CSEC

Radioactivity
Part 1
Hi I’m Adam the Atom. I didn’t always look
this way.. Yup that's right. My appearance
changed throughout the centuries.. Let’s go
back in time and have a look at my past
Shells

Protons (+)

Neutrons
(neutral)
} Nucleus (+)

Electrons (-)
John Dalton
(1800’s)

This is a robbery !
Everyone on the floor!

So this is the old me. Boring huh? I’m just

a sphere … nothing inside… Just an atom..
Joseph John Thompson
(1897) Ball of positive
charge

Negative electrons

Stop staring at my
mustache ! Then my life started to become
more complicated as i grew up
 Then high school
Ernest Rutherford (1911) came and boy did I
look different

Thank goodness I
installed this window

Ernest Rutherford used experimental evidence to show that an atom contained a central
nucleus. The model described the atom as a tiny, dense, positively charged core called a
nucleus, in which nearly all the mass was concentrated and circulated at some distance.
He did not know about electron / orbit shells.
 After high school I
Neils Bohr (1913) got a job Shelly’s
donut shop

Youuuu .. Shell…
NOT… Pass !!!
 James Chadwick (1932) After Shelly fired me I didn’t feel
sad or happy, you could say the
feeling was neutral

The missing piece of

the puzzle yo !
What is Mass Number (A) and the Atomic Number (Z)

Protons + Neutrons Amount of Protons

Let’s quickly draw some atoms
 This just means an electron is 1840 times
lighter than a proton or neutron

Proton Neutron Electron

Relative Mass 1 1 1/1840

Relative Charge +1 0 -1

Actual Mass (kg) 1.7 x10-27 kg 1.7 x10-27 kg 9.1 x10-31 kg

Actual Charge (C) +1.6 x10-19 C 0 -1.6 x10-19 C

What is an isotope?

Isotopes are forms of an element that have the

same number of protons but different numbers
of neutrons.

What is an radioisotope?

These are isotopes which emit various types of radiations.

The emissions can happen because of two reasons:

1. There are too many neutrons when compared to

protons in the nucleus. This makes the nucleus
unstable.

2. The nucleus itself has excess energy and considered

to be excited.
 Particle Radiation Electromagnetic Radiation

1. Alpha 1. Gamma
2. X-Rays
3. Ultraviolet
2. Beta 4. Visible Light
There are 2 categories of 5. Infrared
Radiation - Particle and 6. Microwaves
Electromagnetic 7. Radio waves
 Alpha Beta Gamma

Nature Fast moving helium nucleus Fast moving electron High frequency
electromagnetic radiation

Mass 4 amu 1/2000 amu 0

(1 amu = 1.66 x 10-27 kg)

Ionization Power High Low Very Low

Affected by Magnetic and Yes Yes No

Electric Fields

Penetrating power Low Medium High

Stopped by Paper or Human skin 3mm of aluminum 1 cm of lead reduces it by half

Most dangerous where? Inside body Outside Body Outside Body

Distance in air About 5 cm < 5m Indefinite / 500 m

Speed 10% speed of light 90% the speed of light Speed of light
What is Ionization?
Stopping Alpha, Beta, Gamma
Did you know -
1. An atom is mostly empty space?
2. The centre of an atom (nucleus) is positive?

How did scientist figure this out?

The Geiger–Marsden experiments (also called the Rutherford gold foil
experiment) - 1908 and 1913
Do what I say
or else off with
your heads !

You said this would Can I have a

be fun ! lunch break
You are a fibber ! pwetty please??
 + + - -

+ -
Before we move further let’s talk
about charges.

There are two charges -

Positive (+) and Negative (-)

Like charges repel and opposite charges attract

 +

+ +

Let’s predict what

will happen in all 3
cases here
How did Ernest Rutherford figure
out the centre of atom as positive
and the rest was mostly empty
space?
 He was quite
delicious I must
say

You ate Fred !

+
Most alpha particles when straight through unaffected because they were far from the
nucleus owing to the atom being mostly empty space OR most of the mass is
concentrated to the centre of the atom

A small number of alpha particles were deflected (due to repulsive forces) to the side as
they pass close to the nucleus. This indicated that the centre of atom and alpha
particles had the same positive charge.

Keep in mind he knew

alpha was positive and
like charges repel
So what is Radioactivity Decay?

Radioactivity is the spontaneous disintegration of an unstable atomic nuclei by emitting particles or

energy.

During radioactive decay alpha, beta or gamma radiation emitted

The radioactivity of a material refers to the rate at which it emits radiation

Instability can occur in the nucleus when the neutron-proton ratio is not
in between 1 : 1 and 1.58 : 1 or the nucleus has too much energy (it’s
excited)
 CSEC
Radioactivity
Part 2

9:05 am
Decay Equations
Cloud Chamber
A cloud chamber consists of a sealed environment containing supersaturated water or alcohol vapour.

As alpha, beta or gamma radiation moves through the cloud it creates trail of ions. The vapour condenses on these trails making
it visible.
 The tracks are thick short Beta particle tracks will appear Tracks are extremely weak
(<5 cm) and straight thin, long, and wiggly and about and dispersed.
5 m in length

They are strongly ionising on Due to their relatively small mass Gamma causes ionizing indirectly.
collision with other particles they are weakly ionizing and The ions are produced
and are not easily deviated on randomly deviate on collision with when gamma is absorbed
collision with other particles other particles. by an atom, resulting in
due to their mass. the ejection of an electron.
Half-life is the interval of time required for one-half of the atomic nuclei of a radioactive sample to decay
Radioactive Decay is Random (Spontaneous) in two ways

1. the exact time of decay of a nucleus cannot be predicted

2. In a radioactive sample you cannot predict which nucleus will undergo radioactive
decay

Radioactive decay cannot be affected by environmental factors such as:

1. Temperature
2. Pressure
3. Chemical conditions
 Find yee
Gold
traveller

CSEC
Radioactivity
Part 3

9:05 am
 For each round choose a number from 1 to 20 and ONE letter. If any calls - you lose !

6 C
X

11
H
 ? 2000
Ratio of C12 to C14 in living
organisms is constant. The
actual ratio atm is not important

? Once we know the amount of

C12 be can calculate the amount
C12 C12
of C14 in a living organism

C14 Half life of carbon-14 is about 53

5730 years
C14
Fraction of C14 left was 1/16 the original amount, how old are the fish bones?
 For each round choose a number from 1 to 20 and ONE letter. If any calls - you lose !

20 T
10

13
Z
What exactly is nuclear energy?

2
E=mxc
 Nulide Atomic Mass /u E = m x c2
U 235.118

Kr 89.947

Ba 143.881

n 1.009

u = 1.66 x 10-27kg
So how is electricity produced from nuclear energy
 CSEC
Radioactivity
Part 4

9:05 am
A B

A beta source is used so that the amount reaching the detector can be
significantly affected by the thickness of the material.
C
When the reading on the detector is high this means the metal is too
thin. The rollers will move apart.

When the reading on the detector is low this means metal is thick and
the rollers will move towards each other to compress the sheet.
Marie Curie
She won the Nobel Prize in 1903 and 1911 for
both physics and chemistry.

In July 1898, working with her husband Pierre,

she discovered two new chemical elements -

1. Polonium
2. Radium.

These two radioactive elements could be used to

destroy tissue, and this opened up a new way of
treating cancerous tumours.

During World War One, she helped to put x-ray

machines in ambulances.
June 2014 - Question 6

(i) Half-life is the interval of time required for one-half of the atomic nuclei of a
radioactive sample to decay

(ii) 1 → ½ → ¼ → ⅛ → 1⁄16
June 2014 - Question 6

Precautions

1. Cover Wounds

2. Wear Disposable Gloves

3. Wear Lab Coats and Safety Glasses

June 2014 - Question 6
June 2015 - Question 1
If the radioactive source is inside the body

alpha radiation is the most dangerous because it is easily absorbed by cells

beta and gamma radiation are not as dangerous because they are less likely to be absorbed by a cell and will usually just
pass right through it

If the radioactive source is outside the body:

alpha radiation is not as dangerous because it is unlikely to reach living cells inside the body

beta and gamma radiation are the most dangerous sources because they can penetrate the skin and damage the cells inside
 January 2008 - Question 5

(a) Radioactivity is the spontaneous disintegration of an unstable atomic nuclei by emitting particles
or energy.

(b) Alpha - Fast moving helium nucleus

Beta - Fast moving electron

Gamma - High frequency electromagnetic radiation

January 2009 - Question 5

(i) Atomic number (Z) - the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom

(ii) Mass Number (A) - the total number of protons and neutrons in an atom

(iii) Neutron number (N = A - Z) - the total number of neutrons in the nucleus of an atom
(i) The number of outer shell electrons determines the group number of the element.

(ii) Isotopes are atoms with the same number of protons but differing numbers of neutrons
January 2010 - Question 6

The tracks are Beta particle Tracks are

thick short tracks will appear extremely weak
(<5 cm) and thin, long, and and dispersed.
straight wiggly (about 5m)
Placed them in a cloud chamber
and observe the tracks
January 2011 - Question 6

Ernest Rutherford used experimental evidence to show that an atom contained a central nucleus. The model described
the atom as a tiny, dense, positively charged core called a nucleus, in which nearly all the mass was concentrated and
circulated at some distance. He did not know about electron / orbit shells.