[UNIT

5 PHYSICS FROM CREATION TO COLLAPSE 5.2]

5.2 Nuclear Decay
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Background radiation
Nuclear radiations
Nature of Nuclear Decay
Half Lives
Applications of Radioactive Materials

Radiation
Alpha

Penetrating Power
Low
-Blocked by paper

Beta

Moderate
-Blocked by thin sheet
of Al
High
-Blocked by several
cm of lead.

Gamma
1. Background radiation

The environmental radiation from either natural or manmade

sources.
Measured in counts or numbers per second Bacquerel (Bq).
Using a Geiger-Muller tube.
<see fig on pg 128>
These background radiation is taken into account when
measuring radiation.
<see eg. on pg 129>

2. Nuclear radiation

Three main types of nuclear radiation:

o alpha () helium nucleus !!!"
o beta () an electron
o gamma () electromagnetic radiation.

Ionising ability
High
-large particle
- +vely charged
Moderate
- small particle
- -vely charged
Low
- no mass, so minimal
interaction with
particles

<try question on pg 131>

3. Nature of Nuclear Decay

Radioactive decay is spontaneous and random

However theres a probability that a nucleus will decay at a
fixed rate decay constant, .
Not affected by external factors i.e. temperature, pressure.
Activity, dN/dt = -N
where N is the number of nuclei in sample.
<see eg on pg 132>
From dN/dt = -N,
! = !! ! !!"
where No is the number of nuclei in a sample.
<see eg on pg 133>

4. Half Lives
From ! = !! ! !!"
<see on pg 133>

5. Application of Radioactive Material

! !

Nuclear reactors
o Ethical/Environmental Issues

Carbon dating
Medical Imaging & Radiotherapy
Radiation Detection

!"2
!

<see eg on pg 133>
Hence the half life of a substance can be determined.
<see fig on pg 134>

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