LESSON 2

Analysing radioactive decay

(2) Gold Leaf Electroscope

What radioactivity is?

Radioactivity is the spontaneous disintegration of an
unstable nucleus into a more stable nucleus
accompanied by the emission of energetic particles
(radioactive rays) or photons .
When the charged plate of the electroscope is
exposed to the source of radioactive , the gold
leaf will collapse slowly.
This is due to the ions produced by radioactive
source neutralise the charge in the
electroscope.
This method is suitable for detecting alpha
particles because alpha particles have high
ionizing power.

The process is said to be spontaneous because it is

not influenced by any physical factors such as time,
pressure, temperature, etc.
The decay occurs randomly because each atom has
the same probability of decaying at any moment of
time.

(3) Spark Counter

Three kinds of radiation

There are three kinds of radiation emitted by
radioactive materials :
(1) Alpha particles,
(2) Beta particles,
(3) Gamma rays,
Radioactive Detectors
Radioactive detectors make use of the ionisation
process to detect radioactive emission (except for the
photographic plate).
The following are the common detectors for
radioactive emissions.

When the radioactive source is brought near the

spark counter , the sparks are formed.
The radioactive rays will ionise the air
molecules.
The sparks are formed due to collision between
the ions and air molecules.
The spark counter can only trace alpha particle
which have high ionising power.

(1) Photographic Plate or Film

The photographic film or plate can be used as a
special badge or tag to record the dosage of
radiation a staff at radiation laboratories is
exposed to.
The detector works on the principle that
radioactive radiation can cause a chemical
change on the plate and produce a dark trace.
The degree of darkening of the photographic
film indicates the amount of radiation received.
The photographic film can detect all the three
types of radioactive radiation.

(4) Geiger-Muller tube (GM tube)

saturated alcohol vapour to condense forming

tiny alcohol droplets and will cause the formation
of misty tracks.
The cloud chamber can detect all the three
types of radioactive radiation.

The characteristics of radioactive emissions

A GM tube is a very versatile , sensitive and
useful detector of radiation. When the
radioactive radiations enter the GM tube through
the mica window and ionises the argon gas. A
pulse current is produced and counted by a
scaler or ratemeter . The actual reading of a
GM tube is calculated as follow:

(1) Natural characteristics

- particles : Helium nucleus or

Actual reading = Reading

recorded Background
Reading.

4
2

He

- particles :

Fast moving electrons or

-rays

Electromagnetic waves

0
1

(2) Charge
- particles :
- particles :
-rays
:

Background reading is produced by radioactive

materials from Earth and the surroundings such
as stones, sand, soils, etc and also from the
cosmic rays in the sunlight.
The GM tube can detect alpha particles, beta
particles and gamma rays.

+ 2e
-e
No charge

(3) Speed
- particles :
- particles :
-rays
:

(5) Cloud Chamber

Up to 10% of speed of light

Up to 99% of speed of light
Speed of light

(4) Ionising power

- particles :
- particles :
-rays
:

Strong
Medium
Very weak

(5) Penetrating power

- particles :
- particles :
-rays
:
When the radioactive rays enter he upper part ,
the ionisation of air will occur. The ions allow the

Low
Average
High

(6) Range in air

- particles :
- particles :
-rays
:

Several centimetres
Several metres
Several hundred metres

Radioactive decay
Radioactive decay is the process of nucleus
changing to a more stable nucleus while emitting
radiation.
The nucleus before decay is called the parent nuclide
and the product of decay is the daughter nuclide.
The radioactive decay results in changes in the
number of protons and neutrons in the nuclei.
There are several types of decay:

(7) Effect of electric field

- particles : Small deflection towards
negatively charged plate
- particles : Large deflection towards
positively charged plate
-rays
: No deflection

(1) Alpha decay

The size of deflection of - particles < particles because the mass of - particles > particles.

The general equation of alpha decay is:

When a nuclide decays by emitting an alpha particle

its proton number Z decreases by 2 and its nucleon
number, A decreases by 4.
For example ;
238
92 U

(8) Effect of electric field

- particles :
- particles :
-rays

234
90 Th

4
2 He

(2) Beta decay

The general equation of alpha decay is:

Small deflection
Large deflection in opposite
direction of the - particles
No deflection

When a nuclide decays by emitting an beta particle its

proton number Z increases by 1 and its nucleon
number, A does not change.
For example ;

The size of deflection of - particles < particles because the mass of - particles > particles.
The direction of deflection is determined by
using Flemings left-hand rule.

90
38 Sr

10

90
39 Y

0
1 e

(3) Gamma emission

A decay series
Radioactive substances often decay several times in
a series of steps , emitting radiations and producing a
new substance at each step.
A parent substance produces daughter and granddaughter substances in what is called a decay series.

High frequency electromagnetic radiation coming

from the nuclei of decaying atom is call gamma
radiation.
The general equation of alpha decay is:

For example :
The decay series of
follows:

238

can be represented as

Emitting a gamma does not change the atomic

number of the atom; it also has very little effect on the
mass.
For example ;
60
27 Co

60
27 Co

Example 3

Example 1
Balance the following equations:
(a)

214
84 Po

(b)

83

Bi

82 Pb

214
84 Po

+
+

The diagram shows part of a radioactive decay

series.

He

e +

Example 2
How many alpha particles and beta particles are
208
emitted when 232
90 Th decays into
82 Pb ?

Name the particles or radiations are emitted at

part I, II and III.

11

Decay curve

Example 5
The half-life of Sodium-24 is 16 hours. What is the
time taken for Sodium-24 to shrink from 0.64 to
0.04 g?

The number of atoms , mass or activity of a

radioactive substance decreases with time.

Example 7
The half-life of Ba-143 is 12 seconds. How long will it
take for the activity of a Ba-143 sample to be reduced
to 1 of its initial value?
16

Example 8
The diagram shows the graph activity against time
for radioactive material.

Half-life
The half-life of a radioactive material is the time taken
for half of the unstable atoms to decay.
Or
The half-life of a radioactive material is the time taken
for the activity of radioactive fall to half its original
activity.
Example 4
The half-life of a radioactive material of mass 40 g is
2 hours. Determine the mass of the radioactive
material that has decayed and has not decayed after
6 hours.

Based on the graph above , determine the half-life of

the radioactive material.

12

TUTORIAL 2
1

Radioactivity is a process of
7
A
B
C
D

X - ray
- particle

B
D

The diagram shows a source of alpha particles

which is brought near a positively- charged gold
leaf electroscope.

- particle
- ray
What happens to the gold leaf?
A
B
C

Spark counter
Cloud chamber
Maltese cross tube
Geiger Muller tube

Which of the following device can detect all the

three types of radioactive radiation particles , - particles and - rays ?
A
B
C

produce radioactive rays

produce more stable nucleus
spontaneous and randomly
increasing the mass of the nucleus

Which of the following is not a radioactive

detector?
A
B
C
D

Cloud chamber
Photographic film
Geiger - Muller tube
Gold leaf electroscope

Which of the following is not produced by a

radioactive source?
A
C

A
B
C
D

Which of the following is not true about

radioactivity process?
A
B
C
D

releasing the radio waves

combination of small atoms into a larger
atom .
emission of the emission of energetic
particles from an unstable
splitting of a nucleus with big mass into two
or more smaller nuclides

Which of the following device cannot detect all

the three types of radioactive radiation particles , - particles and - rays ?

10

Most of the radioactive detectors make use of

A
B
C
D

Which the following rays can be detected by a

spark counter?
A
B
C
D

Spark counter
Cloud chamber
Gold leaf electroscope

the energy of particles

the penetration power
the ionisation process
condensation process

Alpha - particle
Gamma -ray
Alpha particle and Beta- particle
Gamma -ray and Beta- particle

Which of the following detector cannot detect

the gamma - rays ?
A
B
C
D

13

No change to te gold leaf

The deflection decreases
The deflection increases

Cloud chamber
Photographic film
Geiger - Muller tube
Gold leaf electroscope

11

Tracks produced in a cloud chamber caused by

_____________________
A
B
C
D

12

Alpha
particles

Beta
particles

Helium
nucleus

Fast
Electromoving magnetic
electrons waves

16

Fast
Helium
moving nucleus
electrons

Helium
nucleus

Electro- Fast
magnetic moving
waves
electrons

Fast
moving
electrons

Helium
nucleus

>>
>>
>>
> >

17

Based on the diagram above , which of the

following is true about - particle , - particle
and - ray in ascending order?
A
B
C

Electromagnetic
waves

18

19

14

X - ray
- particle

B
D

- particle
- ray

Which of the following statements is correct for

- ray?
A
B
C
D

Darken the photo film

Ionises the air molecules
Deflected by a magnetic field
Stopped by a thin sheet of paper

Size of deflection in an magnetic field

Penetration power
Ionising power

Which of the following has the highest

penetrating power?
A
C

Can deflected by an electromagnet field

Can penetrates a sheet of paper
Fast moving electrons

Which of following shows an - particle has

charge ?
A
B
C
D

>>
>>
>>
> >

Which comparison is correct about the speeds

of , and ?
A
B
C
D

Gamma
rays

Electromagnetic
waves

Which of the following shows the ionising power

of - particle , - particle and - ray in
ascending order?
A
B
C
D

Which of the following statements is a

characteristic of alpha - particle
A
B
C

14

the fusion process of the dry ice

the reflection of light by alcohol droplet.
the condensation process of alcohol
vapour on ions
the penetrating power of the radioactive
radiations

Which of the following about alpha particles ,

beta particles and gamma rays is correct?

13

15

deflected by electric field

has low penetration power
is an electromagnetic waves
its speed up to 10% of speed of light

20

Diagram shows three types of radioactive rays,

X , Y and Z directed towards a sheet of paper, a
sheet of aluminium and sheet of lead.

23

A group of radioactive rays are forced to pass

through a magnetic field.
Which diagram is correct to show the track of
the rays?

24

Why is the size of deflection of the beta particles greater than the alpha - particles in an
electric field?

Which of the following rays are represented by

X, Y and Z?
A
B
C
D
21

Y
Gamma
Alpha
Alpha
Beta

Z
Beta
Gamma
Beta
Alpha

Which of the following statements is a

characteristic of gamma radiation?
A
B
C
D

22

X
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
Gamma

It has a positive charge

It is an electromagnetic wave
It has a higher ionizing power than alpha
radiation
It has a lower penetrating power than beta
radiation

B
C
25

Which of the following about alpha particles and

beta particles is correct?
A
B
C
D

Which of the following has a similar

characteristic to - particles?
A
B
C
D

Have electrical charges

Have the same masses
Travel with the speed of light
Have the low power of ionisation

15

The mass of alpha - particles greater than

beta - particles
The ionisation power of alpha particles
greater than beta - particles
The penetration power of alpha particles
greater than beta - particles

Proton
Electron
Helium nucleus
Electromagnetic wave

C
D
26

The diagram shows an absorber is placed

between a radioactive source and a G tube.
The absorbers are made from different
materials.

30

It increases by 1
It does not change

The following equation represents the decay of

a Polonium nucleus.
210

Po

84

206

Pb + x

82

What is particle or ray represented by X ?

A
C
31

Without absorber
Thin paper
Aluminium
Lead block
27

28

C
D

B
D

Alpha- particle
Electron

214
83

Bi + 0 X + Y
-1

What are X and Y represented?

X
Y
A

33

216

Po nucleus decays and emits an alpha -

84

particle. The new nucleus decays again and

emits a beta - particle. The new nucleus is ____
A

- decay
Nuclear fusion

213

Pb

82

212
83

A radioactive nucleus emits a - particle. What

is the change in its nucleon numbers?
A
B

Pb

82

In which type of nucleur reaction are the nuclei

heavier after the reaction than they were
before?
- decay
- emission

Proton
Gamma - ray

The following equation represents the decay of

a Plumbum nucleus.
214

What is the type of radiations emitted by the

source?
A - particles
B - particles and - particles
C - particles and - rays
D - particles , - particles and - rays

A
C
29

32

Beta - particle
Proton

20

A
C

Reading of
counter / counts per
minute
500
220
50
48

B
D

The following equation represents the decay of

a Kalium nucleus.
40
40
K
Ca + X
19

The table shows the result obtained from the

counter for different absorbers.
Absorber

Gamma ray
Alpha - particle

It decreases by 2
It decreases by 1

16

212

Hg

213

TI

80

Bi

D
81

34

208

nucleus decays and emits two alpha -

86

particles and a beta- particle. The new nucleus

decays again and emits a gamma- ray and a
beta particle.
K nucleus is represented by ________________
A

200

84

202

204

The number of
alpha particles

A
B
C
D

84

Both alpha and beta particles are produced

218
when 234
90 M decays to 92 N . How many
alpha and beta particles are produced.
A
B
C
D

36

86

86

35

200

What is the number of the alpha particles and

beta particles emitted during this process?

Alpha particle
4
4
4
10

A nuclide

232

220

3
2
1
1

The half-life of a radioactive material is

A
B
C

Beta particle
6
8
10
4

V decays to nuclide

92

38

2
3
4
1

The number of
beta particles

the taken for its activity to be halved

the time for its volume to be halved
the time for its nucleon numbers to be
halved
the time for its proton numbers to be
halved

39

Which of the following graph number of atoms,

against time for a radioactive material is true?

40

In an experiment to find the half-life of

radioactive isotope, the following results were
obtained.

90

and emits alpha- particles and beta- particles.

.How many alpha and beta particles are
produced.
A
B
C
D
37

4 and
3 and
4 and
3 and

3
4
4
3

The diagram shows a series of radioactive

decays for the nucleus of uranium-238 to that of
radium-226.

17

Activity/
410 290 200 140 95 69
count per
minute
Time /
0
2
4
6
8
10
minute
What is the approximate half-life of the isotope?
A
C
E
41

2 minutes
6 minutes
10 minutes

B
D

4 minutes
8 minutes

The table shows the activity of a radioactive

source is measured in 160 s .
Time / s
0
40
80
120
160

What is its activity after 12 hours?

Activity / number per

second
320
163
82
x
20

A
B
C
D
45

What is the value of x?

A
C
E
42

44

B
D

51
39

A radioactive source has a half-life 8 hours.

What is the percentage of atoms to decay after
24 hours?
A
C

46

The initial mass of a radioactive element is 10 g

and its half-life is 6 days.
Which of the following statements about the
mass of the radioactive element is true?
A
B
C
D

43

60
45
31

B
D

25.0%
87.5 %

15
120
480

B
D

30
240

A recorder records 160 pulses per second for a

radioactive material. The half-life of this source
is 5 days. What is the reading after 15 days?

The half-life of carbon is estimated 6 400 years .

A artifact has been discovered. The activity of
carbon in this artifact is of its initial activity.
How old is the artifact?

A
C
E

A
C
E

20
32
120

B
D

47

12.5 %
50. 0%

A recorder records 60 pulses per second for a

radioactive material. The half-life of this source
is 24 seconds. What is the reading of the
recorder in 24 seconds before?
A
C
E

6 days earlier , the mass is 20 g

12 days earlier, the mass is 80 g
6 days later, the mass is 2.5 g
12 days later, the mass is 5.0 g

4 counts per second

8 counts per second
16 counts per second
64 counts per second

24
60

The diagram shows a graph activity against time

for a radioactive element.

18

3 200 years
8 000 years
19 200 years

B
D

6 400 years
12 800 years

51

48

A
C
E
49

6 hours
24 hours
48 hours

B
D

12 hours
30 hours

The background reading of a GM tube is 40

counts per minutes . A radioactive source is the
placed near the tube , the reading is 280 counts
per minutes . After 3 hours , its reading drops to
70 counts per minutes . What is the half-life of
the radioactive source??
A
C
E

50

Three different rays P,Q and R are emitted from

a radioactive substance.
The following table shows the characteristics of
the rays.
Type of rays
P
Q
R
Deflection of unchanged unchanged decreases
the gold leaf
of an
electroscope.
Effect on
no spark
no sparks produce
Spark
sparks
Counter
Tracks in
cloud
chamber

A radioactive source has a half-life of 12 hours

How long does it take for 75% of the atoms in
the source to decay?

1 hour
6 hours
12 hours

B
D

Penetrating
power

A few
Stopped
Stopped by
centimetres by a few
a sheet of
of lead can milimetres paper
absorb a
of
significant
aluminium
amount of
it
Based on the graph above,
(a) State the nature characteristic of rays
(i) P

(ii) Q
.
(b) Which of the rays has the strongest
penetrating power?

3 hours
9 hour

The table shows the half-lives and its initial

masses of two radioactive substances P and .
Radioactive
substance
Half-life / day
Initial mass / g

10
1

5
2

How long P and Q take time to become the

same mass?
A
C
E

5 days
15 days
25 days

B
D

10 days
20 days

(c)

Explain why
(i) rays P can produce sparks in a spark
counter?

(ii)

rays P and Q cannot be detected by

a gold leaf electroscope?

(d) Explain why rays R produce thick and

straight tracks in cloud chamber?

19

52

(a) A radioactive source contains an isotope

of thorium.Thorium ( 228
90 Th ) decays by
-particle emission to radium (Ra).
Write an equation to show this decay.

(c)

............................................................
All three types of radioactive emission
cause some ionisation of gases.
(i) Explain what is meant by the term
ionisation of gases.
............................................................
............................................................

(b) The radium produced is also radioactive.

Diagram 1 shows a laboratory experiment
to test for the presence of the radioactive
emissions from the thorium source, using a
radiation detector. In the laboratory there is
a background count of 20 counts/minute.

............................................................
(ii)

............................................................
Suggest a reason why -radiation
produces very little ionisation.
............................................................
............................................................
............................................................
............................................................

53

The diagram shows part of

238

U decay series.

The readings are given in the table.

Position
P
Q

Reading in count / per

minute
2372
361

Based on the diagram above;

238

92

State and explain

(i) which radiation could be causing the
count at Q,
...........................................................
.

...........................................................

(ii)

............................................................
which radiations could be causing the
count at P.

234

Th

90
230

Th

90

234

Pa

91
226

234

92

Ra
88

(a) Name the rays or particles emitted when

234
Th decays to 234 Pa
90

91

..................................................................
(b) State a pair of an isotope.

(c)

............................................................

..................................................................
The half life of 234 Pa is 6.7 hours and
91

Initially has a mass 32 g.

20

(i)

What is meant by half-life?

...........................................
.................

(ii)

(i)

state a common characteristic

for the change in activity in
relation to time for the decay of
flourine-22 and sodium-24.

............................................................
What is the mass of 234 Pa after

91

33.5 hours?
54

Diagram 1 and Diagram 2 show the rate of

decay of radioactive substances, flourine-22
and sodium-24.

(ii)

........
complete the table below

Activity/
Count
2000 1000 500
per
minute
Decay
time of 0
4
8
fluorine22/ s
Decay
time of 0
1
2
sodium24/ s

(b)

250

What happens to the activity of

(i)
flourine-22 after every 4 s?
................
(ii)

............
sodium-24 after every 1 s?
................

(c)

(a)

Based on the decay curves of flourine22 and sodium-24,

............
Based on the answers in (b)(i) and
(b)(ii), draw a conclusion from the
activity change with time for these two
sources to form a physics concept.
.............
.............

21

.............
(d)

.............
When flourine-22 decays, it produces a
beta particle and neon-22 (Ne).
(i)
What is a beta particle?
.
.
Complete the following equation
for the decay of fluorine-22.

(ii)
22
9

55

Fl

.......
.......

Ne ........

A radioactive source is placed at a distance 5

cm in front of a G-M tube. The G-M tube is
connected to a counter.
The following table shows the result obtained
from the counter.
(ii)
Time
/minute
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
(a) (i)

Reading
of the
counter
0
4571
7903
10157
11860
13117
14075
14726
15158
15408
15597

Count per
minute for
every
minutes

From the graph, determine the halflife of the radioactive source.

(b) Name the radioactive radiations emitted by

the radioactive source.

4571
3332
2254
1703
1257
958
651
432
250
189

(c) To get the actual reading from the

radioactive source the background reading
should be recorded.
(i)
Give one source that produced the
background reading.
..
(ii)

Plot a graph count per minute

against time.

..
How an adjustment must be made to
the calculation to get the actual
reading from the radioactive source.
..
..
..

22

..

23