Radioactivity

PaedDr. Jozef Beňuška

jbenuska@nextra.sk
Radioactivity
-is the ability of atomic nuclei send out (radiate)
radiation
Nuclides which give off radiation are said to be radioactive,
They are called radioisotopes
1. natural
(are in nature),
2. artificial
(are prepared by reactions in laboratory).
Radioisotopes emit radiation – can be detected by
Geiger-Müller tube

RN GM
Radiation in homogeneous magnetic field
D

RN GM

GM

In the magnetic field the radioactive rays are deflected

The effect of MF depends on type of radiation: a
Radiation in homogeneous magnetic field
D


RN GM



GM
 - stream of flowing particles
 - stream of flowing particles
 – electromagnetic radiation
Radioactive rays:
– alpha radiation
4 
- is made up of fast moving helium nuclei, 2 He
-beta radiation
0
e
-
- is made up of electrons moving at high speed, 1

-beta radiation
0
- is made up of positrons moving at high speed, 1 e +

 radiation
- electromagnetic radiation,
Photons with high energy, hf > 10keV.
Penetration Abilities of Different Radiation types

paper Aluminum Lead

RN  


–is stopped by thin materials (sheet of paper)

 – is stopped by aluminum foil,
 –cannot pass through thick lead.
 Alpha radiation
• -is made up of fast moving helium nuclei (alpha
particles)
-they consist of 2 protons and 2 neutrons
-they carry a positive charge
-they change direction if they pass through an electric
or magnetic field (they are deflected by field)
-they are quite easily stopped by thin material (paper)
-typical path length in air is a few centimeters
 Beta radiation
• is made up of electrons moving at high
speed (negative beta radiation)
• is made up of positrons moving at high
speed (positive beta radiation)
• Are deflected by electric and magnetic field
-but in the opposite direction as alpha radiation
-can travel several metres in air
-are stopped by Al
 Gamma radiation
• is a form of electromagnetic radiation
• doesn´t carry a charge
• It is not deflected by electric or magnetic charge
• Has very high energy
• Can travel a very long way in air
• Can pass through several cm of lead or a thicker
piece of concrete
Natural radioactivity
Nuclear transmutation

226
88 Ra  222
86 Rn  He
4
2

Energy of-particle is 4,8 MeV.

Mária Curie

In 1898 radium was found by Maria Currie.

Nuclear transmutation

4
2 He N  O  H
14
7
17
8
1
1

Nitrogen was changed into oxygen

Ernest Rutherford
In 1919 the first artificial transmutation
Natural radioactivity
Nuclear transmutation

4
2 He  Be C n
9
4
12
6
1
0

Berylium was bombarded by the stream

of alpha particles.

James Chadwick
In 1932 he discovered neutron.
Artificial radioactivity
Radioactive nuclei are the products of reaction

Al was bombarded by -particles...

4
2 He  Al P  n
27
13
30
15
1
0

The nuclei of P was formed –unstable nuclei

-there were changed spontaneously :
30
15 P Si  e  
30
14
0
1
Fréderic a Iréne
Joliot-Curieovci
In 1934 they discovered artificial radioactivity.
 Radioactive decay
• -is the process of changing from one element to
another while emitting radiation
• The nuclide you start with is called parent nuclide
• The product of the decay is called daughter nuclide
• Is a random process
• Is not affected by external conditions
 -decay
During -decay alpha particle is emitted.

A4
A
Z X Z2 Y  He
4
2

Example:

226
88 Ra  222
86 Rn  He
4
2
 -decay
During -decay electron is emitted by radioactive nucleus.
In the nucleus the neutron is decayed to electron and antineutrino

1
0 n  p e  ν e
1
1
0
1

A
Z X A
Z 1 Y e  ν e
0
1

In new nucleus there is Z+1 protons

Example:
14
6 C N  e  
14
7
0
1
 -decay
During -decay positron is emitted by radioactive nucleus.
In the nucleus the proton is decayed to neutron and neutrino

1
1 p  n e  νe
1
0
0
1

A
Z X A
Z 1 Y e  ν e
0
1

In new nucleus there are Z-1 protons.

Example:
30
15 P Si  e  
30
14
0
1
Gamma decay

During  decay photon  is emitted

A
Z X  X
* A
Z

In new nucleus the number of protons and neutrons don´t change.

Example:
60
27 Co  Co  
* 60
27
 Gamma decay
• After emission of gamma rays, the nucleus
has less energy but its mass number and
atomic number don´t change
• There is the change from an excited state to
a lower energy state
Riešte úlohu:

Určte zloženie jadra izotopu prvku, ktorý vznikne

z uránu 238
92 U
po štyroch rozpadoch  a po dvoch
rozpadoch .

222
86 Rn