RADIOACTIVITY

Prepared by: Nurasfiqah Abd Karim Class: 5 Science 11 Teacher: Miss Nurul Ain binti Nawi

NUCLEUS OF AN ATOM

THE COMPOSITION OF THE NUCLEUS A nucleus consists of a number of protons and neutrons. Proton and neutrons are collectively referred to as nucleon as they are found in the nucleus. PROTON AND NUCLEON NUMBERS The proton number, Z, is defined as the number of protons in the nucleus. The nucleon number, A, is defined as the number of protons and neutrons in a nucleus. The number of electron is equal to the number of proton.

NUCLIDE
A
Z

A = nucleon number Z = proton number X = chemical symbol for the element

ISOTOPE Isotopes are atoms with the same proton number but different nucleon number. They have identical chemical properties since they have the same number of electrons.

RADIOACTIV E DECAY

RADIOACTIVITY Radioactivity is the spontaneous and random disintegration of an unstable nucleus accompanied by the emission of energetic particles or photons. TYPE OF RADIATION SYMBOL MASS CHARGE SPEED IONISING ABILITY PENETRATING POWER STOPPPED BY DEFLECTED BY ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC FIELDS ALPHA PARTICLE 4 +2e Slow High Low A few cm of air or a piece of paper Yes BETA PARTICLE 1/2000 -e Fast Medium Medium A few mm of aluminum foil Yes GAMMA RAY 0 0 Very fast Low High A few cm of lead No

1 DETECTORS OF RADIOACTIVE EMISSION 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Geiger-Muller tube (GM tube) Photographic film Gold leaf electroscope Cloud chamber Bubble chamber

5 4

RADIOACTIVE DECAY Alpha decay Alpha decay is a radioactive process in which a particle with two neutrons and protons is emitted from the nucleus of a radioactive atom. Only occurs in very heavy elements such as uranium, thorium and radium.

Beta decay Beta particles are electrons emitted by the nucleus. However, the nucleus contains no electron. Beta decay occurs when a neutron is changed to a proton within a nucleus. As a result, nucleus with N neutrons and Z protons becomes a nucleus of N-1 neutrons and Z+1 proton after emitting a beta particles.

Gamma decay Gamma is a type of electromagnetic radiation produced during radioactive decays. Gamma decay is often emitted during an alpha or beta decay.

HALF-LIFE The half-life, T1/2 of a radioactive substance is the time for half of the radioactive nuclei to decay. Half-life can also be defined as the time taken for the activity to become half of its initial value.

The half-life of a radioactive substance can be determined from a graph of count rate against time.

RADIOISOTOPES

Radioisotopes are isotopes of an element that are radioactive. Most of it are created artificially. ELEMENT Hydrogen Carbon Iodine Polonium Uranium HALF-LIFE 12.3 years 5730 years 8.07 days 0.7 seconds 138 days RADIATION EMITTED

, ,

APPLICATIONS OF ISOTOPES In industries: 1. Smoke detectors 2. Thickness control 3. Checking welds In medical fields: 1. Sterilizing 2. Radioactive tracers 3. Cancer treatment In archeology: 1. Radioactive dating

NUCLEAR ENERGY

Nuclear energy is the energy released during the splitting and fusing of atomic nuclei.

ATOMIC MASS UNIT (a.m.u.) One a.m.u. is twelfth of the mass of a carbon-12 atom.

MASS AND ENERGY In most nuclear reactions, the sum of the masses of the particles before the reaction is more than the sum of the masses of the particles after the reaction. This difference is called the mass defect. According to Albert Einstein E = mc2 where: E = the energy released m = mass defect c = the speed of light, 3x108 m s-1

NUCLEAR FISSION Nuclear fission is a process in which a heavy nucleus splits into two or more lighter nuclei. Nuclear fission differs from radioactive decays in three ways: y y y The nucleus is divided into two large fragments of roughly equal mass There is a significant mass defect Other neutrons are emitted in the process

CHAIN REACTION One neutron starts the fission process, but three neutrons are produced. In this way, a chain is produced. For a continuous chain reaction to be maintained, a certain critical mass must not be exceeded. If exceeded, an uncontrolled reaction will occur resulting in an explosion.

MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES

NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES Effects of radiation on biological systems can be categorized as : y y Acute effects from a single large overexposure of radiation on all the organs and systems of the body. Delayed effects from a single large dose or continuing low-level dose of radiation.

HANDLING RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES Special procedures must be followed when handling radioactive substances. In general, y y y y y Appropriate dosemeters (special film badges to monitor radiation exposures) should be worn by those working with radioactive substances. Workers should handle the radioactive materials remotely with the helps of robots Protective clothing such as specially designed gloves, coats, and safety glasses should be worn. All works areas, equipment and clothing should be routinely checked for contamination All radioactive substances should be stored in specially designed containers with clear labels.

MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE Radioactive waste is divided into three broad categories: y y High-level waste includes spent fuel from nuclear power plants and fission products from fuel reprocessing which emit enormous amount of heat Intermediate-level waste includes waste products that require handling and shielding but which does not emit significant amount of heat

Low-level waste is slightly contaminated waste that can be packaged and handled without special precautions.