GS02-1093 - Introduction to Medical Physics I

Basic Interactions
Problem Set 2.2 Solutions

1. Solve the differential equation

dN d t
= p N 0 e p d N d
dt

given the initial (t=0) conditions Np=N0 and Nd=0.

The most general solution of the differential equation is given by

pt
N d = Ae d t +Be +C.

Inserting the expression for Nd into the differential equation, we obtain

dN d t t
= p N 0 e p d Ae d t d Be p d C
dt .
= ( p N 0 d B )e
pt
d Ae d t d C

But if we take the derivative of the general solution of the differential equation,
we have

dN d t
= d Ae d t p Be p
dt

So, if we set the two expressions for the derivative equal to each other, we obtain

( p N 0 d B )e
pt
d Ae d t d C = d Ae d t p Be
pt

Because this equation must be true for all values of t, we have

( p N 0 d B ) = p B
.
d C = 0

So, C=0 and

p N 0 = (d p )B
p N0 .
B=
d p

To satisfy the boundary conditions that Nd=0 for t=0, we must have
 0 = A +B + C
A = B .
p N0
=
d p

Finally,
pt
N d = Ae dt +Be +C

=
d p
(
p N 0 t t .
e e p d
)
2. (J & C 3-20) A source of 99mTc arrives in the department at 10 am on Monday, at
which time the daughter is separated. The parent is found to have an activity of 5.0
109 Bq. Determine the activity of the parent after 3.0 d and determine the activity of
daughter that may be eluted.

The 99mTc source consists of 99mTc and 99Mo is equilibrium. After the daughter is
separated, the parent continues to decay with a half-life of 66 hr. Consequently,
after 3.0 d the parent activity is given by

t
A = A0 exp - 0.693

t 12
3.0 d 24 hr
= 5.0 10 9 Bq exp - 0.693
66 hr d
= 5.0 10 9 Bq exp(- 0.756 )
= 2.35 10 9 Bq

After 3.0 d equilibrium has been reached, so to a rough approximation, we may

use the equation

d
Ad = Ap

[
1 e (d p )t ]
d p

to determine the activity of the daughter. With a half-life of 66 hr, the

transformation constant for the parent is 0.693/66 hr = 0.0105 hr-1, and with a
half-life of 6.03 hr, the transformation constant for the daughter is 0.693/6.03 =
0.115 hr-1. So,

Ad = 2.35 109 Bq
0.115
1 e [
(0.115 0.0105 )3.024
]
0.115 0.0105
0.115
= 2.35 109 Bq 1 e
7.52
[ ]
0.104
= 2.60 10 Bq 0.999
9

= 2.60 109 Bq

3. (J & C 3-22) One g of 23Na is placed in a reactor at a flux density of 5 1012 cm-2 s-1
for 30 h. Estimate the activity produced.

The activation cross-section for 23Na is found in Table 3-3 of J & C to be 0.93
barns. Ignoring decay of the daughter 24Na, we have

1 g 6.023 10 23 atom/mole
N Na 23 =
23 g/mole
= 0.2618 10 23 atom

30 hr = 30 hr 60 60 sec hr -1
= 1.08 105 sec

N Na - 24 = N Na - 23 s t
= 0.2618 10 23 atom 0.93 10 - 24 cm 2 5 1012 cm -2 sec -1
1.08 105 sec
= 1.315 1016 atom

At saturation, the activity resulting from the neutrons captured is given by

As = N s
( )(
= 0.2618 10 23 atom 0.93 10 - 24 cm 2 atom -1 5 1012 cm -2 s -1 )( )
= 1.218 10 Bq 11

The half-life of 24Na is found in Table 3-3 of J & C to be 15 hr so that the activity
after time t is given by

A = As 1 e ( 0.693 t t1 / 2
)
(
= As 1 e 0.69330 / 15
)
= 1.218 10 Bq 0.75
11

= 9.13 1010 Bq
4. (J & C 3-24) 15 g of gold is to be activated in a flux of 5 1012 cm-2 s-1. Find the
saturation activity. Determine the activity after 4.0 d. What fraction of the gold
atoms has been activated in 4.0 d?

The activation cross-section for 197Au is found in table 3-3 of J & C to be 99

barns. At saturation, the activity is given by

As = N s
15 g 6.023 10 23 atom/mole
= 99 10 - 24 cm 2 5 1012 cm -2 sec -1
197 g/mole
= 226.9 1011 sec -1
= 2.27 1013 Bq

The half-life of 197Au is found in Table 3-3 of J & C to be 2.69 d. After a time t
the activity is given by

(
A = As 1 - e - t )
0.693 4.0 d
= 2.27 1013 Bq 1 - exp -
2.69 d
= 1.46 1013 Bq

The number of gold atoms that have been activated is

N = N t s t
= As t
hr sec
= 2.27 1013 sec -1 4.0 d 24 3600
d hr
= 7.85 1018

The 15 g of gold we started out with contains

15 g 6.023 10 23 atom/mole
N0 =
197 g/mole
= 4.59 10 22 atom

So the fraction of gold atoms activated is

7.85 1018
frac =
4.59 10 22
= 1.7110 4
5. (J & C 3-26) Show that the time at which the radioactive daughter attains its
maximum value is given by t m = log(l 2 l1 ) (l 2 l1 ) .

When radioactive equilibrium occurs, the number of atoms of the daughter as a

function of time is given by

d p t
N d = (N p )0

e e d t ( )
d p

This quantity reaches a maximum value when the derivative of the number of
daughter atoms with respect to time is 0.

dN d d d p t
= (N p )0

e e d t

( )
dt d p dt
d
= (N p )0

(
p e p t + d e d t )
d p

This quantity will be equal to 0 when

ptm
pe d e d t m = 0

We write

pe
ptm
d e d t m = e
ptm
[ p d e
( )
d p t m
]
or
( )
d p t m
p d e =0
( )
d p t m
d e = p
( )
d p t m p
e =
d
p
(d p )t m = og
d
og( p d )
tm =
p d
6. If the half-life of 99Mo is 66.7 hr and the half-life of 99mTc is 6.03 hr, show that daily
milking of the Mo cow is nearly optimum utilization of the yield.

The maximum yield will occur at a time given by the solution to the previous
problem. For 99Mo, the transformation constant is 0.693/66.7 hr = 1.039 10-2
hr1, while for 99mTc, the transformation constant is 0.693/6.03 hr = 11.49 10-2
hr1. So,

log(1.039 11.49 )
tm = hr
(1.039 11.49) 10 2
=
(
log 9.04 10 2 )
10 hr
1.045
24.04
= hr
1.045
= 23.0 hr