Assignment I (5 Marks)

1. The radius of the carbon nucleus is about 3fm and its mass 12amu. Find the average
density of the nuclear material.

Solution: m = 12 amu, R = 3 fm =3 ×12−15 m, ρ = ?

m m
ρ= =
V 4 ------------(1)
π R3
3

12amu ×1.66 ×10−27

¿
4 3 ------------(1)
× 3.14 × ( 3 × 10−15 )
3

= 1.8×10−17 kg/m3 ------------(1/2)

The average density of the nuclear material is 1.8×10−17 kg/m3 .

2. Find the volume of 238

92U nucleus given that r 0 =1.4 fm

Solution: Z = 92, A = 238, V = ?

4
V= π R3 -------------(1/2)
3
1 3
= 4 π r0 A 3
( ) --------------(1)
3

1 3
4 ( )
= 3.14 1.4 × 10 × 238 3
−15
-------------(1/2)
3

= 2.73 ×10−42 m 3 -------------(1/2)

 Assignment II (5 Marks)

1. Masses of He nucleus, proton and neutron in amu are 4.0026, 1.007895 and 1.008665.
Find the energy required to knock out nucleons from the He nucleus.

Solution: m He = 4.0026u, mp = 1.007895u, mn = 1.008665u

4
2

BE = [Zm p +( A−Z )mn − −¿ m42 He ] u ×c2 ------------( 1)

EB( 42He ) = [2(1.007895) + 2(1.008665) – 4.0026] u ×c2

931.5 MeV
= {[2.01579 + 2.01733] – 4.0026} u × ------------(1/2)
1u

= [4.03312 −¿ 4.0026] × 931.5MeV

= 28.42938MeV ------------(1/2)

= 28.42938×10 6 eV ×1.6 × 10−19J/eV

= 4.5487008×10−12J ------------(1/2)

The energy required to knock out nucleons from the He nucleus is 4.5487008×10−12J
241
2. If the energy of the α-particle emitted by Am is 5.48 MeV, find the closest distance(d)
it can approach to Au nucleus. (Z = 79 for Au nucleus) Give the answer with 2 decimal
numbers
Solution: Charge of α particle q = 2e = 2×1.6×10−19C

Eq = 5.48MeV ≈5.5MeV
= 5.5×10 6 × 1.6× 10−19J ------------(1/2)
Charge of gold nucleus Q = +79e = 79×1.6 × 10−19C
d=?
1 qQ
From Coulomb’s law, Eq = ------------(1/2)
4 π εo d
1 qQ
d=
4 π εo E q
 9 2 ×1.6 ×10−19 ×79 ×1.6 × 10−19
d = 9 ×10 × ------------
5.48× 106 × 1.6 ×10−19
(1/2)
= 4.15×10−14m ------------(1)

Assignment III (5 Marks)

1. After a full course of treatment, a tumor received a dose of 4000rads. Express this does in MeV
per gram.

Solution: dose=4000 rads, dose = ? (MeV/g)

1 rad =0.01 J/kg ------------(1/2)

4000 rads = 4000 x 0.01J/kg = 40 J/kg ------------(1/2)
( 1 eV = 1.6 x 10 -19 J) ------------(1/2)
40 J × 1eV
4000 rads = ------------(1/2)
1.6× 10−19 J × 103 g
4000 rads = 25×10 16 eV/g = 2.5×10 11 MeV/g ------------(1/2)

2. What thickness of lead foil would be required to attenuate the intensity of

57
CO gamma rays E(gamma) = 0.123 MeV, by a factor of 25? (μ = 33.12 cm-1)

Solution: μ = 33.12 cm-1

I/I0 = 1/25 = 0.04 ------------(1/2)

I = I0 e− μ x (OR) I = I0 e− μ t ------------(1/2)

I/I0 = e− μ x I/I0 = e− μ t

I I
ln ⁡[
] ln ⁡[]
x= I 0 t= I 0 ------------(1/2)
−μ −μ
 ln ⁡(0.04) ln ⁡(0.04)
= = ------------(1/2)
33.12cm−1 33.12cm−1

= 0.097cm = 0.097cm ------------(1/2)