Strong Force &

Radioactivity
Particle Physics 2

Homework Reminder!

Ernest Rutherford

What important
experiment did he
direct in the early
20th Century?
What did Rutherford
conclude from his
analysis of the
observations?

Todays Objectives

The strong nuclear force:

-its role in keeping the nucleus stable;
- short-range attraction to about 3 fm,
very-short range repulsion below about
0.5 fm
If time:Equations for alpha decay and beta decay including the neutrino.

Size of the nucleus...

If the atom were the size of the

school canteen, the nucleus would
be the size of a pea dropped in the
middle.

Really small compared to the atom!!

For fun?...(dont worry

about the equations)
1 Q1Q2
F
2
4 0 r

Gm1m2
F
2
r

Repulsive force
between two protons.
Gravitational
Attraction.
Q1,Q2=e
G is gravitational
constant.
m are proton masses

Why doesnt it fly apart?

The repulsive force between the two

charges is much larger than the
gravitational force.

So why is it stuck together?

We need another force the

STRONG force.

The Strong Force Graph

Important to Note

Its a weird force!

At very short ranges, below 0.5

femtometres (0.5 10-15 m) the
strong nuclear force is repulsive.

It is attractive up to its maximum

range of 3 fm (3 10-15 m).

Strong Force

What would happen if the strong

force wasnt repulsive at short
distances?

It is about 200 N between two

protons very strong compared to
other forces.

Radioactive Decay

Some isotopes are stable but others

are not.

Those which are not release

radiation and change into a more
stable isotope (normally a different
element).

How much do you know?

Complete the table (in pencil) that describes the

properties of the three common radiations:-

Radiatio Particle
n

Range in Stopped
air
By

Answers
Radiation Particle

Range in
air

Stopped
By

Alpha

Helium
nucleus
(P)

Few mm
(P)

Paper (P)

Beta

High
speed
electron
(P)

Few cm
(P)

Aluminium
sheet (P)

Gamma

Energetic Infinite (P) Several

photon (P)
cm lead

Alpha radiation

Mostly comes from heavy nuclides with

proton numbers greater than 82, but
smaller nuclides with too few neutrons can
also be alpha emitters.
The general decay equation is summarised
below.
The term Q stands for the energy.
Can be written with He as and without the
Q.

Notes on -decay

The alpha particle is a helium nucleus

(NOT atom).

Energy is released in the decay. The energy

is kinetic, with the majority going to the
alpha particle and a little going to the
decayed nucleus.

The velocity of the alpha particle is much

greater than that of the nucleus.

Example Decay

The nucleon number goes down by

4, the proton number by 2.
A typical alpha decay is:

Is this equation balanced? Explain

your answer

Beta radiation

Neutron rich nuclei tend to decay by beta

minus (b-) emission.
The beta particle is a high-speed electron
ejected from the nucleus, NOT the electron
clouds.
It is formed by the decay of neutrons,
which are slightly more energetic than a
proton.
Isolated protons are stable; isolated
neutrons last about 10 minutes.

Equation for Beta decay.

The neutron, having emitted an electron, is

converted to a proton, and this results in the
proton number of the nuclide going up by 1.
A new element is formed. The general
equation is:

Note the electron can be written as , also

without the Q

Example Beta Decay

Notes

The nucleon number remains the same ;

The proton number goes up by 1.
The beta particle is created at the instant of
the decay.
The antineutrino is very highly penetrating
and has a tiny mass. It is very hard to detect.
A precise amount of energy is released,
according to the nuclide.
That energy is shared among the nucleus, the
electron and the antineutrino.

Question

What is the balanced nuclear equation for

the following decays?
(a)emission of a beta- particle from oxygen
19
(b)emission of an alpha particle from
polonium 212
(c)emission of a beta + particle from cobalt
56
Proton numbers O 8, F 9, Fe 26, Co
27, Pb 82, Po 84

Answers

(a)

(b)

(c)

Summary

A graph of neutron number against proton

number shows that there are more neutrons
in larger nuclei

This is needed to ensure stability of the nuclei.

Natural decay occurs with alpha decay

Or beta minus decay.