Nuclear Physics. Nuclear Symbols Element symbol Mass number, A (p + + n o ) Atomic number, Z (number...

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Nuclear PhysicsNuclear Physics

Nuclear SymbolsNuclear Symbols

23592U

Element symbol

Mass number, A (p+ + no)

Atomic number, Z(number of p+)

Balancing Nuclear EquationsBalancing Nuclear Equations

nK rBanU 10

9 13 6

1 4 25 6

10

2 3 59 2 3

Areactants = Aproducts

Zreactants = Zproducts

235 + 1 = 142 + 91 + 3(1)

92 + 0 = 56 + 36 + 3(0)

Balancing Nuclear Equations Balancing Nuclear Equations #2#2

42

2 2 68 8 Ra

226 = 4 + ____222

222

88 = 2 + ___86

86

Atomic number 86 is radon, Rn

Rn

Balancing Nuclear Equations Balancing Nuclear Equations #3#3

nInU 10

1 3 95 3

10

2 3 59 2 2

235 + 1 = 139 + 2(1) + ____95

3992 + 0 = 53 + 2(0) + ____

3995

Atomic number 39 is yttrium, Y

Y

Alpha DecayAlpha Decay

Alpha production (Alpha production (): ):

an alpha particle is aan alpha particle is a

helium nucleushelium nucleus

ThHeU 2 3 49 0

42

2 3 89 2

Alpha decay is limited to heavy, radioactive

nuclei

ThU 2 3 49 0

42

2 3 89 2

242

242 orHe

Alpha Alpha RadiationRadiation

Limited to VERY large nucleii.

Beta DecayBeta Decay

Beta production (Beta production ():):A beta particle is an A beta particle is an electron ejected from electron ejected from the nucleusthe nucleus

eP aTh 01

2 3 49 1

2 3 49 0

Beta emission converts a neutron to a proton

01

2 3 49 1

2 3 49 0 PaTh

01

01 ore

Beta Beta RadiatioRadiatio

nn

Converts a neutron into a proton.

Gamma Ray ProductionGamma Ray Production

Gamma ray production (Gamma ray production ():):

92238

24

90234

002U He Th

Gamma rays are high energy photons produced in association with other forms of decay.

Gamma rays are massless and do not, by themselves, change the nucleus

Deflection of Decay ParticlesDeflection of Decay Particles

Opposite charges_________ each other.

Like charges_________ each other.

attract

repel

Positron ProductionPositron Production

Positron emission:Positron emission:Positrons are the anti-particle of the electron

1122

10

1022Na e Ne

Positron emission converts a proton to a neutron

e01

Electron CaptureElectron Capture

Electron capture: (inner-orbital Electron capture: (inner-orbital electron is captured by the nucleus)electron is captured by the nucleus)

80201

10

79201

00Hg e Au

Electron capture converts a proton to a neutron

Types of RadiationTypes of Radiation

NuclearNuclearStabilityStability

Decay will occur in such a way as to return a nucleus to the band (line) of stability.The most stable nuclide is Iron-56

If Z > 83, the nuclide is radioactive

A A Decay Decay SeriesSeries

A radioactive nucleus reaches a stable A radioactive nucleus reaches a stable state by a series of stepsstate by a series of steps

Half-life ConceptHalf-life Concept

Sample Half-LivesSample Half-Lives

STOPSTOP

NUCLEAR DECAY KINETICSNUCLEAR DECAY KINETICS

Decay KineticsDecay Kinetics

Decay occurs by first order kinetics (the rate of decay is proportional to the number of nuclides present)

ktN

N

0

lnN = number of nuclides remaining at time t

N0 = number of nuclides present initially

k = rate constant

t = elapsed timektNN o lnln

Calculating Half-lifeCalculating Half-life

kkt

693.0)2ln(2/1

t1/2 = Half-life (units dependent on rate constant, k)

ExampleExample

Determine the amount of Rn-222 that Determine the amount of Rn-222 that remains after 5.0 days if the the half-life is remains after 5.0 days if the the half-life is 3.8 days and you started with 80,000 3.8 days and you started with 80,000 particles.particles.

NNoo = 80,000 particles = 80,000 particles

k = 0.182 dayk = 0.182 day-1-1

N = ? N = ?

First find decay constant. k = ln2 / tFirst find decay constant. k = ln2 / t1/21/2

Example 2Example 2

Determine the activity of Rn-222 that Determine the activity of Rn-222 that remains after 7.0 days if the the half-life is remains after 7.0 days if the the half-life is 3.8 days and you started with 285 3.8 days and you started with 285 counts/min.counts/min.

AAoo = 285 counts/min = 285 counts/min

k = 0.182 dayk = 0.182 day-1-1

N = ? N = ?

First find decay constant. k = ln2 / tFirst find decay constant. k = ln2 / t1/21/2

Example 3Example 3

Determine the percentage of Rn-222 that Determine the percentage of Rn-222 that remains after 9.0 days if the the half-life is remains after 9.0 days if the the half-life is 3.8 days.3.8 days.

NNoo = ??? particles = ??? particles

k = 0.182 dayk = 0.182 day-1-1

N = ? N = ?

First find decay constant. k = ln2 / tFirst find decay constant. k = ln2 / t1/21/2

Nuclear Fission and FusionNuclear Fission and Fusion

FusionFusion:: Combining two light nuclei to Combining two light nuclei to form a heavier, more stable nucleus.form a heavier, more stable nucleus.

01

92235

56142

3691

013n U Ba Kr n

23

11

24

10He H He e

FissionFission: : Splitting a heavy nucleus into Splitting a heavy nucleus into two nuclei with smaller mass numbers.two nuclei with smaller mass numbers.

Energy and MassEnergy and MassNuclear changes occur with small but Nuclear changes occur with small but measurable losses of mass. The lost mass is measurable losses of mass. The lost mass is called the mass defect, and is converted to called the mass defect, and is converted to energy according to Einstein’s equation:energy according to Einstein’s equation:

E = E = mcmc22

mm = mass defect = mass defectEE = change in energy = change in energy

cc = speed of light = speed of light

Because c2 is so large, even small amounts of mass are converted to enormous amount of energy.

ExampleExample

Calculate the mass defect and energy Calculate the mass defect and energy released during this typical fission released during this typical fission reaction.reaction.

++ + +U236

92 Kr8836 n104Ba144

56 236.04556 g 87.91445 g 143.92284 g 4 x 1.00867 g

265.04556 g 235.87197 g

E = mc2 = .2917359 kg x 3.0 x 108 m/s

E = 8.752 x 107 J

FissionFission

Fission ProcessesFission Processes

Event

NeutronsCausingFission Result

subcritical < 1 reaction stopscritical = 1 sustained reactionsupercritical > 1 violent explosion

A self-sustaining fission process is A self-sustaining fission process is called a chain reaction.called a chain reaction.

A Fission ReactorA Fission Reactor

FusioFusionn

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