RADIOACTIVITY

Radioactivity is the spontaneous decay of an unstable nucleus to

be a stable nucleus by emitting radioactive rays or energetic particles

Author : Khairi
 RADIOACTIVITY
Radioactive rays consist of :

SYMBOL OF ELEMENT CHARGE Mass

4
Alpha (a) He positive big
2

0
Beta (b) e negative small
-1

No No
Gamma (g) None
charge mass

Author : Khairi
 RADIOACTIVITY

PENETRATING POWER

b
g

Thin paper
Aluminium
(a few mm) Lead
(a few cm)

Author : Khairi
 RADIOACTIVITY
EFFECT OF ELECTRIC FIELD
g-particle is unaffected
because it has no charge
a-particle is g
deflected to negative
plate because it is a
positively charged

-ve +ve

b b-particle is deflected to
positive plate because it is
b-particle is deflected
negatively charged
with larger deflection
because it has a smaller mass
compared to a-particle

Author : Khairi
 RADIOACTIVITY
EFFECT OF MAGNETIC FIELD
g-particle is unaffected
g because it has no charge
a-particle is
a
deflected with
X X
small deflection X X X X X
because it hasXa X X X X X X
large mass
X X X X X X X
b
X X X X X X Xb-particle is deflected
with larger deflection
X X X X X Xbecause
X it has a smaller
mass compared to
a-particle

X = magnetic field into the paper

Author : Khairi
 RADIOACTIVITY
RADIOACTIVE DECAY

A process
where an unstable nucleus
reducing its mass
to be a stable nucleus by
emitting
radioactive rays or energetic particles

Author : Khairi
 RADIOACTIVITY
NUCLEAR EQUATION

238 234
y
U Th +
z
X
92 90
Nuclear equation above shows that uranium-238 decayed to
Thorium-234 and emits X-ray.
What is the X-ray ?

Nucleon number Proton number

238 = 234 + y 92 = 90 + z

y=4 z=2

Author : Khairi
 RADIOACTIVITY
NUCLEAR EQUATION

238 234
4
U Th +
2
X
92 90
Nuclear equation above shows that uranium-238 decayed to
Thorium-234 and emits X-ray.
What is the X-ray ?

Nucleon number Proton number

Particle X is
238 = 234 + y 92 = 90 + z

He = a
y=4 z=2 4

ALPHA DECAY 2
Author : Khairi
 RADIOACTIVITY
EXERCISE

24 24
0
Na Mg + X
11 12
Nuclear equation above shows Natrium-24 decays to
magnesium-24 and emits an X-ray
What is the X-ray ?

Nucleon number

24 = 24 + y

=b
y=0

Author : Khairi
 RADIOACTIVITY
EXERCISE

24 24
0
Na Mg +
-1
X
11 12
Nuclear equation above shows Natrium-24 decays to
magnesium-24 and emits an X-ray
What is the X-ray ?

Nucleon number Proton number

24 = 24 + y 11 = 12 + z Particle X is

=b
y=0 z = -1 0
e
-1
BETA DECAY
Author : Khairi
 RADIOACTIVITY
EXERCISE

60 60
0
Co Co + X
27 27

Nuclear equation above shows cobalt-60 decays and emit an X-ray ?

What is the X-ray ?

Nucleon number

60 = 60 + y

=g
y=0

Author : Khairi
 RADIOACTIVITY
EXERCISE

60 60
0
Co Co +
0
X
27 27

Nuclear equation above shows cobalt-60 decays and emit an X-ray ?

What is the X-ray ?

Nucleon number Proton number

60 = 60 + y 27 = 27 + z Particle X is

=g
y=0 z=0 0
0
GAMMA DECAY
Author : Khairi
 RADIOACTIVITY
EXERCISE

226
Ra Rn + a
88
Nuclear equation above shows Radium-226 decays to
Radon and emits a-ray
What is nucleon number and proton number of Radon ?

4
a He
2
y = 222 z = 86

Author : Khairi
 RADIOACTIVITY
EXERCISE

226
4
Ra Rn + He
88 2
Nuclear equation above shows Radium-226 decays to
Radon and emits a-ray
What is nucleon number and proton number of Radon ?

Nucleon number

226 = y + 4

y = 222 z = 86

Author : Khairi
 RADIOACTIVITY
EXERCISE

226
4
Ra Rn + He
88 2
Nuclear equation above shows Radium-226 decays to
Radon and emits a-ray
What is nucleon number and proton number of Radon ?

Nucleon number Proton number

226 = y + 4 88 = z + 2

y = 222 z = 86

Author : Khairi
 RADIOACTIVITY
EXERCISE

234
U Th + a
90
Nuclear equation above shows Uranium decays to
Thorium and emits a-ray
What is the nucleon number and proton number of uranium ?

Nucleon number

A = 234 + 4

= 238 = 92

Author : Khairi
 RADIOACTIVITY
EXERCISE

234
U Th + a
90
Nuclear equation above shows Uranium decays to
Thorium and emits a-ray
What is the nucleon number and proton number of uranium ?

Nucleon number Proton number

A = 234 + 4 Z = 90 + 2

= 238 = 92

Author : Khairi
 RADIOACTIVITY
DECAY SERIES

238 234 234 234

U Th Pa U
92 90 91 92

a b b
Author : Khairi
 RADIOACTIVITY
DECAY SERIES GRAPH

238 234 234 234

U a Th Pa U
92 90 b 91
b 92
Nucleon number,A

U
238
a
Th Pa
234 U
b b

90 91 92 Proton number,Z
Author : Khairi
 PAST YEARS QUESTION

The contents in the bag at airport can be examined by

A. X-ray
Gamma ray has
B. Gamma ray high penetration power

C. Ultraviolet ray
D. Infrared ray
Author : Khairi
 PAST YEARS QUESTION

a b g

Which of the following shows the type of ray S and T ?

Ray S Ray T
A. a b
B. a g
C. b g
D. g b
Author : Khairi
 PAST YEARS QUESTION

Which of the following statements is a characteristic of

gamma radiation ?

A. It has a positive charge

B. It is an electromagnetic wave
C. It has a higher ionizing power than alpha
D. It has a lower penetrating power than beta radiation

Gamma ray is neutral and

a type of electromagnetic wave

Author : Khairi
 PAST YEARS QUESTION

a
b b
a
a

What is the number of the alpha particles and beta particles emitted
during this process ?
a particles b particles
A. 2 3
B. 3 2
C. 4 1
D. 1 1
Author : Khairi
 PAST YEARS QUESTION

Which of the following has a similar characteristic to b-particle ?

A. proton
B. Electron
C. Helium nucleus
D. Electromagnetic wave

Author : Khairi
 PAST YEARS QUESTION

What is the value of X and Y ?

X Y
Nucleon number
A. 0 1
238 = 230 + 0 + 4Y
B. 1 1
Y=2
C. 1 2 Proton number
D. 2 2
92 = 90 – X + 2Y
92 = 90 – X + 4
X=2

Author : Khairi
 PAST YEARS QUESTION

What is X ?

Nucleon number
A. b particle
235 + 1 = 141 + 92 + 3 + X
B. a particle
X=0
C. Energy Proton number
D. g particle
92 = 56 + 36 + X
X=0

Author : Khairi
 PAST YEARS QUESTION

a. Name both rays emitted by the radioisotope.

Beta and gamma
b. Explain why the rays follow the path.
Beta is negatively charged and gamma is neutral

Author : Khairi
 PAST YEARS QUESTION

What is meant by radioactivity ?

The spontaneous decay of unstable nuclei by emitting radioactive
ray

Author : Khairi
 PAST YEARS QUESTION

State the charges of radioactive emission.

Positive

Author : Khairi
 PAST YEARS QUESTION

Compare the voltage of EHT and deflection of the radioactive

emission.
EHT in diagram 10.2 is higher than in diagram 10.1.
Deflection of emission in diagram 10.2 is bigger than in diagram
10.1.

Author : Khairi
 PAST YEARS QUESTION

State the relationship between the EHT and the strength of electric
field between two plates.
EHT is directly proportional to the strength of electric field
between two plates

Author : Khairi
 PAST YEARS QUESTION

State the relationship between the strength of electric field between

two plates and the deflection of emission.
The deflection is directly proportional to the strength of electric
field between two plates

Author : Khairi