BASIC NUCLEAR PHYSICS

1 Asst. Prof. John Paolo A. Ramoso

4 LAWS OF THERMO
¢ Zeroth Law – Thermal equilibrium
¢ First Law – Net heat supplied = net work done

a.k.a. Conservation of Energy

¢ Second Law – Entropymax

concerned with “will equilibriate”

variables: input, work, losses
¢ Third Law – Entropymin

a.k.a. Absolute Zero

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 http://electron6.phys.utk.edu/phys250/modules/module%205/nuclear_decay.htm
DECAY (RADIATION)
¢ The SI unit for measuring radioactive decay is
the becquerel (Bq).
¢ If a quantity of radioactive material produces one
decay event per second, it has an activity of one
Bq.
¢ Mass is usually measured by:
1 u = 1.66x10-27 kg

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DECAY (RADIATION)
¢ Alpha decay (α)
— Atom à atom( ¼ mass & ½ atomic #) + 2 protons (↑)
+ 2 neutrons (↑)
¢ Beta-minus decay (β-)
— Neutron à proton + electron(↑) + anti-neutrino(↑)
— Daughter nucleus + electron

¢ Beta-plus decay (β+)

— Proton à neutron + positron(↑) + neutrino(↑)
— Daughter nucleus + electron with opposite charge

¢ Gamma decay (γ)

— By product of other decays
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— High energy à photons
 definition-formula.html
http://study.com/academy/lesson/disintegration-energy-in-nuclear-physics-
DISINTEGRATION ENERGY, Q
The energy released during radioactive decay.

𝐸 = 𝑚𝑐 8
𝑄 = 𝑚: 𝑐 8 − 𝑚< 𝑐 8

RADIOACTIVE DECAY,
Where an unstable atomic nucleus decays or turns into
a more stable nucleus.

1𝑐2 = 931.494 𝑀𝑒𝑉

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Element Atomic Mass
238U 238.05079u
234Th 234.04363u
237Pa 237.05121u
4He 4.00260u
1H 1.00783u

1 u = 1.66x10-27 kg 6
DISINTEGRATION CONSTANT,
DECAY RATE, & HALF-LIFE
Disintegration constant, λ, determines the
exponential rate at which the decay rate R decreases with
time t :
−𝑑𝑁
𝑅 = = 𝑅L 𝑒 MλN
𝑑𝑡
Playing with the eqtn,
ln 𝑅 = ln(𝑅 𝑒 MλN ) = ln 𝑅 + ln(𝑒 MλN )
L L
= ln 𝑅L − λ𝑡
This means that we could plot by ln(R) instead of
R.

Then solve for the half-life using λ using:

ln 2 7
𝑇S =
8 λ
DECAY (RADIATION)
A radioactive nucleus 232Th undergoes a
spontaneous reaction and changes into 227Ac. What
kind of reaction occurred?
Th à Thorium (#90|w=232.03806)
Ac à Actinium (#89|w=227)

a) Alpha decay
b) Beta-minus decay
c) Beta-plus decay
d) Gamma decay
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ALPHA DECAY

An unstable Radium (222Ra) undergoes alpha decay

and emits a somehow more stable element Radon
(218Rn). How much energy is released in the process?

Element Atomic Mass

222 Ra 223.018502u
88
218 Rn 218.005601u
86
4He 4.00260u
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ALPHA DECAY
222Ra → 218Rn + 4He

∆𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 = 223.018502 − 218.005601u − 4.00260u

∆𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 = 1.010301𝑢

Using this difference in mass, we can calculate the

energy of this mass.

1.66𝑥10M8\𝑘𝑔
𝐸 = (1.010301𝑢)∗ ∗ (3𝑥108)8
1 𝑢
𝐸 = 1.509 𝑥10MSL J
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ALPHA DECAY
One of the most common form of Uranium, 238U

(A=238,Z=92) goes to Thorium (A=234,Z90).

Calculate the energy, Q, released during alpha

decay.

Element Atomic Mass

238U 238.05079u
234Th 234.04363u
4He 4.00260u
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ALPHA DECAY

238U → 234Th + 4He

𝑄 = 𝑚: 𝑐 8 − 𝑚< 𝑐 8
𝑄 = 238.05079 − (234.04363 + 4.00260) ∗ 𝑐 8
𝑄 = 0.00456 ∗ 𝑐 8
𝑄 = 0.00456 𝑢 ∗ 𝑐 8 ∗ (931.494 𝑀𝑒𝑉/𝑐 8)/u
𝑄 ≈ 4.25 𝑀𝑒𝑉

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DISINTEGRATION CONSTANT
Find the disintegration constant, λ, and the half-life
T1/2 for the radionuclide 128I (this radionuclide is often used
medically as a tracer to measure the rate at which iodine is
absorbed by the thyroid gland).

Time R Time R
(min) (counts/s) (min) (counts/s)
4 392.2 132 10.9
36 161.4 164 4.56
68 65.5 196 1.86
100 26.8 218 1.00

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 LMh.8
¢ 𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 = 88iML = −0.0276𝑚𝑖𝑛MS
−λ = −0.0276𝑚𝑖𝑛MS
λ = 0.0276𝑚𝑖𝑛MS
pq 8
¢ half−life: 𝑇 =
n
o λ
pq 8 14
= ML.L8\hr:stn ≈ 25𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑠
HALF-LIFE
A radioactive nuclide has a half-life of 30.0yrs.
What fraction of an initially pure sample of this
nuclide will remain undecayed at the end of (a)
60.0yrs and (b) 90.0yrs?
Ans. (a) 0.25, (b) 0.125

A radioactive isotope of mercury, 197Hg, decays to

gold, 197Au, with a disintegration constant of 0.0108
hr-1. (a) calculate the half-life of the 197Hg. What
fraction of a sample will remain at thee end of (b)
three half-lives and (c) 010.0 days?
Ans. (a) 64.18hr, (b) 0.125, (c) 0.0749 15
 Fundamentals of Physics. 10th Ed. Halliday. Resnick.
http://electron6.phys.utk.edu/phys250/modules/module%205/nuclear_decay.htm
HALF-LIFE
A 2.71 g sample of KCl is found to be radioactive. It
is decaying at a rate of 4490 Bq. The decay is traced
to an isotope of potassium, 40K, which constitutes
1.17% of normal potassium. Calculate the half life of
this nuclide. (the molar mass of potassium is 39.098
g/mole and the molar mass of chlorine is 35.453
g/mole, so the molar mass of KCl is 74.552 g/mole)

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HALF-LIFE
ln 2
half−life: 𝑇 S = N ln 2
8 λ 𝑇S =
8 R
decay rate: 𝑅 = λN

N – Number of atoms in the sample

rvww x< wvryz{ L.LSS\∗|} ∗8.\S~
𝑁 = molar mass of KCl = 74.552 g/mole = 2.56𝑥1020

N ln 2 2.56𝑥1020 ln 2
𝑇S = = = 3.9524𝑥1016𝑠
8 R 4490/𝑠
≈ 1.25𝑥109 years
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HALF-LIFE
Consider an initially pure 3.4g sample of 67Ga, an
isotope that has a half-life of 78hr. (a) What is its
initial decay rate? (b) What is its decay rate 48hr
later?
Ans. (a) 7.55x1016 s-1, (b) 4.9x1016 s-1

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 and-effective-nuclear-charge-319-7515/
textbook/periodic-properties-8/electron-configuration-68/the-shielding-effect-
from https://www.boundless.com/chemistry/textbooks/boundless-chemistry-
Charge.” Boundless Chemistry. Boundless, 01 Dec. 2014. Retrieved 02 Feb. 2015
Source: Boundless. “The Shielding Effect and Effective Nuclear
SHIELDING EFFECT
Electrons in an atom can shield each other
from the pull of the nucleus. This effect, called the
shielding effect, describes the decrease in
attraction between an electron and the nucleus in
any atom with more than one electron shell. The
more electron shells there are, the greater the
shielding effect experienced by the outermost
electrons.
The shielding effect explains why valence
shell electrons are more easily removed from the
atom.
Zeff = 𝑍 − 𝑆 19
 and-effective-nuclear-charge-319-7515/
textbook/periodic-properties-8/electron-configuration-68/the-shielding-effect-
from https://www.boundless.com/chemistry/textbooks/boundless-chemistry-
Charge.” Boundless Chemistry. Boundless, 01 Dec. 2014. Retrieved 02 Feb. 2015
Source: Boundless. “The Shielding Effect and Effective Nuclear
SHIELDING EFFECT
Ne’s e- config is 1s22s22p6. The valence shell 2
contains 8 valence electrons. Therefore,
¢ Zeff(Ne) = 10 – 2 = 8+

¢ Zeff(F-) = 9 – 2 = 7+

¢ Zeff(Na+) = 11 – 2 = 9+

¢ Each has 10 electrons but the effective nuclear

charge varies because each has a different atomic
number. The sodium cation has the largest
effective nuclear charge, which results in
electrons being held the tightest and therefore 20
the smallest atomic radius.
 FUSION VS FISSION
Nuclear Fission Nuclear Fusion
Definition Fission is the splitting of a large atom
Fusion is the fusing of two or more
into two or more smaller ones. lighter atoms into a larger one.
Natural Fission reaction does not normally Fusion occurs in stars, such as the
occurrence occur in nature. sun.
Byproducts of Fission produces many highly Few radioactive particles are
the reaction radioactive particles. produced by fusion reaction, but if a
fission "trigger" is used, radioactive
particles will result from that.
Conditions Critical mass of the substance and High density, high temperature
high-speed neutrons are required. environment is required.
Energy Takes little energy to split two atoms Extremely high energy is required
Requirement in a fission reaction. to bring two or more protons close
enough that nuclear forces overcome
their electrostatic repulsion.
Energy Released Million times greater than that The energy released by fusion is
released in chemical reactions, but three to four times greater than the
lower than the energy released by energy released by fission.
nuclear fusion.
Fuel Uranium is the primary fuel used in Hydrogen isotopes (Deuterium and
power plants. Tritium) are the primary fuel used 21
in experimental fusion power plants.
Source: http://www.diffen.com/difference/Nuclear_Fission_vs_Nuclear_Fusion
 GOOD LUCK IN THE BOARD
EXAM!
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