Radioacti

vity
Radioactive decay transforms
a nucleus by emitting
different particles.
•ALPHA DECAY
•BETA DECAY
•GAMMA DECAY
Alpha
Decay
In ALPHA decay, the nucleus
releases a HELIUM nucleus-an
alpha particle.
 Beta
Decay
In BETA decay, the nucleus
either emits an electron and
antineutrino (or a positron and
neutrino) or Captures an atomic
electron and emits a neutrino.

(Note: Both alpha and beta decays change the original nucleus
into the nucleus of different chemical element.)
Gamma
Decay
In GAMMA decay, the nucleus lowers
its internal energy by emitting a
photon- a gamma ray. This decay
does not modify the chemical
properties of the atom.
 Comparison of ALPHA
BETA & GAMMA
Nuclear Chain
Reaction
The principle of chain reaction is very easy therefore: a
U235 nucleus is hit by a neutron, upon which fission
occurs at a high probability. The neutrons produced in
this process can cause more fission; moreover, the
already mentioned 200 MeV energy is released each

The neutronic state can be characterized by the so

called multiplication factor (k). This is the ratio of the
number of neutrons in a neutron "generation" and the
number of neutrons in the preceding generation.
Nuclear Fuel
Cycle
APPLICATIO
NS
Radioactive Dating
Space Exploration
Nuclear Reactors
Smoke Detectors
Nuclear Medicines
Magnetic Resonance
Imaging
 Radioactive
14
Dating
Naturally occurring radioactive isotopes
such as C are used to date objects that
6
were living once, such as wood. For
example, from the study of artifacts found
at the site, scientist determined that
Stonehenge was built nearly 4000 years
 Space
Exploration
Sojourner used Alpha particles to
identify chemical elements present in
Martian rocks. On earth nuclear
reactions are used in many areas
from criminal investigations to art
authentication.
 Nuclear
NuclearReactors
reactors use the fission of
U235or Pu 239nuclei to produce
electrical power. Reactors and most
other nuclear applications generate
radioactive waste; disposal of this
waste is a subject current research.
 Smoke
Many Detectors
smoke detectors use a small
mount of the alpha emitter Am 241

to ionize the air. Smoke entering

the detector reduces the current
and sets off the alarm.
 Nuclear
Medicine
Radioactive
131
and I
isotopes such as Co
are commonly use in the
60

diagnosis and treatment of

diseases. Positron emitters such as
F18 are used in positron emission
terminology (PET) to generate
images of brain activity.
Magnetic Resonance
Imaging
MRI makes use of atomic transitions involving the
magnetic field of a nucleus to study the local
chemical environment. This technique accurately
maps the density of hydrogen to produce three
dimensional images of the human body.