Radioactivity

Radioactivity
Radioactivity is the spontaneous process of an unstable nucleus emitting radioactive emission in order to
become more stable.
3 Types of Radioactive Emission

carries positive charge.

most strongly ionizing of the
nuclear radiations.
least penetrating. Range in air
is only a few centimetres, and
can be stopped by a thick
sheet of paper.

carry a negative charge.

much less ionizing than
alpha emission.
more penetrating than
alpha emission..
Have a range of a metre or
so in air,
Can be stopped by a few
millimetres of Perspex or
aluminium.

Characteristics of Radioactive Emission

Characteristic
Alpha Particle
Symbol
Nature

often emitted at the same

time as an alpha or beta
particle.
least ionizing of the
nuclear radiations,
most penetrating.
Their intensity is greatly
reduced by several
centimetres of lead.

Beta Particle

Gamma Ray

Nucleus of Helium

High speed electron

Electromagnetic wave

+2

-1

Neutral

strong

weak

Very weak

Absorted by

Sheet of writing paper

About 5mm of
aluminium

Never fully absorded.

25mm of lead reduces
intensity to half

Deflection in
Electric Field

Can be deflected

Deflection in

Can be deflected

Can be deflected

Up to 10% of the speed

of light

Up to 90% of the speed

of light

Charge
Ionizing Effect

Can be deflected

magnetic Field
Speed

Not deflected

Not deflected
speed of light

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Radioactivity
Gold Leaf Electroscope
[Can
detect:
Alpha
particles only]
Alpha radiation can be
detected using a charged
electroscope as in on the
left. The more intense the
radiation, the faster the
leaf falls.

Geiger-Muller Tube
[Can detect: Alpha, Beta and Gamma]
1. When a charged particle or
gamma-radiation enters the tube,
the argon gas becomes ionized.
2. A pulse of current is then flows in
the circuit.
3. The circuit includes either a scaler
or a ratemeter. A scaler counts the
pulses and shows the total on a
display.

Cloud Chamber
1. The felt ring round the top
of the chamber is soaked
in alcohol. The bottom of
the chamber is cooled by
'dry ice' (solid carbon
dioxide) to around -80 C.
2. As the alcohol vapour
spreads downward through
the chamber, it is cooled
beyond the point at which
it would normally
condense.

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Radioactivity
Track Produced by Different Radiation in Cloud Chamber
Alpha-particle tracks:
Beta-particle tracks:

Gamma-ray:

Spark-Chamber Detector
[Can detect: Alpha particles only]

1. Spark-chamber detectors consists of metal

plates placed in a sealed box filled with
gas.
2. As a particle travels through the detector, it
will ionize the gas between the plates, and
a trigger system is used to apply high
voltage to the plates to create an electric
field immediately after the particle went
through the chamber, producing sparks on
its exact trajectory.
Film Badge (Dosimeter)
1. All the -particle, -particle and -ray can be
detected by a photograph film.
2. The ionisation effect by the radioactive rays
will decompose silver bromide crystal on the
film.
3. Films are kept in the badges worn by workers
as a tracer device of radioactive rays.
4. The main disadvantegaes of using a film as a
radioactive tracer is that it needs to be
processed in order to prove the presence of
radioactive rays.

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Radioactivity
Radioactive decay
Alpha decay

The half-life (

) of a quantity subject to exponential decay

is the time required for the quantity (mass, number of atom

or activity) to decay to half of its initial value.

Atom X losses 2 neutron and 2 proton and become atom Y.

Beta decay

During a beta decay, a radioactive atom X decay and emits

a beta particle (

).

Gamma emission
Gamma emission causes no change in nucleon number
or proton number.

Uses of isotopes in our daily lives

Archeology
radiocarbon dating.

Note

Industry
Monitoring Content of Food
Monitoring Thickness of Steel/paper Sheet
Detecting Underground Leakage
Measuring the Wearing Rate of Engine
Medical
Radiotherapy
Tracer to Detect Blood Clots or Tumour
Sterilising Medical Instrument
Tracer to Investigate Activities of Thyroid
Glands
Heart Pacemaker
Agriculture
Pest Control
Tracer
Develop New Species of Plant
Preserve food
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Nuclear Energy
Mass Defect and Nuclear Energy
Mass defect is the missing mass in a nuclear reaction
and the missing mass will turn into thermal energy and
kinetic energy of the product particles.
Einstein Formula

m = mass change, in kg
c = speed of light, in m s-1
E = energy changed, in J

Nuclear Reaction

1. There are 2 types of nuclear reaction

a. nuclear fission
b. nuclear fusion
2. Nuclear fission is the process of splitting nucleus
into 2 smaller nuclei whereas nuclear fusion is the
process which 2 small nuclei combine to form a
larger nucleus.
3. In nuclear fission, a chain reaction is a continuing
process of splitting of the nucleus in which the
neutrons that are released from the breaking of a
nucleus initiate other similar nuclear fissions.
4. The critical mass is the minimum mass of the
nuclear fuel for a chain reaction to happen.

Nuclear Fission

Nuclear Fusion

Chain Reaction

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Nuclear Energy

1. The main components of a nuclear reactor:

a. Graphite moderator
Fast moving neutrons are slowed down by collisions with nuclei in the moderator so that they can cause further
fissions. In some nuclear power plant, the moderator is water.
b. Uranium rod (Fuel)
Fission reactions occur in the uranium rod to produce nuclear energy. The uranium used is often 'enriched' by
increasing the proportion of the isotope uranium-235 above the natural value of 0.7% to 3%.
c. Control rod
The rate of the fission reaction is controlled by inserting or withdrawing these rods. The nuclei in the rods absorb
neutrons without undergoing any reaction. Sometimes the rod is made of cadmium.
d. Coolant
To take away the heat from the nuclear reactor. Substances with high specific heat capacity such as 'heavy' water and
carbon dioxide are used.
e. Thick concrete wall
To prevent the escape of harmful radiations.
f. Steam generator
Water in the generator is heated and changed into steam. The steam then drives the turbines.
g. Turbine
To turn the dynamo in the electrical generator to produce electricity.

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