Nuclear Phvsics & Radioactivitv

N93/10ic),(d)

(c) An approximate formula for the radius R of a nucleus of a nucleon number {mass number),4 is

R (1.2 x 10 1s),4:
=
where R i\ expressed in metres.

(4 fa )!Fe nucleus.
Use this lor muld lo calculate the radius
(ii) Assuming the nucleus to be a uniform sphere, estimate the density of nuclear matter in
the iron nuLleus. Iakethe massol ::Fp nucleuslobe55.92O7r.
(iii) Sketch a graph to show how the density p of nuclear matter depends on the nucleon
number,4 of the nucleus.

(d) The mass of 1 m3 of iron is B x 103 kg. There is a general trend for the densities of solid
elements to increase with increasing nucleon number, Comment on these two pieces of information in
relation to our answers to (c)(ii) and (iii) and suggest an explanation for any difference between the
behavior ofthe density of solid elements and the density of nu€lear matter.

(c) (i) ror !!Fe, the mass nr-rmber A is s6. Hence

1s
n = (1.2 x 10-1s)(56)a = 4.591 x 10 - 4.6 x 1o-ts m

(ii) The volume ofthe nucleus iassumed to be a un iform sphere), is

v =!n7z = !n14.5g7 v1o-1s)3 = 4053 x 10 43

mr

= 2.290 x
3
Density = Mass / Volume = 1.017 = 2.3 x 1017 ksm

(iii) lheformulafordensityrtp -i - . .L 2.3 l0r l.gm'

r"l','" ,1
x 10 2r kg).
where is the Lrnified mass constant (z = 7.66

This shows that ihe density of nuclear matter is independent of mass number A.

Graph of density p vs mass number,4 is:

p /x 1017 kF.n'l
(d) Nuclear matter's density is many orders of magnitude greater than that of solid elements.
Furthermore, whereas solid element's density increases with nucleon number, the density of nuclear
matter remains constant regard ess of nucleon number,

The r€ason for this is that solid elements have a lot of empty space wlthin them. Rutherford's model of
the atom (Geiger and Marsden's alpha scattering experimen0 showed that matter is mostly empty
space, with most of the mass concentrated in the tinY nuclei. This accounts for the very low density of
r.
matter, such that the densest element known to man has a density of only 2 x 10a kgm

This large amount of empty space ln so id elements means that there is much room for the nuclei t get
closer together, and th€ir density to increase tremendously, if somehow they can be compressed further
(e.9. in an extremely sirong gravitational field of a black hoie).

Within the nucleus, however, all the nucleons (i.e. protons and neutrons) are as closely packed as they
can be. With the proions and neutrons packed side-by-side within the nucleus, th€re is no further space
for them to compress. Therefore, nuclear matter of all elements has the same density of 2.3 x 1017

Ns6/s(c)

Fig. 2 lists the atomic mass M and the binding energy B of some nuclides-

Nuclide B

':N 15.0001 1 115.5

r2o 1S99492 't27.6
17 99916
'lo
,IF
13 9.8
18.99841 147.8
i 1rua 22.94777 186.6
?Xua 23.98505 198.3
o,2e. 39.96238 343.B
\2ca 39 96259 342.O
tlca 43 95549 380.9
\1sc 44.95592 387.8
\'.ri 45.95263 398.2 FiE.2

(a) ln nuclear physics, nuclei with equal nucleon numbers but different proton
numbers are called bobors.ldenti{ytwo isobars in Fig.2. t1l

(b) Although isobars must have the same nucleon numbers, their atomic masses can differ because
of a difference in binding energy. confirm that, for the two isobars you have identified in (a), the heavier
nucl,de of the pair has a smol/er binding energy than the lighter one. t1l
(c) Would it be possible for the heavier nuclide of a pair of isobars to have a greater binding energy
than the lighter one? Explain your answer. I5l
,ji
(d) suppose that a,Zingle proton were removed from each of the following nuclei:
AO,
tel, ilM g, )iS r. ^,1n . u,e tntor nat ion from I ig. 2 to calculate the energy required in each case,
What trend, if any, can you detect in the values ofthe energy? 14t

Take: Speed of light c = 2.gg7g x lOB ms1

Elementary charee e = 1.6022 x '\1-re c

rl
LJnified atomic mass unit IL = 1.6605 x 10 'z7
kg

Electron mass m"=0000549z

Neutron mass m' = 1.008665 a

mp = 1007276 u

(ai aoAr
andaoca
aocd, aoAr
(b) The heavier nuclide is which has an atomic mass of 39.96259 z (heavier than wh ich
is 39.96238 r). aoca has a smaller binding energy of 342.0 MeV (smaller than aozlr which has 343.8
MeV).

(c) Normally, the heavier nuclide is expected to have a smaller binding energy because binding
energy is also equal to the smount of energy required to completely separate a
constituent protons and neutrons,

fAlternative defin ition of binding energy:

The amount of energy released when protons and neutrons combine to Jorm the nucleus.

The lower the binding energy, the less energy released and hence the lower the mass defect (the
difference between the mass of the nucleus and its individual constituents). With Iess mass converted
into energy, the nuclide is expected to retain more mass and hence be heavier.l

However, it is still possible for a heavier nuclide to have a greater binding energy, if its constituents were
heavier to begin with.

Neutrons are slightly heavier than protons. Hence if a nuclide has a larger neutron-to-proton ratio, it
could still end up heavier than its isobar with a lower neutron to proton ratio, even if its binding energy
is higher.
(d) 12.10 MeV,8.000 MeV,11.70 MeV,6.900 MeV,10.40 MeV

These energies, known as proton separation energies, are greatest when the ratio of proton : neutron is
1 : 1 (see table below):

Nuclide No. ofNeutrons Proton Separation

Energy / Mev
,Fo 8 a 1.0 72_10
1luo 72 !2 10 al.to
n1r i 22 24 0.92 10 40
1:F 9 10 0.90 8 000
Xlsc 21 74 0.88 6 900

The reason is that these nuclides in th€ table have low proton numbers ranging from 8 to 22. Nuclides
with low proton numbers are most stable when their proton : neutron ratio is 1 : 1- This is unlike heavier
nuclides whereby the proton:neutron ration must be lessthan 1:1in orderto bestable.

since 130 and trtMg hoth ha\e a proton : neutron ratio of 1 : 1, they are the most stable amongst the
nuclides listed above. Their proton separation energy is therefore the greatest.

3 Ns2/s{b),(32c)

(b) TheradionuclidelSPdecaysbytheemissionofasinglep particleto a stable dau8hternuclide.

A physicists measures the activhy of a ]3P source by detecting and recording the number ofP particle
emitted by the source in each of the five consecutive 10 - second intervals. The detection system gives
the following results:

Durat'ons/s Number off -

particles
7 10 1021
2 10 983
3 10 1003
4 10 998
5 10 7047

(i) These results show no significant decrease with time. What can the physicists deduce
aboutthe half life ofthe radionuclide? t1l
(ii) The number of p particles emitted in each time interval fluctuates. Suggest an
explanation. (The error in the timing is negligible.,
' '
,t, u n ' "..M
(iii) Deduce the mean activity ofthe source during this experiment. 121
 The physicist repeats the experiment 7-o0 days latet and finds that the mean a€tivitY of the
source has decreased by 28.8 %. A'A'l'rt.. \'1
0 ?'2 :A e
(iv) Find the hatftife of iip. '!a tsl

(c) A second source contains a mixture of the radionuclides and 1;P. The half-life of:3P is 1.77
llP
times longer than that of ]!P. et time t= 0, 90 % of the decays from this source come from the

]!P component.
(i) lftherearet{atomsof 1?Patthistime,howmanyatomsof iSParethere? t3l

(:i) How long must elapse belore 90 % ofthe decays come from the 1?P ? l4l

(b) (i) Ihe half life is much longer than the duration of this experiment- The number of
radioactive nuclei remains approximately constant during this period, and hence the activity also
remains approximately constant (since activity,4 = ,lN where 2 is the decay constant and N the
number of radioactive nuclei remaining).

(ii) Radioactivity is a random process. This means that it is not possible to predid with
absolute certainly which nucleus or wh€n a particular nucleus will decay in a certain time
interval. This accounis for the fluctuation.

(iiD Mean activity = 5052 + 50 - 101 s'

(iv) lnitialactivity=100s1 After Tdays,theactivitybecameTl-2s1(28.8%reduction).

71.2 = looe ^'7

2
I
= 0.048525 day

4 = 0.0a8525
z

t. = 14.2a4 = 1.4.3 days

(d (i) Let the total activity be ,4.

Usins,4 = 2N,

For32P, o.gA = tryN

---- l7l
 33P. o.lA =
tEN",
For --- 12\

(1) + (2) f!"

u1^
-:=#-eN'
9=-X.:_-Y-'
ta2 N31 tt2

\3=+=o1s7N'

lii) A32= AB2e-^=,t (3) whereAo'32 was its initiala€tivity.

A:B: ADFe-\"t (4) where Ao,33 was its initiala€tivity.

tsz = 14284daYs

-!a = 6.64s526,6,'i
1," =

).-= t"2 = o.o27416dav'

"' 771, t{

An
{41+ {31 -!}4e^r- ^Yr
o t.tootaszo-oottttolr
79
t= 208 days

4 N9t/a7

ln an experiment carried out in 1903, Pierre Curie found that a sample of 4.1 g of pure radium {now
known to be Radium 226) emitted energy at a rate of 0.12 W. Assuming that this energy is entirely in
the form of kinetic energy of the emitted d ' parricles, estimate the energy with which the particles
emerge- The half-life ofRadium-226 is 5.0 x 1010 s.

t'.'
The decay constant,l = f =ffi=f.:eO"fO
The number of radioa.tive nu(leiN
0004I 1.092 \
- = 10-'z

ActivityA =,lN = 1.386x 10-11x 1.092x 1022 = 1.514x 1011s1

l
Since energy is emitted at a rate of 0.12 Js the kinetic energy of each a - particle = --g
 = 7 .929 x \O-13 J

= 7.9 x l0-r3 J

5 N01/Qs

Two radioactive samples, A and B, have halflives of 5.0 hours and 10.0 hours respectively. At time t=
0,Acontains 5.0 x 10 10 mol of undecayed nuclei, and B contains 1.0 x 10-10 mol.

(a) Calculate the ratio ofthe activity ofA to that of B at t = 0. t3l

(b) At a certain time aftert = 0, the activities ofA and B become equal. Calculatethistime. [3]

(a) Activity ofA =,lN :43 x 5.0 x 'Nr\ 1O-1o

Activity ofA: ,1N : 4? x 1.0 x 10-10 { l'/t

Rat;o ofactivity ofAto that ofB at Activity ofA t = 0 is:

43 x S.0 x 10-10 : E? x 1.0 x 10 10

10:1

(b) A.tivibr A: Aoe-^t

Let the initial activity of B be r, then the initialactivity ofA will be 10a.

Aftertime t, when both activities are equal,

nt"-#' = ,e toE'

19" 'n', - "'l;'

Lnto -t!1t = -!!t
r'z(i-n) = r, ro

t=33.219h:33h