Activity at time t
(28.5)
Activity at time, t =0
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PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
Example 28.1 :
A radioactive nuclide A disintegrates into a stable nuclide B. The
half-life of A is 5.0 days. If the initial number of nuclide A is 1.01020,
calculate the number of nuclide B after 20 days.
20
Solution : T1/ 2 5.0 days; N 0 1.0 10 ; t 20 days
A BQ
ln 2
T1/ 2
ln 2
5.0
0.139 days1
N N 0 e t
N 1.0 10 20 e 0.139 20
6.2 1018 nuclei
18
PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
Example 28.2 :
a. Radioactive decay is a random and spontaneous nuclear
reaction. Explain the terms random and spontaneous.
b. 80% of a radioactive substance decays in 4.0 days. Determine
i. the decay constant,
ii. the half-life of the substance.
Solution :
a. Random means that the time of decay for each nucleus
cannot be predicted. The probability of decay for each
nucleus is the same.
Spontaneous means it happen by itself without external
stimuli. The decay is not affected by the physical conditions
and chemical changes.
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PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
Solution :
b. At time t 4.0 days,
The number of remaining nuclei is
80
N N0
N0
100
0.2 N 0 nuclei
N N 0 e t
0.2 N 0 N 0 e 4.0
0.2 e 4.0
ln 0.2 ln e 4.0
ln 0.2 4.0ln e
T1/ 2
ln 2
T1/ 2
ln 2
0.402
20
PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
Example 28.3 :
Phosphorus-32 is a beta emitter with a decay constant of 5.6 107
s1. For a particular application, the phosphorus-32 emits 4.0 107
beta particles every second. Determine
a. the half-life of the phosphorus-32,
b. the mass of pure phosphorus-32 will give this decay rate.
(Given the Avogadro constant, NA =6.02 1023 mol1)
Solution :
dN
5.6 10 s ;
4.0 10 7 s 1
dt
7
T1/ 2
ln 2
ln 2
5.6 10 7
21
PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
Solution :
dN
5.6 10 s ;
4.0 107 s 1
dt
7
dN
N 0
dt
4.0 10 7 5.6 10 7 N 0
13
7
.
14
10
7.14 1013 nuclei of P-32 has a mass of
32
23
6.02 10
22
PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
Example 28.4 :
A thorium-228 isotope which has a half-life of 1.913 years decays
by emitting alpha particle into radium-224 nucleus. Calculate
a. the decay constant.
b. the mass of thorium-228 required to decay with activity of
12.0 Ci.
c. the number of alpha particles per second for the decay of 15.0 g
thorium-228.
(Given the Avogadro constant, NA =6.02 1023 mol1)
Solution : T1/ 2 1.913 y 1.913 365 24 60 60
6.03 10 7 s
T1/ 2
ln 2
6.03 10
7
ln 2
23
PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
Solution :
b. By using the unit conversion ( Ci decay/second ),
Since
10
4.44 1011
N
N
1.15 10 8
19
3.86 10 nuclei
19
3
.
86
10
19
3.86 10 nuclei of Th-228 has a mass of
6.02 1023 228
24
PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
Solution :
c. If 228 g of Th-228 contains of 6.02 1023 nuclei thus
15 .0
23
15.0 g of Th-228 contains of
6
.
02
10
228
dt
25
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PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
Learning Outcome:
28.2
Radioisotope as tracers
26
PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
28.2 Radioisotope as tracers
28.2.1 Radioisotope
16
1 e Q
23
1
24
11 Na 0 n 11 Na Q
32
15
b.
24
11
Na Mg e Q
c. 13 A l 0 n 13 Al
27
28
28
13
(Radio sodium)
24
12
0
1
(Radio aluminum)
28
Al14
Si 01 e Q
27
PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
Example 28.5 :
A small volume of a solution which contained a radioactive isotope
of sodium had an activity of 12000 disintegrations per minute when
it was injected into the bloodstream of a patient. After 30 hours the
activity of 1.0 cm3 of the blood was found to be 0.50 disintegrations
per minute. If the half-life of the sodium isotope is taken as 15
hours, estimate the volume of blood in the patient.
Solution : T1/ 2 15 h; A0 12000 min 1 ; t 30 h
The decay constant of the sodium isotope is
T1/ 2
ln 2
15
ln 2
4.62 10 2 h 1
A A0 e t
4.6210 2 30
12000 e
A 3000 min 1
29
PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
1
A V
A1 kV1
and
A2 kV2
final
initial
thus the ratio of activities is given by
A1 V1
A2 V2
(28.6)
0 .5
1
3000 V2
30
PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
To treat deep-lying tumors by planting radium-226 or caesium137 inside the body close to the tumor.
In agriculture
31
PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
In industry
32
PHYSICS
Example 28.6 :
CHAPTER 28
33
PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
Solution :
T1/ 2
ln 2
6.9110
5
ln 2
1.00 106 s 1
dN
A0
dt 0
A0 N 0
8.0 10 5 1.00 10 6 N 0
N 0 8.0 10 11 nuclei
11
8
.
0
10
11
8.0 10 nuclei of I-131 has a mass of
6.02 1023 131
34
PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
Solution :
b. Given
1.74 1010 g
N N 0 e t
1.74 10 N0e
10 1.00106 8.64104
N0 1.74 10 e
1.00106 8.64104
10
A A0 e
A 8.0 10 e
5
1.00106 8.64104
35
PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
Example 28.7 :
An archeologist on a dig finds a fragment of an ancient basket
woven from grass. Later, it is determined that the carbon-14 content
of the grass in the basket is 9.25% that of an equal carbon sample
from the present day grass. If the half-life of the carbon-14 is 5730
years, determine the age of the basket.
Solution :
9.25
2
N
N 0 9.25 10 N 0 ; T1/2 5730 years
100
T1/ 2
ln 2
5730
1.21 10 4 y 1
N N 0e
ln 2
9.25 10 N 0 N 0 e
1.2110 4 t
ln 9.25 10 2 1.21 10 4 t ln e
36
PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
Exercise 28.1 :
Given NA =6.021023 mol1
1.
37
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PHYSICS
CHAPTER 28
Good luck
For
2nd semester examination
38