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PHYSICS 4E03
Dr. Reza Nejat
Day Class
DURATION OF THE EXAMINATION: 3 HOURS
MCMASTER UNIVERSITY FINAL EXAMINATION APRIL 2002

THIS EXAMINATION INCLUDES 3 PAGES AND 7 QUESTIONS. YOU ARE

RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT YOUR COPY OF THIS PAPER IS
COMPLETE. BRING ANY DISCREPANCY TO THE ATTENTION OF YOUR
INVIGILATOR.

INSTRUCTIONS: Answer all questions. Only the casio fx-991 calculator may be used.
USEFULL INFORMATION IN THE LAST PAGE.

1. (a) (9 marks) Calculate theQ value for the reaction 14C8 ( p, n ) 14N 7
15
knowing that the neutron and proton separation energies of N are
S n = 10.8377 MeV and S p = 10.2073 MeV, respectively.
(b) (6 marks) The threshold energy, Tth , for X (a, b)Y reaction is given by:
mY + mb
Tth = ( -Q) . Calculate the threshold energy for the above
mY + mb - ma
reaction

+
2. (a) (10 marks) We will study the capture of a low-energy positive pion , p ,
by a deuteron p+ +d ® p+ p.
+
The spine and parity of the deuteron are 1 . The intrinsic spin of the pion
is 0 . If the orbital angular momentum in the entrance channel is 0 , find the
intrinsic parity of the pion.

3. a) (4 marks) Give the expected shell-model spin and parity assignment for
41
the ground state of 21 Sc .

b) (6 marks) The spin-parity I p and the energy levels in 154

Sm is given:
0 + (0 KeV), 2 + (82 Kev), 4 + (267 KeV). Predict the spin and parity of the
154
next level. Can you predict the energy of the next level? Is Sm a rotating
nucleus or a vibrating nucleus? If it is a rotating, calculate its moment of
inertia in eV.s2.

Continued on page 2

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c) (5 marks) Ru has the following sequence of levels above it 0 + ground

102
44
+ + + +
state: 2 (475 KeV), 0 (944 KeV), 2 (1103 KeV), 4 (1106). Draw an
energy level diagram and show all reasonably probable g transition and their
domain multipole assignments.

242
4. (10 marks) Given that the activation energy of 94 Pu is 6.0 MeV, what is the
minimum-energy alpha particle that can produce fission following
238
bombardment of U 146 target ?

191
5. (10 marks)The Os leads only to an exited state of 191
b decay of 76 77 Ir at

171 KeV. Compute the maximum kinetic energy of the b spectrum.

6. (a) (6 marks) Nuclei of type A , produced at a constant rate R , decay with a

decay constant l A to a stable nuclei of type B. Set up the differential
equation for N A , and find N A (t ) . Assume N A (t = 0) = 0

(b) (4 marks) The production rate of

56
Mn is 5.00 ´10 7 per second when a
55
Mn target is irradiated with a deuteron beam. Determine the activity of
56
Mn after 5 hours of bombardment. The half life of 56 Mn is 2.579 hours.
56
Assume that the target did not contain any Mn at the beginning of the
irradiation.

7. (a) (8 marks) Use the semi-empirical mass formula

2
-1
B = av A - as A 3 - ac Z 2 A 3 - aaym ( N - Z ) 2 A
to show that the energy released in symmetric fission
A A
A
Z X N ® 2Z Y N + 2Z Y N
2 2 2 2

is given by
2 1
-1 -2
Q = a s A 3 (1 - 2 3 ) + ac Z 2 A 3 (1 - 2 3 )
(b) (7 marks) Fission will be possible only when Q > 0 . Calculate the
minimum value of Z A for which fission can occur. Use aV = 15.5 MeV ,
2

as = 16.8 Mev , aC = 0.72 MeV , and sym = 23 MeV .

Continued on page 3

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8. (a) (5 marks) What is four formula factor? Define it’s each component ?

(b) (2 marks) How are the neutrino and antineutrino distinguished from each
other?

(c) (4 marks) describe briefly an experiment which shows that parity is not
conserved in b decay.

(d) (4 marks) What are the selection rules for g decay. Are there any
exceptions?

Bonus:
(5 marks) Summaries the main points of one of your classmate’s presentation;
Or If you skipped their talk, summaries the main points of your own talk. Do not
exceed half a page.

Useful informations:

Sequence of states in Single Particle Shell Model

(1s1 2 ) (1 p3 2 ) (1 p1 2 ) (1d 5 2 ) (2 s1 2 ) (1d 3 2 ) (1 f 7 2 ) (2 p3 2 ) (1 f 5 2 )

(2 p1 2 ) (1g 9 2 ) (1g 7 2 ) (2d 5 2 ) (2d 3 2 ) (3s1 2 ) (1h11 2 )

Atomic mass
symbol Z Mass (u)
n 0 1.00866501
1
H 1 1.007825
4
He 2 4.002603
15
N 7 15.000109
238
U 92 238.050785
191
Os 76 190.960920
191
Ir 77 190.960584
242
Pu 94 242.058737

Constants:
Electron mass = me = 5.485803 ´ 10–4 u = 0.511 Mev/c2
NA = 6.022045 ´ 1023 mole–1
1 u = 1.660566 ´ 10–27 kg = 931.502 Mev/c2
1 h = 6.58217 ´ 10–16 ev.s

End