http://www.scribd.

com/vinod_bhaskar_2

Definition
the spontaneous emission of a stream of
particles or electromagnetic rays in nuclear
decay

http://www.scribd.com/vinod_bhaskar_2

Radioactivity
In small doses, radioactivity is a useful process that can

be harnessed by man. For example, nuclear reactors

exploit radioactivity to generate heat. Phosphorescent
materials sometimes include small quantities of
radioactive atoms.
Materials containing carbon-14 can be placed in
geological time using a process known as radiocarbon
dating, in which the amount of carbon-14 in the material
is used to determine its age. Terrestrial radiation is the
second major source of natural radioactivity. This
radiation comes from isotopes of carbon and potassium,
as well as thorium and uranium, which may be found in
soil, rocks, or water.
http://www.scribd.com/vinod_bhaskar_2

Types of Radiations
When an unstable nucleus decays, there
are three ways that it can do so.
It may give out:an alpha particle (we use the symbol
a beta particle (symbol
A gamma ray (symbol

http://www.scribd.com/vinod_bhaskar_2

Alpha particles
Alpha particles are made of 2 protons and 2
neutrons.
This means that they have a charge of +2, and a
mass of 4 (the mass is measured in "atomic mass
units", where each proton & neutron=1)
We can write them as
, or, because they're the
same as a helium nucleus,
.
Alpha particles are relatively slow and heavy.
They have a low penetrating power - you can
stop them with just a sheet of paper.
Because they have a large charge, alpha particles
ionise other atoms strongly.
http://www.scribd.com/vinod_bhaskar_2

http://www.scribd.com/vinod_bhaskar_2

Beta particles
Beta particles have a charge of minus 1, and a
mass of about 1/2000th of a proton. This
means that beta particles are the same as an
electron.
We can write them as
or, because they're the
same as an electron,
.
They are fast, and light.
Beta particles have a medium penetrating
power - they are stopped by a sheet of
aluminium or plastics such as perspex.
Beta particles ionise atoms that they pass, but
not as strongly as alpha particles do.
http://www.scribd.com/vinod_bhaskar_2

http://www.scribd.com/vinod_bhaskar_2

Gamma rays
Gamma rays are waves, not particles.
This means that they have no mass and no charge. So
we sometimes write
.
Gamma rays have a high penetrating power - it takes a
thick sheet of metal such as lead, or concrete to reduce
them significantly.
Gamma rays do not directly ionise other atoms, although
they may cause atoms to emit other particles which will
then cause ionisation.
We don't find pure gamma sources - gamma rays are
emitted alongside alpha or beta particles. Strictly
speaking, gamma emission isn't 'radioactive decay'
because it doesn't change the state of the nucleus, it just
carries away some energy.
http://www.scribd.com/vinod_bhaskar_2

http://www.scribd.com/vinod_bhaskar_2

5 Types of Radio Active

Process
Alpha Emission
Beta Decay
Electron Capture
Neutron Release
Spontaneous Fission

http://www.scribd.com/vinod_bhaskar_2

NATURAL AND
ARTIFICIAL
RADIOACTIVITY

http://www.scribd.com/vinod_bhaskar_2

NATURAL
RADIOACTIVITY
Nuclear reactions which occur spontaneously are

said to be an example of natural radioactivity.

There are three naturally occurring radioactive
series among the elements in the periodic table.
These are known as the uranium series, the
actinium series and the thorium series, each
named after the element at which the series
start (except the actinium series which starts
with a different uranium isotope). Each series
decays through a number of unstable nuclei by
means of alpha and beta emmission, until each
series end on a different stable istope of lead.
http://www.scribd.com/vinod_bhaskar_2

ARTIFICIAL
RADIOACTIVITY
Not all nuclear reactions are spontaneous. These

reactions occur when stable isotopes are

bombarded with particles such as neutrons. This
method of inducing a nuclear reaction to proceed
is termed artificial radioactivity. This meant new
nuclear reactions, which wouldn't have been
viewed spontaneously, could now be observed.
Since about 1940, a set of new elements with
atomic numbers over 92 (the atomic number of
the heaviest naturally occurring element,
Uranium) have been artificially made. They are
called the transuranium elements.
http://www.scribd.com/vinod_bhaskar_2

Binding Energy Curve

http://www.scribd.com/vinod_bhaskar_2

Submitted By,
VINOD BHASKAR 2
Physics Dept.
Roll No. 00000

http://www.scribd.com/vinod_bhaskar_2