1

 Abdul Moez
 Abdul Saboor
 Abdullah
Ahmed Ali
Group members 

 Ali Hassan
 Alisha Arshad
 Alvina Qainat
 Amna Awan
 Arsalan Khan
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Understanding
Radioactive Processes
and Detection
THIS PRESENTATION EXPLORES THE
FUNDAMENTALS OF RADIOACTIVITY, ITS
APPLICATIONS, AND THE CRUCIAL ASPECTS OF
SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING.
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3
ation
ve
Topics
ction
ments
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1 2 3
Nuclear
Topics
Radioactive Radiation
Radioactive Dating Detection
Decay Instruments
1.Nuclear Radioactive Decay 6
 Introduction to Radioactivity 7

Radioactive Decay:
Whenever any particle or radiation
is emitted out of radioactive element
the element changes into new
element .This phenomenon of
changing of one element to another
is called radioactivity decay .

Historical Context:
In 1896, Henri Becquerel
discovered radioactivity while
studying uranium salts. Marie
Curie furthered this research,
pioneering the study of
radioactive elements.
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Types of Radiation
1 3
Alpha Radiation Gamma Radiation
Alpha particles Gamma rays are
consist of two 2 high-energy
protons and two photons, possessing
neutrons. They have Beta Radiation no mass and
a high energy but Beta particles are travelling at the
limited range. high-speed speed of light.
electrons or
positrons, emitted
during radioactive
decay.
 ALPHA DECAY 9

 DESCRPTION:
The nucleus emits 24𝐻𝑒 alpha particle reducing its mass number by 4 and
atomic number by 2.

 Equation:
𝑨
𝒁𝑿 → 𝑨−𝟒
𝒁−𝟐𝒀 + 𝟒𝟐𝑯𝒆

 Example:

Uranium -238 decays to Thorium-234:

238 234
92𝑈 → 90𝑇ℎ + 42𝐻𝑒
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2.Radioactive Dating 12
 Introduction to 13

Radioactive Dating
Definition:
Radioactive dating, also known as radiometric
dating, is a scientific method used to determine
the actual age of materials such as rocks,
fossils, based on the decay of radioactive
isotopes.
Common Methods:
• Carbon Dating (C-14)
• Uranium-Lead Dating
• Potassium-Argon Dating
 Carbon Dating 14

How It Works:
• Carbon dating measures the decay of Carbon-
14 (C-14), a radioactive isotope of carbon.
• Living organisms absorb C-14 from the
atmosphere. After death, C-14 decays at a
known rate (half-life ~5730 years).
• The remaining C-14 in a sample indicates its
age.
 Applications 15

Archaeology Paleontology
Dating ancient artifacts, Estimating the age of
pottery, and structures. fossils or remains of
organisms.

Geology
Dating Ancient Rocks and
Minerals
 Uranium-Lead Dating 16

Explanation of the Decay Chain:

• Uranium-Lead (U-Pb) dating involves the radioactive decay of Uranium-238 (U-238) to
Lead-206 (Pb-206) and Uranium-235 (U-235) to Lead-207 (Pb-207).
• The decay occurs through a series of intermediate steps, forming a stable lead isotope at the
end.

Half life:
~4.5 billion years
Applications:
~Dating the Earth: Used to estimate the Earth's age (~4.54 billion years) by analyzing
ancient zircon crystals.
~Dating Rocks: Determines the age of igneous and metamorphic rocks, helping in
geological history reconstruction.
 Potassium-Argon Dating 17

Process Explanation
• Potassium-40 (K-40), a radioactive isotope, decays into Argon-40 (Ar-40), a stable gas.
• When volcanic rocks cool, any Ar-40 escapes, resetting the "clock."
• Over time, K-40 decays into Ar-40, which becomes trapped in the rock.
• By measuring the ratio of K-40 to Ar-40, scientists determine the rock's age.

Half-life:
1.25 billion years.
Use in Volcanic Rock Analysis
• Dates volcanic rocks and ash layers, providing a timeline for geological events.
• Essential in calibrating the ages of fossils found in sedimentary layers near volcanic
deposits.
• Used to study tectonic and volcanic activity in Earth's history.
Accuracy and Limitations of Dating 18

Methods
Factors Affecting Precision:
 Contamination: Presence of newer or older materials can skew results (e.g.,
contamination in carbon dating).
 Sampling Size: Small or incomplete samples may lead to inaccurate results.
 Calibration: Errors in calibration curves or assumptions in decay rates may affect the
results (e.g., Carbon-14 calibration).
 Environmental Factors: In some cases, environmental changes (e.g., temperature,
pressure) can impact the decay process.
 Time Range: Certain methods are limited to specific time ranges (e.g., Carbon-14 is not
effective for dating items older than 50,000 years).
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3.Radiation Detection Instruments
Introduction to Radiation Detectors 20

Radiation detection instruments are devices used to

detect and measure radiation. Radiation is the
process of transferring energy from one place to
another in the form of waves or particles.

Importance:
 Safety: Monitors radiation levels in environments like nuclear
plants and hospitals.
 Research: Helps study materials, nuclear reactions, and cosmic
radiation.
 Medicine: Ensures accurate radiation doses in imaging and
therapy.
Radiation Detection Instruments 21

Types of Detectors:
 1. Gas-Filled Detectors.
 2. Scintillation Detectors.
 3. Semiconductor Detectors.
 4. Neutron Detectors.
Geiger Counter 22

These are the most common type

of radiation detection instrument.
They use a gas-filled tube to detect
radiation and produce a clicking
sound when radiation is present.
Scintillation Detectors 23

These detectors use a special

material that produces light when
radiation is present. The light is
then detected by a sensor.
Semiconductor Detectors 24

These detectors use a special type

of material that produces an
electric signal when radiation is
present.
Neutron Detectors 25

These detectors are specifically

designed to detect neutron
radiation, which is a type of
radiation that is difficult to detect.
 How Do Radiation Detection 26
Instruments Work
1. Radiation Enters the Detector: Radiation from
the environment enters the detector through a
window or opening.
2. Radiation Interacts with the Detector: The
radiation interacts with the detector material,
causing it to produce a signal.
3. Signal is Amplified: The signal is amplified by
an electronic circuit to make it stronger.

4. Signal is Displayed: The amplified signal is then

displayed on a screen or meter, showing the level of
radiation present.
 Uses of Radiation Detection 27
Instruments
1. Nuclear Power Plants:
Radiation detection instruments are used to monitor the radiation levels in nuclear
power plants.
2. Medical Applications:
Radiation detection instruments are used in medical applications such as cancer
treatment and radiation therapy.
3. Environmental Monitoring:
Radiation detection instruments are used to monitor the radiation levels in the
environment.
4. Industrial Applications:
Radiation detection instruments are used in industrial applications such as radiation
sterilization and radiation testing.
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Thanks