Scribd
Upload
508 views

Hyper Physics

Radioactivity refers to particles emitted from unstable nuclear isotopes. There are three main types of radiation: alpha, beta, and gamma. Radioactive decay rates are expressed in half-lives, which relate to radiation risk. Different types of radioactivity lead to different decay paths that transmute elements. Examining decay products allows for radioactive dating. Radiation spreads equally in all directions according to the inverse square law.

Uploaded by

nehaanees
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
508 views

Hyper Physics

Radioactivity refers to particles emitted from unstable nuclear isotopes. There are three main types of radiation: alpha, beta, and gamma. Radioactive decay rates are expressed in half-lives, which relate to radiation risk. Different types of radioactivity lead to different decay paths that transmute elements. Examining decay products allows for radioactive dating. Radiation spreads equally in all directions according to the inverse square law.

Uploaded by

nehaanees
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

12/13/12

Hy perPhy sics

Radioactivity
Radioactivity refers to the particles which are emitted from nuclei as a result of nuclear instability. Because the nucleus experiences the intense conflict between the two strongest forces in nature, it should not be surprising that there are many nuclear isotopes which are unstable and emit some kind of radiation. The most common types of radiation are called alpha, beta, and gamma radiation, but there are several other varieties of radioactive decay. Radioactive decay rates are normally stated in terms of their half-lives, and the half-life of a given nuclear species is related to its radiation risk. The different types of radioactivity lead to different decay paths which transmute the nuclei into other chemical elements. Examining the amounts of the decay products makes possible radioactive dating. Radiation from nuclear sources is distributed equally in all directions, obeying the inverse square law. Natural radioactive decay series. Radioactive items you can buy. Some history. Illustration of alpha, beta and gamma radiation
R Nave

Index

HyperPhysics***** Nuclear

Go Back

Alpha Radioactivity

hy perphy sics.phy -astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hf rame.html

Composed of two protons and two neutrons, the alpha particle is a nucleus of the element helium. Because of its very large mass (more than 7000 times the mass of the beta particle) and its charge, it has a very short range. It is not suitable

1/5

12/13/12

Hy perPhy sics

charge, it has a very short range. It is not suitable for radiation therapy since its range is less than a tenth of a millimeter inside the body. Its main radiation hazard comes when it is ingested into the body; it has great destructive power within its short range. In contact with fast-growing membranes and living cells, it is positioned for maximum damage.

Index Alpha particle concepts

Alpha particle emission is modeled as a barrier penetration process. The alpha particle is the nucleus of the helium atom and is the nucleus of highest stability. Alpha role in deuterium-tritium fusion Proton fusion Radioactivity
R Nave

HyperPhysics***** Nuclear

Go Back

Alpha Barrier Penetration


The energy of emitted alpha particles was a mystery to early investigators because it was evident that they did not have enough energy, according to classical physics, to escape the nucleus. Once an approximate size of the nucleus was obtained by Rutherford scattering, Index one could calculate the height of the Coulomb barrier at the radius of the Alpha nucleus. It was evident that this energy Decay was several times higher than the Concepts observed alpha particle energies. There was also an incredible range of half lives References for the alpha particle which could not be Blatt explained by anything in classical Ch 15 physics.
hy perphy sics.phy -astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hf rame.html 2/5

12/13/12

Hy perPhy sics

The resolution of this dilemma came with the realization that there was a finite probability that the alpha particle could penetrate the wall by quantum mechanical tunneling. Using tunneling, Gamow was able to calculate a dependence for the half-life as a function of alpha particle energy which was in agreement with experimental observations. Modeling of tunneling in polonium
R Nave

Tipler Ch 40

HyperPhysics***** Nuclear

Go Back

Alpha Binding Energy


The nuclear binding energy of the alpha particle is extremely high, 28.3 MeV. It is an exceptionally stable collection of nucleons, and those heavier nuclei which can be viewed as collections of alpha particles (carbon-12, oxygen-16, etc.) are also exceptionally stable. This contrasts with a binding energy of only 8 MeV for helium-3, which forms an intermediate step in the proton-proton fusion cycle. Index

Nuclear units HyperPhysics***** Nuclear Go Back

R Nave

hy perphy sics.phy -astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hf rame.html

3/5

12/13/12

Hy perPhy sics

Alpha, Beta, and Gamma


Historically, the products of radioactivity were called alpha, beta, and gamma when it was found that they could be analyzed into three distinct species by either a magnetic field or an electric field. Index

HyperPhysics***** Nuclear

R Nave

Go Back

Penetration of Matter
Though the most massive and most energetic of radioactive emissions, the alpha particle is the shortest in range because of its strong interaction with matter. The electromagnetic gamma ray is extremely penetrating, even penetrating considerable thicknesses of concrete. The electron of beta radioactivity strongly interacts with matter and has a short range.

Index

HyperPhysics***** Nuclear
hy perphy sics.phy -astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hf rame.html

R Nave

Go Back
4/5

12/13/12

Hy perPhy sics

hy perphy sics.phy -astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hf rame.html

5/5

You might also like